Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-28
IN THE LABOR WORLD


this time is politics
Industrial subjects have been shelved
for the time being. while the labor lay
men are discussing the political situation
at their homes i'm the shops and at the
meetings of workingmens unions. Many
OF the leaders are talking politics from
the stump. and little else will be thought
of until after next Tuesday other than
the chances of election of Judge Taft
and William ]. Bryan.
Samuel Gompers. president of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. is using both
his pen and his voice in behalf of Will
liam ]. Bryan's election. For the next
six days he will wind up his campaign
speaking in the the states with a whirl-
wind finish. his associates declare.
John Mitchell was criticised recently by
members of a miners union because or
his alleged activity in behalf of the demo-
cratic national ticket. Replying to his
critics, Mitchell said:
Il am sure that / shall not be charged
with partisanship when i advise each citi-
zen to examine carefully the principles
and policies of the various political or
ganizations; to investigate the character
and standing of the candidates; to con-
slider seriously the effect of the election
upon the nation as a whole and upon that
division of society in particular to which
ne belongs. and, having done this II Is
his duty to cast his ballot in accordance
with dis best Judgment and with the die
tates of his conscience.
over and above ALL trade unionists
should ever keep in mind the necessity OF
preserving inviolate the strength and IN
tegrity of unions. When the election Is
over and the excitement and enthusiasm
incident to it have passed away-regard-
less of who is elected to the presidency
the organizations of labor, as heretofore
and as never before. will be to the work.
ingmen the bulwark of their liberties"
Out in Ohio journeymen printers are
stamping for Judge Taft. as are several
union miners in Illinois, Indiana ana
Pennsylvania.
Sam De Nedrey of this city has returned
to West Virginia, and from the stump Is
advising trades unionists to vote tor
Bryan.
Nearly every labor union in the Dis
trict has been placed on record against
Representative Brodhead's scheme to
transfer some of the Washington navy
yard prosperity to his congressional dis
trict in Pennsylvania and leave in its
place a streak of hard times for many
machinists and helpers. Citizens associa
tons. the Chamber of Commerce and
patriotic organizations have also voiced
their protest against the proposed trans
fer of some of the naval gun factory
work to private establishments in the
vicinity of Bethlehem. Pa.
Workers in the navy yard have express.
ed their appreciation OF tn recent edi-
NETT L. Adams. business agent of the
machinists. declared The Stars editorial
hit the nail squarely on the head and
drovd it home"
The Trades Unionist in it's last issue
has this to say on the Brodhead matter:
The proposition submitted TO the
DIE tot xa
Of Pennsylvania to divert some of the
work from the navy yard here to Beth
lehem. Pa. should meet with. vigorous
protest from residents of this city.
THE representative from Columbia
Lodge Of Machinists &c. L. Adams) very
ably puts the case when he points out
the weakness of the claim for this share
OF the work for the Bethlehem plant in
that II means but transfer OF condi-
lions from one city to another.
Another point that can be claimed for
the navy yard force is that 1t Is familiar
with the work in hand and 1t would un-
doubtedly mean loss to the govern
ment to make change. aside from the
fact that 1t would be poor business pol
icy for the government or even pri-
vate employer to close up q plant and
give its work out to another institution.
The further point is made by the ma
cllinists that the men in the navy yard
have come to Washington from all parts
OF the country and made their homes
herein many instances are buying
homes-and the diversion of any work
from the navy yard in face OF the dis
missal of over 200 men last July would
work a great hardship to those inter-
ested.
LAS a matter of fact, 1t is a question
that concerns the business community Of
Washington. and should be taken cog
nfzance of by merchants generally
throughout the city.
Let us keep all our work in Washing
ton. We need 1t. 1t means more money
to spend with merchants. more for in
vestment and for the life of trade gen.
orally