The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-18
OBJECTION is RAISED
TO PORTIONS OF REPORT
Committee Declares That it Does Not
Attack Organized Labor But the
Methods Used BY Leaders
of the Unions.

New York, May 17.-An attack on the
methods OF organized labor" broke the
otherwise calm routine of the first days
session of the National Association of
Manufacturers, which convened today at
of certain phases of labor unions, in
cluding fling at Samuel Gompers, pres
ident of the American Federation of
Labor was embodied in a report of the
committee on Industrial education, of
which Anthony Ittner of ST. Louis Is
chairman After considerable discussion
the report was referred to a special COM
mittee, after the convention had gone on
record as indorsing not an attack on or
ganzed labor, per Sc, but the methods
of labor"
The attitude of the delegates WAS made
clear when the motion to refer the re-
port to a special committee was made.
Then Mr.. Ittner rose and offered a sug-
gestion. that this committee to which
the report is to be referred have the
power to emasculate anything in the re
port that might appear to the members
as improper as an unfair attack upon
labor" He added that I'VE do not fight
consider them beneficial, but we fight the
methods of organized labor-and some of
them are damnable His statements
We're followed by applause and the mo-
ton was adopted.
Before the report was made 1t became
known that Frederick w Senyer of Mil
waukee, member of the committee. had
refused q sign it, OH that the g and
that il contained unwarranted attacks on
labor, and further, in his opinion, the per-
sonal views of the chairman of the COM
mittee to the exclusion of other MEM
bers. This controversy resulted in a de-
cision to read the long document with
view to ascertaining It's tone Its refer
ence to the special committee followed.
That reference to Samuel Gompers to
which Mr. Senyer particularly objected,
read as follows:
'"To put organized labor in charge of
a movement in the interest of indus
trial education and trade training would
be like putting the lamb in the care of
the wolf, or the chicken in the care of
the hawk. Witness the efforts of Mr..
Gompers and his lieutenants to secure
class legislation In Congress. their at
tacks on the power of the courts to issue
injunctions, and their proposed amend
ments to the antitrust laws.
I'VE see the president of the American
Federation of Labor defying the highest
court in the land, and that, too, while
he is under jail sentence. Who is
there amongst us that would assume the
task of teaching Gompers the error of
his way?"
Labor unions, 1t is set forth, dominate
the society for the promotion of indus
trial education and while the report favor
ed trade schools in which the graduate
should be a finished workman, 1t alleged
that in many large cities a skilled work
man could not procure employment with
out a union card Although the COM
mittee which drafted the report was dis
charged with thanks and a resolution
passed to distribute it broadcast, It is
predicted that another disagreement may
arise when the special committee which
is to consider it makes its report.
The session will be resumed tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock