Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-12
IN LABOR CIRCLES
g.

The workinsmen of Washington are
manifesting much interest in tie recent
action of the New York City Federated
u mon In proposing that organized labor
enter the arena of politics as an indie
pendent political party. In a recent
article the New York Tribune says: The
decision of the United States Supreme
Court awarding three times the damages
asked for to Loewe & Sons of Danbury.
Conn. i'll the suit of the firm against the
United Hatters of America for boycotting
It's product, came up for discussion, and
resulted yesterday in the submission of
resolutions by the executive committee
at the meeting of the Central Federated
Union calling on the American Federation
OF Labor to order a national convention
or the unions to go into independent poll
tics 9.
During the discussion following the
SUBMISSION or the resolution the socialist
uelegates made their usual arguments i'm
favor of the workingmen Joining the
socialist party. The American Constitu-
ton was declared to be an antiouated
document. applying to the conditions Of
10 years ago, but requiring revision to
ne appllcable to the present time, and
the United States Supreme Court justices
were criticised as men who were behind
the Times. j. Pierpont Morgan was Incl
uental!y criticised for being quoted i'm an
-iilei we" as saying the working mnn.
Wouiu nave to starve or accept wages
mat would make honest business possihle
and profitable
IN the preamble to the resolutions it
was stated that great crisis, which
snouid De met sincerely and determinedly,
laced the country and the workingmen
The resolutions asked for the Immediate
Gazing OF a convention in some central
city py the American Fedora ton of Labor
at as early date as possible "for the pur-
pose or discussing these attacks upon the
trade unions. and devising WAYS and
means for the immediate oreaoiza tion of
an independent political ira de union move
nent throughout the country"
me resolutions also said that while the
trade unions were bereft of the power of
the boycott. the interests combined
against the trade unions through the
courts could virtually boycott the unions.
Iney also asked that copies of the reso-
>lutions be sent to the American Fedora
tion OF Labor and every trade union
throughout the country. with a request
that they be discussed and a report be
sent back as soon as possible.
IL Is necessary to act quickly" said
secretary BONN of the Central Fedora ted
L mon, otherwise the decision in the case
OF the matters will De followed by the de-
struction of the unions. 1t is evidently
the intention of the employers to deprive
Inc unions of their usefulness"
Morris Brown. socialist delegate. ar
gued in favor of socialism. Another So
cialist followed declaring that the time
was now ripe for the working people to
join a party that really represented the
working people. There was socialist ap-
plause after these speeches
Unless you could put up your own can
dldateS and elect your own President -
said eX-Assemblyman Prince. delegate of
the Cigar Packers Union you could ac-
complish nothing. as the United States
Supreme Court is the highest court in
the country. You would have then to
create sentiment in favor of the elimina-
ton of the labor unions from the Sherman
act by new legislation
Here Herman Robinson, the financial
secretary took the floor He said he was
not a representative of President Roose-
welt but he had a word to say in his
favor.
Il see in an interview with President
Roosevelt. he said. that the President
recommended that the portion of the
Sherman law by which the labor unions
come under its provisions should be
changed l believe in giving credit where
credit is due.
Morris Brown got up again and argued
in favor of socialism. saying that the So
cialists were the only honest representa-
tives of the people. Timothy Healey of
the Eccentric Firemen's Union objected to
this broad assertion.
Does Delegate Brown mean to say
he demanded, that there are no honest
democrats or republicans in the country?'
Brown said he did not mean that con-
struction to be put on his words. He be-
lieved that there were many honest demo-
Gratis and republicans, but that there were
many of them who were neither honest
nor sincere.
the unions were ready to form a national
party. Brown would be willing for the So
cialist party to merge in it, the united
party to have new name. Brown hesi-
tated. and then said that Il the party rep
resented the interest of the people he
would not object.
The Supreme Court justices and the Con
stitution were criticised by James Hatch
of the Upholsterers' Union.
The supreme Court justices and the Con-
hold that the Sherman act is constitu-
tional as applied to-the labor union. What
we have to agitate for is the moderniza-
ton of the Constitution. We are not liv-
ing under the conditions OF 123 years ago,
when the Constitution was formed but we
are governed by the conditions of I2J
years age The judges are fossilzed. and
while they are nice Old men. they cannot
understand the years that have elapsed
since the Constitution was applica BILE to
the conditions. Matters will be no better
than they are now as long as we are gov
erned by these old conditions, while we
are living under utterly different condi-
tions now
A dispatch from New York yesterday
says: president Patrick III. Mccormick
of the local Typographical Union, known
as the Big Six" and George w. Jackson
and Vincent J. Costello, union organizers,
today We're fined $50 each and sentenced
to twenty days imprisonment for disobe-
dience Of an injunction obtained by the
typothetae of New York in 1906. Thomas
Bennett and William S. Anderson were
was imposed by Justice Bighoff in the
supreme court
Samuel Gonlpers. president of the Amer
lean Fedora ton o Labor appealed to the
labor unions of Philadelphia. in a letter
received by the Central Labor Union yes
terday, to contribute funds for defer Sc
Of the federation against the recent de-
cson of Justice Gou,d OF the District of
Columbia. in the suit of the Buck Stove
and Range Company>Of St Louis. The de-
cision 'enjoined the American Federation
of Labor any of its officers or mem bers
from printing. writing or orally conmuni-
eating the act that the stove company
lad assumed hostile attitude against or
ganized labor"
The Brotherhood OF Carpenters and
Joiners has gained III new unions, and
29,6sl more members are now on the
books in good standing than was the case
one year ago. The total membership in
good standing on the books at the inter-
national Office is 1889. which means
that the brotherhood has actually more
than 100000 members.