Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-10
HAYES RAPS G0MPERS|B|GGEST SHIP FLOATS
Error of Labor in Politics" North Dakota Nays Levia
Policy Demonstrated. than, Successfully Launched.
USURPATION OF AUTHORITY CHRIS TENED IN CHAMPAGNE
Opposes Repeal Of Mary Benton Sponsor Breaks
Antitrust Tau Bottle Bow
IMMIGRATION BUREAU SCORED MANY NoiAbES AXE PRESENT
advertising Steamship First Bgun Fighting
Companies-Knights of Machine OF Navy Leaves
Annual Session Quincy.
Error of Labor in Politics.
Policy Demonstrated.
USURPATION OF AUTHORITY
Master Workman Opposes Repeal Of
" Antitrust Law.
IMMIGRATION BUREAU SCORED
advertising Agency" for Steamship
Companies-Knight of Labor in
Annual Session.

Delegates representing eighteen states
assembled in this city today to attend
ing membership and healthy financial
assembly, Knights of Labor. held at the
headquarters of the organization, As b
street
The principal business of the first meet
ing of the convention this forenoon was
the presentation of officers reports. The
showing made is that the organization is
taking on a boom, with rapidly increas-
ing membership and healthy financial
condition.
John w. Hayes, master workman of the
knights of Labor. read his annual mes
sage to the delegates today. It's several
sections were referred to appropriate
committees
Labor in Politics."
On the subject of Labor and Politics.
Mr.. Hayes said in part:
From the fact that the preamble and
declaration Of principles of the order call
for certain reforms that can be secured
only through state and national legisla-
ton, it does not follow that persons who
join the order must adhere to one polit-
ical party or another, or that they shall
be required to vote for a particular can
dfdate in order to secure these reforms.
The membership of the Knights of Labor
is composed of persons connected with all
the various political parties.
1t is safe to say" he said, that no
knight of Labor can ever be called upon
to support the candidate of one party
as against all others or to endanger the
existence of the organization by submit
ting to the dictatorial authority of any
officer of labor organization such as we
have witnessed in some labor Organiza-
lions during the political campaign just
closed. Since citizenship in the United
States guarantees religious and political
liberty. no officer has the right to say at
what altar a member shall worship or
for what party or candidate he shall
vote.
Free men will necessarily have differ
ent political views. And 1t has been am
ply demonstrated that no exercise of
usurped authority will change them. We
can understand, therefore, how unjust to
the man and how dangerous to the exist
ence of the organization 1t is to attempt
the coercion of a man to vote contrary
to his convictions. No labor organiza-
ton can long withstand the strain of
party politics.
1.-The democrats were hoodwinked by the
Gompers faction of the Federation OF La
Dor into advocating radical proposition
which was interpreted to include the pro-
visions of the Pearre bill, to which the
knights of Labor have always been OPP
posed as impracticable and iniquitous;
while the republicans went to the other
extreme of denying the utility of any re-
form whatever in the existing law.
~: Opposed to Repeal.
1--WE should strive to prevent the undo
ing of what has already been accomplish
ed. For instance, we should by all means
work to prevent the repeal of that portion
of the antitrust law which penalties
combinations in restraint of trade. =
This great law was passed in obedience
to the wishes of the farmers and work
ing people of the country at time When
the knights of Labor exerted more IN
fluence than any other labor ORGANIZATION
ever before or since exerted in this coun-
try. But of late movement has been
set on foot by the trusts to secure Its
and certain so-called labor lead
ers have raised the cry that 1t discrimi-
mates against organized labor. because
courts have constructed it as applying to
labor unions wherever such unions seek
to paralyze interstate comm rec by means
of boycotts.
ITO that end bill known as House bill
No 1915. Sixtieth Congress. first ses-
sion, was prepared and introduced. 1t
was prepared by a committee of the Civic
Federation. consisting of: e. II. Gary,
president of the steel trust; Francis Lynde
Stetson, counsel for the steel trust; Victor
MorawetZ counsel for the Santa Fe rail-
road; Prof. jerks of Cornell University,
a friend of the trusts; Samuel Gompers Of
the American Federation of Labor, ana
other gentlemen more or less prominent
in trust and labor organizations.
This bill would. if enacted, practically
annul the first six sections of the anti
trust law, and leave the trust magnates
a free hand in pillaging the people. And
to this scheme Mr.. Gompers agrees"
Errors of immigration.
Wholesale immigration is deplored; and
Master Workman Hayes says:
1.-THE immigration bureau of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor has
been turned into an advertising agency
in the interest of certain steamship COM
panies engaged in the transportation of
immigrants.
THAT division of information is send
ing out more than 10000 return postal
cards to employers of labor in different
states, asking them to indicate just what
kind of labor they want, and promising
to assist, without any charge in supply
ing it. In this way they are giving aliens
our own citizens in the search for work,
and are at the same time injuring our
farmers and other small independent pro-
ducers by causing flood Of illiterate and
undesirable IOTelSHcTS 10 Dc pOuIcO lIlO
communities hitherto enjoying good So
ciai and educational advantages and an
intelligent. moral citizenship.
$50 dangerous and offensive has this
branch of the immigration department
become that all the reform agencies Of
the country are now asking for the re-
peal of the obnoxious section 40 Of the act
of February 20 1907, under which the
mischievous work is DONE"
Following the reading Of Mr.. Hayes
address the reports of the general secre-
tary, general treasurer and other officers
were submitted and referred to commit
tees.
AT noon a recess was taken. The ses-
sion will continue tomorrow.