The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-18
LAABASTS UNIONS
IN FIERY ADDRESS
President Van Cleave Opens
Manufacturers Con-
Vention.
A. F. OF L. SPECIAL
OBJECT OF ANGER
Urges an Amendment Providing
for the Forming of a Tariff
Commission.

NEW YORK. May 1S.-Defending the
aggression OF the association in its
stormy relations with skilled and IN
skilled labor. President James w. Van
Cleave, Of st. Louis, today startled the
fourteenth annual convention of the Ma
tional Association OF Manufacturers
with a sensational attack upon the
methods of the American Federation of
Labor and affiliated organizations.
Because OF extensiyeness and impor-
lance of the associations work during
the past year, President Van Cleave
surveyed at considerable length the
events that have contributed TO num-
Der of memorable incidents in the his
tory OF relationship between capital and
labor. The review was necessary, he
said. in order TO reveal the adroitness,
persistency and unscrupulousness of
the enemies with whom every employ
er in the United States Will have to
deal, and thus give US an Indication of
the manner IN which we have TO pro-
coed In future in order to make our
labors count"
Explains Course.
further, let me mention that in an
amicable way some of the associations
best friends have. from time to time,
suggested that our course on the labor
issue was little too aggressive. They
believed that Cancellation would have
accomplished more. To every one Of
these doubters we pointed out the fact
that the program which your officers
has pursued was marked out for us by
the association. When a principle is
involved, concessions are as wicked as
they are vain
ION the question OF open-shop, COM
promise would fail as conspicuously in
establishing personal liberty as Clay's
compromise failed in settling the issue
of slavery Some OF us Representatives
of the association were compelled to
fight or surrender. Confronted with
these alternatives. we fought. And, as
fess, we fought with effect"
Referring TO the efforts OF labor lead
ers 20 secure the enactment OF anti
Injunction legislation, President Van
Cleave reviewed the work OF the Chicago
and Denver national conventions and
the subsequent fights in the Legislatures
OF three States
Claims Victory.
ave defeated them In Washington"
he continued. Then the conspirators
massed their forces in Chicago and at
tempted TO brighten the Republican con-
vention and its candidates into sanction
ing their undemocratic, anti-republican,
and un-American propaganda We de-
feated them there also, defeated them
at every point. defeated them over
whelmingly. AS these pIotters then con-
trived TO place their doctrine OF class
favors into the Denver platform and as
they obtained formal tr1dOrzpr0ar1f for
them from the Denver candidate, we
had no alternative except to throw our
support to the Chicago nominee. And we
have excellent reason for knowing our
work told decisively in the general re-
suit
Diverting to the subject of the tariff
with which the association, and par
t.cularly its president, as chairman Of
cerned, Mr.. Van Cleave went on record
in favor of the amendment providing for
a tariff board as urged by the Senate
Finance Committee.
Menace of Federation"
In conclusion he spoke Of the menace
he sees in permitting immigrants ''to
fall under the influence of the fedora
ton which has grown up among us
and which sets the decree OF it's leader
above the laws Of the land
In the United States. at this mo-
L.
lates the orders Of its courts. which de-
uounces its judges, and which repudi-
ates and defies the laws and authority
Of the nation.
United States in 1906 abolished the
Indian tribal governments, and France
in 1909 subverted its insurgent civil ser
wants. Now lot me ask all Of you what
sort Of treatment will the American
people in 1910. 1912 or 1915 be forced 10
deal out to the rebelliOus American Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor
Denounces Legislation.
The report OF the committee on inter-
state commerce assumed almost the
form of a railroad epic, denouncing the
legislative regulation Of common car
rsers, the SZ9OO0,OOO fine imposed on the
standard OF Company by Judge Lam
&9s as a mere outburst of acute judicial
frenzy" and winding up with a COM
pIimentary chapter referring to the JUS
tee of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in administering the Hepburn
law. Instancing one alleged injustice
that Is stfli inflicted upon the railroads.
the report says:
ct seems worth while ct this point TO
call the attention Of Congress to the
figures BY which railroad officials claim
to have proved they are carrying the
United States mails at a heavy loss. II
there is any truth IN tfsS claim ana IL
cannot. we think, be MADE out Of whole
cloth, this loss en- be met only in one
way-by high freight charges. We must
enter a protest OF shippers being taxed
in favor Of the PostOffce Department
hat II may show a smaller deficit in
operation.
The report further demands a modif-
cation OF the Sherman antitrust law SC
FAR a. 70 applies 10 railroad companies
and refers 10 the construction Of such
a formidable array Of battleships as
'nsercis a mad excitement Of military
s2lrit, our only danger being the dream
of an overheated fancy"
Construction OF the lakes-tO-tfs6-gulf
caEal is urged. as is also an interior
stiiSRVater waterway between Massachu-
aettE and the CarOlinas and ship chan
mel from Lake Erie to the Hudaon and
thence to the ocean by way OF Lake On
tario and tne Mohawk.
Finally the committee deplOres the de-
si--uctt0n Of natural forests and estl-
mates that the rate Of numbering VIII
directly deplete our supply and IN
directly destroy many waterways within
eight years.
GUESTS FIGHT FIRE.
NEWTON. n. J.. May 1s.-Three week