Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-16
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will be by ignoring partisan politics and
voting for our friends
Under the heading Labor in Politics
the Trades Cnionist of this city. official
organ of the Central Labor Union, says
editorially:
MANY so-called labor leaders are
breaking into print for the purpose OF
taking issue with President Gompers OF
| the American Federation of Labor, on &C.
count of his apparent attempt to deliver
for President. AS a general proposition
the criticism may be deserved. for if labor
is to come into it's own it must endeavOr
| to make its fight on purely economic
basis. free from faint of political intrigue
and on sound business principles. But in
carrying on it's work the leaders find it
necessary at times to appeal to the law
making power of state legislatures and
| the national Congress to aid in securing
better conditions for the toiler. AS re-
suit in states where organized labor is
| strong and its vote is a factor on cleo
ton day, it has been successful to a great
extent in securing its demands, and in
inverse ratio where organized labor is
weak those states have a prediction for
convict labor camps. long hours of toll,
child labor and many of the Ills COM
planned of by organized labor.
Coming down to the national Congress
it cannot be gainsaid that but scant at
tention has been paid to measures advo-
Cdleu ny ORGANIZED ldDOT through It's
clearing house, the American Federation
of Labor. This led to a protest on the
part Of the leaders of labor being pre-
pared and presented to the law-making
bodies of Congress and the President but
with little effect. Reused to a spirit OF
retaliation the American Federation of
Labor has taken broad step in advance
by asking it's members to reward its
friends and rebuke its enemies
I'm the light Of present conditions the
course of the American Federation of
Labor in selecting one of the dominant
political parties to aid it in securing leg
islation desired by organized labor would
be open to criticism II it were not so pat
ent that even the minor leaders who now
take issue with Mr.. Gompers for taking
the step advocated and approved by them
year ago were heartily in accord with
him at that time.
ITO the small fry labor leader who pos
sibly has a cousin or an uncle in some
soft government berth, or may be in office
himself. a generous discount should be
placed on his protest against Gompers be-
cause of that fact as he would be un-
grateful If he kept quiet while Gompers
attempted to change the administration
that is doing so much for him. But this
is great country and big one. The
people will decide, and in any event. win
or lose, labor will receive far more con-
sderation at the hands Of the law-mak-
ing power after its show of strength at
the polls.
Officers of the Mail Bag Pouch Makers
and Repairers' Union Of this city have
been elected and installed as follows:
Thomas J. Farrell, president; George H
Emmons, vice president: John L. Smith,
corresponding secretary; William s.
Cost. financial secretary and treasurer;
B. c. Green, guide: Alex Won Restorn
guardian: B. A. Craig, steward.
Delegates to Central Labor Union
Thomas J. Farrell. George H. Emmons,
L. w Keaney. John L. Smith and
Alex Won Restorff.
Trustees-W. J. Armstrong, B. A. Craig
and A. c. Rhode
Consul Jesse Fl. Johnson advises that
the annual conference representing tin
plate manufacturers and labor was re-
Gently held in Swansea, concerning which
he writes: ''The main object was to dis
cuss the wages in the tin plate trade
The smelters' claim for ~ per cent ad-
vance was withdrawn, and as substitute
the abolition Of 2 per cent waste was put
forward, but refused by the employers.
The request by the openers (girls) for
the payment .of singles was conceded.
A request for the 'behinders' was reject
ed. 1t was agreed that at all pots in
the tinhouse where there were no risers
assistance must be given to tin men.
AS to speed. that was a question of man.
agement. No alteration was made with
regard to packers, but the tinhousemen
were conceded payment for waste
waste"