The Washington herald., 1909-03-18
MACHINISTS' CAUSE
TOPIC At MEETING
Navy Yard Employees Protest
Against Discharge.
APPEAL IS MADE TO MEYER
of National League of
Navy Yard Workers Tells Local
Branch of Visit to Secretary of the
Navy-NO Definite Decision by the
Lstter-Future Efforts Are Planned.

~ report on tne progress fnade IN their
Efforts TO prevent the possible discharge
OF machinists at the Washington Navy
Yard, and to discuss plans for the ex-
tension OF their organization so as TO in
elude practically all navy yard employees
OF the Federal government. Branch No.
Of the National League OF Employees
OF the Navy Yards, Naval Stations. Ar
senals. and Gun Factories OF the United
states, held a meeting at Jennings Hall.
Sl4 Pennsylvania avenue southeast. last
night, at which about 100 members OF the
league were present.
George L. Cain, Of Boston, president Of
the national league. who had been sum
monec to Washington by telegraph as
soon as il was discovered that wholesale
discharges were contemplated. was the
principal speaker OF the evening. He
reported that. in company with a ioint
committee Of the league and the machin-
ISIS union, he called upon Secretary
meyer OF the Navy Department. with
"hom ne had been personally acquainted
IN massachusetts. and interceded with
MIN IN behalf Of the navy yard employees.
secretary Meyer said 20 the committee
mat ne would do all he could n the mat
ter but could not give a definite answer
uhuI ne was better informed as 10 tSe
conditions IN the yard. which were stIll
new 10 hin. as he had been In the DEPART
ment but short time.
Delegates Received.
The members OF the joint committee
who were received by the Secretary were
John B. Simering. c. A. Banes. and ".
Robb, representing the league. and E. L.
Adams. T Carroll. and II Leclair. repre-
senting the machinists' union This com
uittee viii take permanent charge OF the
matter. and do all in its power 10 infu-
ence the President. the Secretary OF the
Navy. and Congress TO adopt some means
Of keeping the men employed.
| Speaking OF the efforts OF the navy yard
employees to have a foundry erected, Nfr
Z Cain said:
You have been fighting FOR years 10
have a foundry here IN the navy yard
The only way 70 get IL is % make a
gigantic and united effort to get help
I from outside organizations. When the
/ bin was before Congress some time ago I
received a telegram from Washington
I that Representative Roberts, OF Msssa-
chusetts. was opposing It IN the Commit
I tee on Naval Affairs
I telegraphed Mr.. Roberts that Il was
Z the wish OF the employees Of the Boston
yard that this foundry should be buiR
I and received assurances from him that
| he was not opposed 20 the bin and would
/ do all ne could 20 have II made a law.
That is the way you should act to-
ward all the members Of the Committee
on Naval Affairs said Mr.. Cain, al the
same time urging the Washington branch
/ 70 keep a lobby constantly al work 10
Try 70 induce Congress 10 provide FOR the
I foundry.
Tells Ultimate Aims.
Speaking OF the ultimate alns OF the
: National League. he said that an effort
would be made 70 enlarge its scope. so
that II would finally take in all the gov
ernment employees in the different depart
ments. including letter carriers. postal
I clerks. members Of the Government Print
| ing Cfice. and or the Bureau Of Ensray-
/ ing and Printing. Working side by side
with the labor unions. although fnde-
/ pendently OF them he said the league
should look after the special interests OF
/ those who work for the government.
His idea was 10 form a federation OF
/ government employees who would meet
| in convention each year to discuss the
welfare OF those who worked for the na-
/ tional government
l The National League now has about
I l0oo0 members. The purpose Of the or
ganization is 70 keep all its members
employed and 10 advocate the passage
/ by Congress OF all bills that are sane
I toned by the President and the heads OF
/ the War and Navy department. Branch
! No 4, OF this city, which is only two
| months old. has already a membership OF
! about zoe. and is growing rapidly.
General Discussion Held.
In the general discussion which fol-
lowed Ny Gains address John B. Sim
mering paid a glowing tribute to Rear
( Admiral E. II. c. Leutze. who has in
/ terceded for US with the Secretary Of the
Navy. who is our friend. and who has
fought our cause as II he We're one Of
US. The mention Of Admiral Leutze's
name brought forth a round Of applause
which indicated that he vas regarded b.
the men as their champion He had been
invited TO attend the meeting last night.
but was compelled 10 decline because Of
a previous engagement,
Among those who attended the meeting
were W. F. Brown, president OF the
" ashington branch or the league, ". y
R Martin, vice president; L. r. Kirby.
secretary; Z. ". Roe. assistant secretary:
G. A Barnes. financial secretary: F. ".
Sharpe. treasurer. and F. p. Parker.
sentinel
With the same object in view as that
Of the National League. James OConneIl.
president OF the International Association
OF MachinistS. with four other prominent
labor officials called on Assistant Score
tary Winthrop. of the Navy Department.
yesterday and urged him 70 do all he
could &c prevent the proposed discharge