Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1909-02-15
PEOPLES COLUMN
centraI labor UniOn's HearIna.

Central Labor Unions Hearing.
Editor THE EVENING JOURNAL.
In THE JOURNAL the other evening I
read dispatch from Dover about the
hearing on the Central Labor Unions bills.
Now for the facts IN the case
The Central Labor Union of this city,
prepared four bills 20 be entered in the
present Legislature. No. l. A bill to COM
pei all lobbyists to register with the secre-
tary OF State. showing who or what they
represent. That bill was reported favor
ably after I had agreed to strike out ono
sentence. No. 3 A bill to amend the Reg-
istration and Election Laws That amend
ment will be heard from In due time No.
g. A bill to compel all the corporations
and railroads are the chief sinners--to
pay their employees every week. You will
note that the dispatch never mentioned
that bill although It was In that committees
that Mr.. John Blggs and ! had our con-
troversy No T. A bill 70 abolish compul-
sorry insurance in Delaware. In conformity
with the principles OF the Anti-Lohby
Bin I Informed the committee that / was
there as the representative OF the Central
Labor Union and the a. j.. Of L. 1 vainly
endeavored to induce Mr.. Bggs to dis
close whom he represented. l stated i'm
comittee and / repeat IL now. that had
known railroad men 10 work six weeks
without receiving penny IN wage, hence
forced to go IN debt for the necessaries Of
life, TO borrow money, etc. That II a
blacksmith grocer or editor was to be
guilty OF such acts, they would be de-
nounced as utterly mean. that a mans
wages were his property, that not only
the workers but all business men from the
shoe cobbler up TO the clothing merchant
were interested; that the passage of the
/ bill would do more TO kill of loan
/ shark companies than any other one
measure. Mr.. Biegs did not seem TO know
judging from his remarks. how often
railroad men we're paid. | corrected him
as did one member OF the committee. Mr.
Biggs did all he could 10 defeat that bill
submit Mr. Editor for the public "a
ponder over. VIII the r. II. r. give credit
for ten-cent railroad ticket7
No. 4 Bill is to abolish compulsory In
surance
/ was present in the Pennsylvania r. r
shops. Camden. n. j.. in 1856 when with
out as much as what do you think OF
itT' notices were posted up saying After
a certain date all employees OF the =. r. II
not in this relief must leave the emplo,
OF the company" Fortunately those were
the days Of the knights of Labor move
ment We. men on the p. r. r.. system
forced the company TO hold convention
In Philadelphia We forced them 20 with
draw the compulsory feature. Then Il wa
the word voluntary" was inserted.
In response TO other assertions that
made about men being refused position
at the shops unless they Joined the relic
association and that the company forb
the men joining certain labor union
Mr. John Biggs said: If yo
can bring one man from the railroad EN-
ploy WIN will testify to those condition
I viii make you a fine present" / re
quested the committee TO witness Il say
ing. II accept on one condition, hold
] meeting in wilmington. open 10 the pub
: lie you pledge your word In public tina
II any man loses his position for so test
flying you will secure him a place {
work"
Mr.. Biggs did not accept My proposltio
is stll open. The r. r. r. dipatch fror
Dover says: after Mr.. Dorney left IN
committee room Mr.. Biggs continued hi
argument, SIC
Representative Bradford was chairma
OF the committee. It was at my requei
BE- the committee meeting was held. M
Riggs made no argument while was
the committee room. He simply denied
interrupted. At the close OF my remark
Chairman Bradford told me "the commit
tee would rise" Hence I departed II NJ
Biggs was permitted to make an argl
ment after I left then, I wonder at III
chairman. Mr.. Biggs and the other p. 7
r. representatives were permitted to D
present and interrupt while I presente
the side OF the workers. Why then shoul
there be after church" proceedings.
suggest TO Representative Connolly VIII
kindly consented to enter those bills &
the House :See to It there be an ope
hearing before the entire House. let Al
the railroad attorneys I'm the State b
present II they choose.
The Central Labor Union will take car
OF them. And also we ask Of Representa-
tive Connolly: Force vote. call IN
roll" Let us see how many men in tn
House are afraid OF the railroad whistle
Yours sincerely.
John M. Dorney.
Organizer American Federation Of Labo
for the State Of Delaware. Wilmington
Del