The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-04-20


Hence. labor has turned its face
towards the halls of Congress, from
which relief should be obtained in a
peaceful manner Here. at least. the
voices of the majority should be heark-
ened to. and their Will. expressed by their
ballot, crystaIlized into law
Mr. Morrison said labor was asking OF
Congress the adoption Of these measures:
That the Sherman antitrust law be so
amended that II will not include labor
unions; to adopt a bill to regulate and
limit the issuance Of injunctions: that a
general employers liability bill be enact
ed, and. lastly, by amendment to extend
the application of the eight-hour law TO
iali government employees. and those en-
pl6yed upon work for the government.
whether By contractors or subcontTactors.
Morrison scores LittIefeId.
This is the legislation that Inc wage
workers are demanding OF Congress, said
Mr. Morrison. Since this demand. an
EN- ployers' liability bin was adopted by
tn House by vote of 500 in favor to one
agN INST Littlefeld. the pronounced, Bit
ter, and relentless enemy Of organized
labor Of the country. was the sole OBJ
ponent"
Mr.. Morrison said Iabors protest was
against the law which permits the Sd
preme Court TO strip labor Of the rights
and liberties guaranteed by the Constitu-
ton. In conclusion. Mr.. Morrison said:
I am firmly convinced that members OF
organized labor will never 80 far forget
their interests as to favor a candidate
who has grievously injured the labor
unions and as q result; OF thar injury the
unions are to-day seriously hampered In
their efforts TO secure better and still bet
| ter conditions"
Following letters OF regret from Sen
ator La Toilette. Representative John
| Sharp Williams, and Samuel Gompers,
who urged the labor men 10 speak out
| openly. Representative Greene, Of Mass
| aehusetts. was introduced.
Time Great Correetor.
Mr.. Greene expressed sympathy with
the labor movement. saying he came
from Fail River. one Of the greatest
labor eenters in the country.
Il regret that the Supreme Court of
Massachusetts. and the Supreme Court
of the United States. to which I bow
as loyal citizen. have made some &c
cisions which seem ininlical to labor"
said Mr.. Greene. But I look back TO
the time when we had the ten-hour law
in Massachusetts, and the hfty-eight-hour
law, and ! am not discouraged.
II sympathize with you in your troubles.
They come to all of us We are always
trying to overcome them. If you don't
succeed at first. try again. I believe in
organized labor. because when aman goes
into battle alone he loses. but when he
organizes he wins. Although you may
not win in 1908, there are years to come.
I counsel you 10 be resourceful and
persistent. Victory Will perch on your
banner"
Method Right, Says Dick.
Senator Dick. after a fattering intro
duction from Chairman Morrison, an
nouneed himself in favor Of the labor
unconventional the efforts of the unions
to secure equal rights. After placing
himself on record as favoring the eight
hour law, Senator Dick said:
You are pursuing the right methods.
It is an old American habit and has been.
an American right to meet as you have
tonight 20 give expression to your wishes
Because you have failed once in your
efforts is no reason why you viii do so
again. It took more than eighty years to
abolish slavery, but It was abolished
So, if any right is infringed on, or any
wrong done. the spirit of American fair
ness will adjust It.
This has always been the condition,
and always win be so.
THE struggle of labor has been re-
sented. But as the cause has grown we
have recognized that what is good for
labor is good for all. And it is now the
general hope that the wages shall be the
highest paid, the hours the shortest, and
that the best Of opportunities shall be
granted all.
Evolution, Not Revolution.
Law is government Destroy the law
and you destroy the government If the
laws are bad, amend them-strengthen
them-but only lawfully or in a constitu-
tional manner.
Senator Dick urged that the fight OF
organized labor for their rights be one
of evolution, and not of revolution. That
it be an appeal to the sense of justice
and reason.
And If the cause Is worthy" said
EEtldt8t Iiths AZ VIII kitt latis
"No better effort is being made for the
uplift OF our country than that Of or
ganized labor" he said. Il think scholars
and writer's Will agree that this cause
should have the support that il merits.
Go 10 Congress and the State legis-
latiye bodies and ask for remedies. In
my judgment. the legislative bodies will
grant your request so long as it is fair
More than that do not ask or hope for.
But all that is fair you viii achieve.
'All patriotic americans recognize that
opportunity has been produced by the
toilers. The highest wage should be paid
the American toiler~
Representatives Cary, Savage, Nichols,
Lloyd, and Hughes urged that labor stand
for its rights. They argued that the IN
terssts Of labor would be best protected
by laboring men being elected to legisla-
tive bodies. All the speakers agreed that
II ii was right for a corporation to black
list. 1t was legal for the labor uninos to
use the same weapon Of defense or attack.
Representative Cary. VINO was a tele-
graph operator, created a laugh when he
apologized for ais lack of oratorieaI pow
ers.
IF I was Inflated as much as your gas
company, might be able to give you
little more oratory he said.
Following the adoption OF resolution