Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-11
MANY IDLE W0RKMEN
Gompers Submits Figures to
Labor Conference.
WANTS FACTS MADE KNOWN
Misleading Information Sent Abroad
Should Be Stopped.
LARGER HEAD TAX ON ALIENS
Proposition to Restrain immigration
Urged by John Mitchell-Ban-
quet to Delegates Tonight.
LARGER HEAD TAX ON ALIENS

That conditions in the labor world so
far as the unemployed are concerned are
worse now than they were during the de-
preston in 1899 and even during the panic
OF 1873. and that the labor organizations
are bitterly opposed to the dissemination
| of any information as to industrial condi-
tions. good or bad, because they believe
it will tend to an increase of alien immi-
grafton that will be ruinous. was the
| burden of the arguments at the confer
ence between the labor leaders and Sec
rotary Straus and his. officials of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor this
morning.
The contention of the labor leaders for
the widening of the scope of the bureau OF
information so as to provide for acquaint-
| ing foreigners with actual conditions in
this country, to offset the glowing and
mislea ding inducements alleged to be
held out by steamship agencies, was
supported in a brief address of COM
missioner of Labor Neill.
President Gompers Of the American
Federation of Labor contends that the
apparent Frightening of the prospects
about election time was produced arti-
| ficaily and that today conditions are
worse in the labor world than ever
He defended his figures given yesterday
| as to the percentage of unemployed in the
| various trades: said they covered the year
| 1908. and In many instances were alb
solutely accurate and based upon reports
| from local bodies to national or inter-
| national leaders of organizations.
corroborate Gompers' Statements.
| The foregoing given in response to
categorical inquiries by Secretary Straus
t,ta a,,t, NO,
centages of unemployed were vouched for
at least in part. by Grand Chief Stone OF
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
He said that 5000 engineers are now out
| of employment and many others We're
working iiremen on half wages.
! Some discussion occurred between Sec
rotary Straus. MIR. Stone and others as tC
| whether it was wise to endeaFor to trans
port the unemployed in the c0ngeSted in
| Lustrial centers to the country for farm
work, and Mr.. Stone asserted that large
| ma jorty even of his own calling would
starve on a farm because of their ignor-
4nce of farm life and work.
| in Detroit LOO American molders were
| cation also cOrrOborated Mr.. Gompers
! figures as to the unemployed. and said
| in Detroit LOO American molders wers
walking the streets. while at Dowagiac
| Mich. the Red Oak Stove Company is
sending to New York for alien labor with
which to break down it's native labor
| incidentally he asserted that he had been
| Informed that the departments New
York information office has helped in
! furnishing such labor to Dowagiac.
Getting at the Cause.
An intimation from Secretary Straus
that the conference would do we'll to
| avoid the discussion of subjects that be-
| longed properly in the Legislative field
| brought out sharp and vigorous rejoin-
(iers that one could not deal with evil:
without considering their causes. The
| Secretary then permitted d. wider scope
| to the discussion.
John Mitchell declared that organized
labor did not ask legislation excluding
immigrants. What we want" he said
lis an additional head tax and an edu
cational test that will apply to all the
people of the world and discriminate
against no particular country. We want
diminution Of the immigration and sucf
laws as will permit the admission of those
only who conform to our standards.
Grand Chief Garretson of the Railway
| Conductors spoke along the same lines
and commended this country had a righ
to exclude the undesirable citizen. as alsG
did Grand Master Carter Of the Locomo
tive Eiremen ana Engineers.
Admitted by DR.. Neill.
DR.. Neill made a statement with refer
ence to the use of the departments New
York information Office in the DowasaC
case and said that the Red Top Stove
Company was undoubtedly trying to use
the government office to break down its
American labor. He reported the facts
| to Assistant Secretary Wheeler. he said
and Mr.. Wheeler took action 10 prevent
1t Immediately.
! The conference was still in session Wher
The Star went to press.
| A group photograph of the persons en-
gagged In the conference was taken this
morning. This evening at o'clock the
labor leaders and department officials en-
gagged in tine conference will be given q
dinner at the New Willard by the Nation
al Association of Lumber Manufacturers
Commissioner General keefe said the CON
ference would be brought to d close this
iafternoon.
Gompers Reviews Grievances.
President Samuel Gompers Of the Ameri.
can Federation of Labor at yesterday aft
ternoon's session reviewed the grievances
of labor in general, as they appeared &c
him. and hit right and left at the causes
| I'VE don't want To be commiserat Cd
and investigated by real nice. intellis ant
people simply TO find out what kind O;
an economic bug we are suffering from
he said Since October, 1901 more thar
two million American Wage-earners have
been walking the streets who were EN-
poyed before then. Up to that time
those who wanted work could find it