The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-04

Character and Offers 10 Prove that
Labor President Went Wide of the
Truth in Editorial Printed in Labor
Organizations OmciaI Organ.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation Of Labor appar-
emily does not read the newspapers very
carefully: at least this is indicated by
the fact that l. White Busbey. secretary
to the Speaker Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives. has caught the labor leader
mapping, and as result has added one
more document 10 the archives Of the
Cannon-GomDers fight. in which Dir. Com
pers is apparently trying to end the
Speakers political career by arraying the
labor vote against him. So far he has
made little if any impression CT the
Speakers following. but the Speaker is
not the man TO keep quiet when he is
attacked. He fights back, and with ef-
feet
Yesterday Mr. Busbey, with the ap-
proval Of Mr.. Cannon, sent the following
letter to the president obsthe Federation
Of Labor;
Dear Sir: In your editorial on Speaker
Cannon. Lest we Forget, in the January
number Of the American Federationlst,
you make some statements as facts that
are not in harmony with your express
sion of opinion that IT Is impossible for
the politician of the Cannon stripe 20 con
celve that there are some. yes, a large
and constantly growing number OF men.
who, true TO a principle. true to cause,
true TO their fellows. would scorn 10
stoop 20 a dishonest or dishonorabe act.
or any act but which would rebound 10
the interest and progress of the workers.
4 assume that you place yourself in
this large and growing class that would
scCrn 10 do dishonest or dishonorable
act, and that you would not do what you
charge the Speaker with attempting T.
do. You close your article with this SEN
tence; These facts are recorded, Uncle
joe lest We forget
And yet 70 Is only twenty days since
the interview between Speaker Cannon
and the plate printers committee took
place. and the local papers printed a full
account OF that meeting. including the
resolutions presented and "a full transcript
Of the Speakers remarks. Let me re-
spectfuIy call your attention to those
press reports, and to the incident re-
ported.
Quotes the Real Facts.
"On Thursday. Dec. 8. Mr. Charles T.
Smith, editor Of the Plate Printer called
at the Speakers room and requested that
an opportunity be given for the executive
committe OF Local No. ?, OF the Interna-
tional Steel Copper Plate Printers Union
/ 70 call and pay their respects and thank
him FOR the work he had done TO benefit
/ the craft. Mr.. Smith said that this COM
mittee would prefer % call on Saturday
/ afternoon about 3 o'clock, and without
consulting Mr. Cannon. I made an en-
gsgement for him for that hour and date
At O clock Saturday afternoon, the com
mittee from the plate printers called on
/ Mr. Cannon We're introduced BY Mr.
Smith and tie president Of the union.
Sir, William D. Leissler, presented a series
/ OF resolutions. These resolutions These
resolutions TeCited that Mr.. CannOn's sue
cess in having the sundTy civil appro-
priatiOn bill amended in 1880. to provide
/ that q certain class of revenue stamps
should be printed from engraved plates.
and also IN the preceding year. to pro-
/ vide that United States currency notes
and bonds should be similarly made, as
we'll as his having, in February. 1893. at
/ the request Of the plate printers exeeu-
/ tive board. moved the adoption Of an
1
/ ton bill, then pending IN the House.
! through which the plate printers were
relieved from a great burden of taxation
upon their earnings, had not only resulted
I in a high standard Of printing for the
/ government securities. but had also given
/ 10 the plate printers craft a uniform and
unbroken prosperity during nearly a de-
cade.
/ Expressed Their Confidence.
The resolutions expressed the graft
tude Of the plate printers for this interest
IN and efforts in behalf Of this legisla-
ton. and expressed their confidence in
the author OF those amendments. The
resolutions were signed by William d.
/ Leissier. president; George p. Foster,
| chairman; r. I. Grace, jeremiah p Muir
ply. Samuel F. McCully, ". D. Clark.
land Charles r. Smith. composing the
executive committee of the plate printers
union. I ask you TO note that I'm these
/ resolutions the committee expressed their
! thanks 20 Mr.. Cannon for past efforts or
/ assistance IN securing legislation benefi-
/ cial to labor There was not line or word
/ in the resolutions, or in the talk, or in
/ the remarks of the committee presenting
them. which expressed any hope or desire
on the part Of The plate printers that Mr..
! Cannon should make any promise or do
anything for them IN the future.
I'm your statement Of facts In the
| American FederatiOnist for January, how
ever. you state A committee of plate
/ printers of Washington called upon
| Speaker Cannon on December Z. 1907. and
asked his support Of bill for new
building in which the l,5Oo employees, men
and women. white and colored. in the
/ Bureau of Engraving and Printing. might
/ have the opportunity of performing their
work with less likelihood of ill-health and
death resulting therefrom, as is the case
/ In the building now occupied by them
1T was the occasion of the plate print