Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11
CRUMBS FOR THE UNION NEN
MR.. ROBERTS DENoUNCEs AL
LEGGED POLITICAL METHODS.
Declares Leaders Are Put in Fat
Government Jobs to influence
the Labor Vote.

That the members Of the plabor unions
who rise above the ranks of labor by
being put in fiat" government jobs soon
forget their former cO-workers and do
nothing to better the conditions which
organized labor is striving to remedy was
the statement which r. C. ROBBERS. a
prominent member Of the local tJpogra-
phical union last night asked trade
unionists to consider seriously.
The delegates who are attending the
international convention of the Bakery
and Confectionery Workers Union, IN
session in this city, were the guests OF
local union, No. lis. at banquet In the
old Masonic Temple at 9th and + streets,
and Mr. Roberts was speaking to those
who attended the dinner.
II am one of the poor unfortunates who
has a government position, and am there
fore muzzled," he stated, after Few IN
troductory remarks. "There IS only one
man who works for the government VINO
is allowed to talk politics" He men
toned no names, but the whispered COM
ments heard around the banquet hail IN
dictated that many were making guesses.
Il would like to see the trade unions
take a more active part in politics. Now
is the time when crumbs are thrown TO
organized labor to catch Its Votes. trace
unionsts are put In fat government JOBS
to influence the fdDOp VOtc.
But the men who rise above the ranks
of labor soon forget the worries OF the
laborers and do nothing for organized
labor. When F. P. Sargent was taken
from the ranks OF labor and made com.
missioner general of immigration he
didn't shorten the hours OF labor ofo the
men who shovel coal into the railroad
locomotives" After mentioning others
and making similar commests on them
II think that deserves serious consid
Grafton. The man who works as union
man 1854 days of the year and Is a seal
on the 36jth day. when he casts his vote
is not a good union man..
About two hundred delegates to the In
ternational convention, members of loca
union. No. 11S. and their wives Wer|
gathered around the banquet board. Johi
Weber, secretary of the local union, act
ed as the POSTMASTER
John Lerch. president of the Contra
Labor Union. was the first speaker. HI
declared that although organized labo
had its antagonists who used money ant
influence against 1t, the reports of thu
different bodies showed that they arr
steadily growing In numbers and in In
f1uenCe and that all workers are becoming
united.
r. r Rockar, president of the Ariol
Singing Society spoke in German. His re
marks were frequently interrupted will
applause Others who spoke were Rober
+. Fisher. international secretary of thu
BAKERY WORKERS. L mon. "A. A. MyTet, III
ternational treasurer; Charles HOhmann
editor of the Bakers Journal. and j
Goldstone. delegate from Boston.
The last speaker. who declared that HI
was of the Jewish race. was greeted will
applause when he pictured Gentle ant
Jew working side by side in the unionis
movement for the upbuilding of the toll
erS of all races.
The committee from the local uniol
which arranged the details of the ban
quet was composed of John Weber. JohI
c. Schmidt, George Jaeger. George Ar
mold and A. l.. Wieser