Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-23
GOLD WATCH FOR De NEDREY
LABOR UNION HONORS
SECRETARY.
Temple of Labor Report Under Dis
Observation-Disclosures to Fed
Grafton Opposed.

The proceedings of the Central Labor
Union were suspended a few minutes last
evening while President John II. Torch
spraing surprise upon Sam De Nedrey.
secretary of the organization, by present
ing him with handsome gold watch
| from his friends in the world of labor
A vigorous discussion was in progress
over the Temple of Labor controversy.
Mr.. De Nedrey had just finished spicy
speech in opposition to the adoption of the
committees report, when President Torch
made the presentation in recognition of
his services for the cause of organized la
bor''
prised. He. however returned thanks and
said the watch would be priceless heir
loom in the De Nedrey family for all time.
Then he declared:
Boys, l would rather have this token
from you than to be the possessor of the
bank account of a Rockefeller.
The applause that followed gave evil
dence of Sam De Nedreys popularity.
Labor Temple Discussed.
Preceding the presentation, John H.
Brinkman. chairman of the committee
that has been investigating the Labor
Temple Association, made a report to the
central body.
The committee. composed of John H.
Brinkman, Jere F. Mccarthy. E. a. Bach
rach and Ed l.. Tucker, in its report Ten
dered two weeks ago, recommended that
the plans upon which money is being
raised for the erection of the temple first
be submitted to the American Federation
of Labor. The committee said the leder-
alton was competent to judge the merits
of all things rela,.ng to labor.
Mr.. Brinkman declared the movement for
. ta IS - bod hoo
Quoted along unbusinesslike lines, adding:
Il want to say at the beginning that l
am not opposed to building national
Temple of Labor. as has been alleged, but
am opposed to building a temple Of la
Dor on ony such proposition as the Tenn
pie Association is putting forward, want
all delegates to read the bylaws and con-
stitution of the corporation, and see
if 1 am not right"
Fairbanks Contribution.
There was a ripple OF sensation when
Mr.. Brinkman asserted:
''Vice President Fairbanks gave the
committee 500. That donation is not in
cluded in the list which the association
gave my committee to transcrbe.
Il have not charged that members of
tho association have held up congress
men and senator's for donations but 1 do
charge that their paid agents have, and
this is one case.
THE association has employed as col
lecto-s men who are not affiliated with
organized labor. men who are after the
coin.
I'VE are not charging graft, but we do
say the association is working on unbusi-
nessllke lines. The members are making
mistakes of the head. and not the heart.
but they are mistakes, nevertheless
Mr.. Brinkman further stated that Vice
President Fairbanks. in donating 500 to
the temple fund, believed he was dealing
with r. G. NJ. Ross, an officer of the Tenn
pie Association, when. as shown by the
minutes Of the corporation, he was deal
ing with a paid agent.
By the charter Of the corporation. Ross
was appointed sole agent to collect money
and all money collected. whether by him
or by some one else. Is accredited to
him.
Secretary De Nedrey, in opposing the
adoption of the report Of the commit
tee, declared the proposal to refer the
whole matter to the American Federation
Of Labor would mean there would be no
temple in Washington.
President Gompers and the American
Federation of Labor" he said, favor
erection of schools and courthouses, but
ar. strangely silent along labor temple
building lines.
The federation. as the committee
knows, would treat the proposal unfavor-
ably. That Is why it has been suggested
the. report be referred to that body"