Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-09
TEMPLE IS CRITICISED
Investigators Report to Gen.
trail Labor Union.
ENDORSEMENT Is WITHHELD
Approval of Committees Findings Is
Not Given.
DEFINITE ACTION POSTPONED
Reference to Executive Council, A.
F. Of L., With Request for In
vestigation, Recommended.
ENDORSEMENT is WITHHELD
ACTION POSTPONED

Criticism of the business methods anu
organiza ton plan of the National Iemple
of Labor Association. as calculated 10
provoke aspersions upon the cause OF or
sanized labor. was contained in the re-
mort of the investigating committee or
Central Labor Union laid before that
body last night.
The report was followed by an animated
debate. AS result no action was taken
either toward indorsing the national
temple of labor proposition or in ap-
proval of the recommendations of the In
vestigating committee. The matter was
postponed until the next meeting.
The investigating committee recommend
ed that the Central Labor Union withhold
it's Endorsement of the proposition of the
National Temple Of Labor Association
to erect a million dollar temple to labor in
this civ and that the entire matter be
brought to the attention of the executive
council of he American Federation OF
Labor for consideration. and that the
council be requested to investigate and
report.
Substance Of Report.
The report called attention to contracts
between the association and its agent
which, 1t is stated. awarded - cents In
every dollar collected for the building
fund to the agent. The system of control
was characterized as intolerable. That
the plan of organization was open to OBJ
lection. and the failure of the assocla-
ton to procure before it's adoption the
sanction of organized labor vas also
subject of comment.
vestigating committee. in presenting the
report said no aspersions were directed
| a. the temple committee or its members
| He however urged that the Temple OF
Labor proposition be weighed careiui' =; y,
| and that nothing he done that could IN
any way in the future put weapon In
the hands of the enemies of organized
| labor.
Considerable interest has been mani
tested in the statement in the report re-
garding 3 contract between he Temple
Association and Robert g. NJ ROSS
! which 1t is alleged, provides that MT
| Ross should receive p per cent of al
monies collected by him for he temple
| Mr. Ross under the contract as quoted
was to be general manager and sole and
| only agent.
! An explanatory paragraph in the report
recited that officials of the association
agreement had been so changed as to per
nit the association to contract witf
! other solicitors by striking out the words
sole and only" and that c. A. Pau
| treasurer
ceive one-half Of the commissions du'
Mr.. Ross under the agreement. There
| was, however. ii was stated. no writer
| instrument to this effect.
Possible Fees.
| Should Mr. Ross collect an entire mil
lion dollars for the temple the commits
sion would amount to ss:s3. 3;ts 81 1t was
pointed out, under the agreement.
| ~ renOft
| from November ~ to March %. inclusive
s6432j represents the total amount col
| lected or received from donations and all
other sources. while the expenses of the
| association have amounted to S423. IS
leaving a balance in the treasury OF
S219.39.
The figures and contracts are given
by the committee without comment.
The report created a stir among the
| delegates. 1t was voted that suf1cien'
copies be printed SO that all might &C
| through 1t carefully.
1t Is in part as follows:
| I'VE reluctantly state from what we
can learn from the officials of the Tenn
pie Association there is no definite plar
outlined in connection with the raising OF
funds and the government of the associa
ton during the fund raising period.
THE present system Of control Is. say
ing the least intolerable. We do moi
think any lawyer will risk his reputation
in denying that IL ii were possible tt
raise the necessary funds and erect the
proposed temple ii would b. the sole
property of these now constituting tn
dire torate. from a legal point Of view
Even though their honesty. patriotism Il
the cause Of labor and integrity were be
vond question. others who would natural
" succeed them in the various station!
might be differently constituted men,
The report goes on to state that 1t is tn
opinion of the committee that before
dollar was solicited the association shoul'
have considered carefully the plan Of or
ganizafion and after arriving at a dehn1t
inclusion should have secured the sane
ton of the federated trades. The question
Of the ability Of these trades leads tn
) committee tn favor plan whereby tn
property would not he attachable on thi
. ground. The committee expresses the he
. lief however. that some scheme NOR
popular and democratic might have bee
. found.
Apprehension of Criticism.
Your committee is more than appre
: hensive for fear a large amount of none
will have been contributed. not sufficient
. however. to carry to frution the enter
: prise. AS it is but reasonable porto
will be expended for legitimate expenses
. the whole could not be refunded. AS
result those who never miss an oppoI
: tunity to cast aspersion upon organize
; la Dor would be armed to do us injury b
our own hands.
Your committee believes the tempt
; association should have constructed II
{ plan satisfactorily to organized labor
i. the District before going before the publ
i. soliciting funds with no comprehensiv
. prospectus.
. 1.-The Central Labor Union Is deepl
: concerned over. the matter of governmer
of this association. While it may hav
no legal connection with the enterpris
: yet its moral influence and responsible
1 ! is of such character it could not oscar
. condemnation if failure should ensue."