The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-08-05

iHe Iolio"luS petition was sent 10
Senator Culbertson to present to Con
gress, by the officials of the AmaIgamated
Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Work
crs, but usual it received scant at
tention by that plutocratic trust controll-
ed institution:
g National, Lodge Amalgamatcd Asso-
citation of Iron, Steel and Tin
Workers,
'Pittsburg, pa.
- Senator Culbertson, United States Sen
ate, Washington, d. c.:
"Dear Senatorial this time, when the
tariff bill is approaching it's final pas
sage, after having undergone numerous
changes for the alleged purpose of pro-
tecting American labor against the lower
paid labor of Europe, we desire to call
your attention to the fact that the Amer
subsidiary of the United States Steel
Corporation, has commenced an uncallcd
for war of determination against the
Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers by refusing to treat
with this organization, one of the most
conservative labor organizations in this
country, at a time when its officers are
arguing for or having the cause of pro-
lection presented to Congress because of
its supposed benefits to labor. We have
favored the tariff because Of the belief
that it was intended to represent the diff
ference between the lower wages of for
eign countries and wage rate that
would be in keeping with a standard of
living for American workmen that would
meet the proper ideals of American citi-
zenship.
'Thc sheet and tin plate workers idle
because of the action of the tin trust are
not receiving any of this boosted protec
ton from foreign competition, while the
trust is reducing wages, refusing the
right to organize and advertising for men
to take their places, with an expressed
preference for Syrians, Poles and Rou-
manians. How the trust employees
feel that they are protected under such
conditions?
"May we call your attention to the
situation existing at the Pressed Steel
Car Company S works in this country
in the past few days, where the so-caled
open shop and unorganized labor is riot
ing for justice and against conditions
that ought to make all Americans blush
with shame.
"Perhaps the following quotation from
a statement made public by President
IIoffstott, of the Pressed Steel Car Com
pany, will illustrate: I'VE have PA four
room houses and thirty-two apartment
houses. The rent from the four room
houses is $l2 month. This money is de-
Quoted from the men s pay, but, every
family has a number of roomers, the rent
does not amount to very much a num-
Der of roomers in Il family occupying
four rooms. The wage rate that makes
this necessary must be appalingly low, yet
Mr.. Hofstott says there is nothing to
arbitrate.
"These conditions face the workers in
the protected sheet and tin industries if
the right to organize is denied them.
eff capital has the right to organize,
what reason capital give why the
men who create it have not the same
right, and more2
cit behooves Congress to protect labor,
and see that these combinations of wealth
in tariff protected industries do not, by
working regulations, absorb all of the
benefits of the tariff, or oppress their en-
ployes until a contented people shall be
come discontented and spirit be invoked
of hatred to this class of employers
which having bred distrust VIII distribute
| disaster.
| cit is vain to cry protection to
American labor when it is idle and starry
| ing; it is useless for Congress to waste
time considering tariff schedules if the
| benefciaries organizations of capita
in Industrial enterprises, which deny the
right of organization to their working
men, as the intelligent labor of this coun.
try knows that the law of nature is or