Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-02
IN LABOR CIRCLES

There has been considerable ferment In
the local labor, field during the past week.
With the walkout Of the bricklayers on
the union station and other buildings be-
ing erected by the Mcfarland Construction
Company. the threatened strike OF the bak-
ers, engineers and drivers; the demands Of
the pressfeeders for a shorter work day,
and other matters, including the discussion
of the Moyer-Pettibone case. the local con-
ditions have been considerably disturbed.
1t is hoped and believed that the bakers
will arrive at an amicable settlement with
the master bakers and that the bricklayers
and tile roofers will settle their jurisdic-
tional fight, and that harmonious relations
may be resumed all along the line.
The Lamplighters' Union Of this city.
which was formed through the efforts OF
Organizer Sam De Nedrey. Is said to be
making progress in its contest with the
Baltimore Lamplighting Company. Mr.. De
Nedrey says similar unions OF the men
who light lamps will be formed In all the
large cities. He has received the following
information from New York city:
Forced into agreeing to the reinstate-
ment of its lamplignters who had gone on
strike by the Consolidated Gas Company,
the Welsbach Street Lighting Company
yesterday succeeded In persuading its en-
ployes to go back to work. As a result the
gas street lights throughout the greater
city will be extinguished at sunrise today
by the return Of the lamplighters to
work the Consolidated Gas Company will
save thousands Of dollars which 1t has been
losing by the failure OF the employees Of
the Welsbach Street Lighting Company to
put out the tens of thousands OF street
lights which have been burning by day as
well as by night since the lamplighters
went out on strike. four days ago.
"The difficulties existing between the
street lighting company and the lamphght-
fI1<1w e61xr q a
conference between Daniel Prendergast, su-
perintendent of the company, and Herman
Robinson, one Of the organizers OF the
American Federation of Labor. AS re-
agreed to reinstate all men who had been
discharged, and specifically stated that his
company had no objection to the lampiight-
ers forming union.
In referring to the Neutrality-suspicious.
bone matter Editor William Upton Talbot
Of the Trades Unionist has this to say:
ION May next President Charles a.
Haywood and George r. Petitions OF the
Western Federation of Miners win be put
ron trial, charged with completely In the as
sassination of ex-Gov. Frank Steunenberg
of Idaho. The case is Of special as we'll as
OF general interest as an incident Of the So
called conflict between capital and labor.
The Western Federation OF Miners Is
medium Of the socialistic propaganda es-
It and the capitalistic interests of the west
ern mining country a bitter hostility has ex-
listed for years-a hostility which has from
time to time borne fruit In desperate re-
prisals on both sides. In the present case
the federation claims that behind the state
authorities are the corporate interests Of
the country. seeking tho conviction OF Moy-
er. Haywood and Pettsbone by fair means
or foul. without regard to their guilt or
-innocence-in other words, that there II q
"capitalistic conspiracy against the officers
of the Western Federation OF Miners One
Of the ablest OF the socialfstic labor leaders
Of the west, James M. O'Neil, editor Of
tho Miners Magazine. in a speech at a pro-
test meeting In Denver, Col. referred to
them as 1.-THE imprisoned men whom capt.
talism yearns to sentence to q scafrold In
the State Of Idaho"
After reviewing the, circumstances sur
rounding the arrest and Imprisonment Of
the accused, Editor Talbot concludes:
EFT ~ evident that as the center Of So
called class struggle. the men on trial are
not in an enviable position. That they are
the objects Of bitter class hatred there can
be no doubt. That hatred has led the So
called conservative element to resort to ir-