Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-11
IN LABOR CIRCLES
o.

ly the prospective public printer. are
very much in the limelight Of organized
labor at this particular time. With the
presidential campaign looming up on the
horizon. the prohibition contest in Con-
a practical printer appointed to succeed
Charles A. Stillings as head Of the gov
eminent printing Office, the labor leaders
are looking ahead to busy times.
It is understood that at the extraordi-
nary and special session OF the executive
council Of the American Federation of
Labor. which has been called by Presi-
dent Samuel Gompers the foregoing mat
tiers may be considered as we'll as the
recent injunction decisions. Then, too,
the attitude of the employers assOcia-
tons in Washington and elsewhere on the
open shop controversy must be added to
the propositions which are confronting
the hosts of organized labor just now.
The situation, it is conceded. presents
that will require cool
heads. level thoughts and dispassionate
diplomacy and tact in the unravelinS.
The extra session Of the council of the
A F. Of L. Will therefore be an i'm
portant one. it is predicted, and its out
come will be awaited with interest and
anxiety by the thousands of members of
the labor unions that are scattered over
this broad land.
The Employers Association of Wash
ington has thrown down the gage of bat
tle-the battle for the open shop-and 1t
is said similar organizations OF employers
in the large cities, backed by the Manu-
facturers' Association. will make united
and determined efforts to maintain open
shop conditions, and that the contest in
the coming spring will be general.
Many Of the workingmen of Washington
have taken sides with the opponents of
tention of endeayoring to defeat the meas
ures before Congress which propose to
make Washington a dry town." 1t is
said to he their opinion that the passage
of the prohibitory measures would make
this city mot only dry town." as a
labor leader expressed it, but a dead
town as we'll.
The Upholsterers' Union has sent to the
Central Labor Union. as its represent
atives. II. Nolda, +. keimer, B. r. Coles.
A. Zarges and r. r. Birch.
Organized labor will not only make
vigorous protest against the confirmation
of Rossiter-should he be appointed pub
lie printer-but will also fight the confir-
nation of any one who is in favor OF
farming out the governments printing by
contract. Such 1 learn is the sentirHent
of one of the candidates.-Joe NJ. John
son in the Trades Unionist.
In an article against prohibition in the
District in the Trades Unionist, Editor
Sam De Nedrey says:
ITO some of the fat-witted on the sub
ject of prohibition. let me suggest that
public sobriety is relative duty and
therefore enjoined by our laws; private
sobriety is an absolute duty. which,
whether it be performed or not. human
tribunals can never know. and therefore
they can never enforce it by civil sane
tion' Let this soak in. 1t will do you
good"
Word comes from Philadelphia that
financial circles were surprised at the
report that the Midvale steel works had
shut down and 5000 workmen hau been
sent home without any definite announce
ment as to when they were to return
Treasurer Desslet admitted it was the
greatest shutdown in the plants history
Virtually all the men except the repair
gangs were out. and he did not know
when work would resume.
Miss Mary Van Kleeck, who. with sew
eral other young women. recently made
an investigation of some typical blocks
OF New York tenement houses. not pick
ed out because tley were especially bad,
found 55S child workers, of whom 4O6
were girls and 152 boys, all under SIX
t en years of age One was only three
years old :; were aged four, n aged five.
- aged six. "A aged seven. 10 aged ten.
To- aged eleven. 9O aged twelve. rs aged
As from fourteen 10 sixteen. or
the whole number 431 were attending
school but working at home after school
hours. Twenty-three were under age
too young even for a kindergarten but
old enough to work.
In the election held by the Miners
Union of Butte. Mont, the ticket headed
by P. j. Duffy was chosen by big ma
jority over the opposition ticket. The
in the mining world as regards
laborers remains unchanged, but the be-
lief prevails that the scale will be grant
{ d, though some concessions may be made
and a fve-year agreement be signed.
A number of young woman telegraphists
in Denver recently went on strike, de-
higher salaries, and to be treat
ed on equal terms with the men. The
eSrcsded the terms on con-
dition that they did the same work as the
men, This was accepted. and now sew
eral OF the young women are employed at
telegraph poles to repair broken
wires.
The national executive committee of
the Industrial Workers of the World an
nounced that a national convention will
be held in Chicago April g. when matters
Of great Importance to labor will be dis