Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-02
IN LABOR CIRCLES
c.

A special report from New York city gives
a spicy account of how the mandate of the
American Federation of Labor was carried
into effect there Monday. 1t says:
Whipped into line by national and inter
national officers, acting under secret in
structions from Samuel Gompers. sixty
four delegates to the Central Federated
Union voted yesterday to accept the man
date Of the American Federation of Labor,
thereby admitting that 1t was without
local autonomy in labor difficulties and
necessitating the suspension of twenty-five
powerful and we'll organized independent
or dual unions.
This decision, which places under the
thumb Of one hundred and twenty national
labor officials the half million union men
in New York city and changes the entire
order of conducting union labor affairs
throughout the country, came only after
most bitter debate, in which one fist fight
seemed imminent.
Those opposed to the American Fedora
ton officials mustered fifty-four votes. a
strength which proved a distinct shock and
surprise to national officers present. Frank
Morrison, secretary of the American Fed
GRAFTON, admitted after the vote had been
taken that 1t was no victory for Mr..
Gompers and his organization.
This Is a victory then for the national
~
completely control the nearly two million
OF union men in the United States" de-
clared Harry De Veaux of the Actors
Union, as he protested against the ruling
OF James Holland, the president, that
two-thirds vote was unnecessary to accept
the mandate of the American Federation.
Shut up, you curl" shrieked Timothy
Healy. international president of the eccen-
trio firemen and labor leader politician. as
Holland began to explain his decision.
De Veaux started for the platform where
Healy was sitting, but was prevented by
friends from attacking him. Instead, he
hurled back into the teeth of Healy a most
bitter denunciation, calling him eur"
several times. Healy did not reply and
soon left the hall. De Veaux left the
meeting at its close armed and under guard
Of three friends, as a rumor had spread
that Healy and some of his friends were
waiting outside to attack him.
AS the result of its decision. the Central
Union must reinstate the Musicians Union
and the Theatrical Stage Hands Union.
which were suspended because they had
deliberately refused to give any moral
support to the locked out chorus per-
formers at the Metropolitan Opera House.
This was a bitter pill for the delegates,
and movement was Immediately started
to obtain the Endorsement of the executive
council of the American Federation to a
suspension of the two unions. In this
connection James Barry Of the Actors
Union charged that certain labor leaders
had used their influence with the commits
into this country of foreigners en-
ployed in Herr Conried's chorus An in
vestigaton of this charge will be made.
Among the unions unaffiliated with the
American Federation which were sus-
pended are several of the oldest and
strongest in New York city. Although eff
forts will be made to induce them to join
federation organizations, the probable
suit of the fight will be the creation of
second central labor body in New York.
Such action will greatly weaken the union
labor strength of the city and menace al
most every union, especially those in the
building trades.
Delegates who opposed giving up local
autonomy and the home rule policy
which has been had for years by all NUM-
cipal central labor bodies declare they will
carry the fight into the next convention
of the American Federation Of Labor and
make war Samuel Gompers and the
other national officials who have managed
the fight for the A. F. of l.. during the
last six weeks in New York city.
Political aspect of the present fight in
the Central Union, several delegates de-
Michael Fitzgerald, who has just obtained
a $4,000 a year plum from the democratic
state organization. Although it meant the
driving of his own union, the mail car,
riers from the central body Fitzgerald
voted to sustain Mr.. Gompers and the
American Federation.
In recent article in the Information on
Labor Unions as Remedy Richard Oh
ney. former Secretary of state says:
1.-The immediate advent Of the millennium
is not to be anticipated as the result OF the
partfcipation in politics of organized LABOR
But it may be we'll to note in conclusion,
that, in labor acting with practical unanim-
ity with or without formal organization and
wisely advised and led, Is to be found the
best guaranty and the strongest nope OF
the continued aScendancy of American po-
litical principles and of the permanency of
American political institutions. The pro-
nounced trend of current events is at vari-
ance with those principles and adverse to
those institutions. 1t Is toward strong CEN
tralized government; toward paternallsm
and the increase of government activities,
both in number and extent; toward enlarg-
ing the powers OF the general government
at the expense of home rule and of govern
ment by the states; toward putting the
country a permanent war footing and
converting from a pacific people to
people under arms; toward burdening ns
with inordinate taxation inseparable from
great military ornaments, and toward the
doctrine and practice of the doctrine that
rights are not to be predicated either of
nations or individuals. that 1t is superior
strength alone which counts and is the true
test of law and of morality and that the
stronger may work its will with the weaker
whenever the interests of the stronger
which the stronger will always deem coin
eident with those of mankind and civiliza-
ton generally-shall so require. If these
only too obvious tendencies are to be and
should be resisted, whence is the resistance
to come? Not from the capitalistic class,
which Is naturally in love with strong
government, with a money-spending gov
eminent, and with a government which In
the cause of good business, will stick at
nothing that can be done with safety and
profit. Not from the professional classes,
so-called, whose members invariably dis
agree on such issues, even clergymen being
found to approve Of war as a healthy slim
ulant no people be without. The one
class-and the only class in the community
to be counted upon the sure opponent of
the pernicious tendencies in question is the
wage-earning class.
The Trade Unionist says: "Ralph NJ. Hug
dal, for several years past employed in the
government printing office, his last assign
ment there being as reader on the Rec
ord, has resigned from that service and
taken a place in the inspection bureau of
the Post Office Department. Mr.. Hugdal
came here from Eau Claire. Wis. and dur
ing his stay in the printery he fully demon
strated his ability a workman and
showed his capacity for making friends AS
he is honest and capable and white he
ought to succeed in his new position. 1
sincerely hope and believe he will. He
leaves many others in the Swamp who echo
and indorse these sentiments"
kfter the ClafrvovanfS