New-York tribune., 1909-05-18
REPORT ASSAILS LABOR
MANUFACTURERS MEET.
Criticism of Unions altitude Meets
zCith Cool Reception.

The opening session of the fourteenth annual
meeting Of the National Association of Manu-
facturers the Waldorf Astoria yesterday after
distinguished by a sharp attack on the
attitude taken by organized labor against Industrial
education in the report of the committee on that SUD
ject. One of the members of the committee, Fred
erick W. Sinyars of Milwaukee, had refused 10
sign the document because of the attacks mace
upon the labor unions and because of its personal
illusions. especially those about Samuel Gompers'
president of the American Federation of Labor
Most of the two hundred members who were pres
ent at the meeting seemed willing to dispense with
the reading OF the report, which started right out
by saying that the leaders of organized labor didn
want any trade schools because they were opposed
to any increase in the output of skilled workmen-
After noting that several of the leading educa-
of the country had declared that nothing could
be accomplished in the interest of industrial edu-
cation without the cooperation of organized labor
the report says:
Were organized labor formed and conducted along
rational and just lines. 1t would be sin to eXcude
it from any movement for the advancement of the
dnfs Of MOVEMENT oTe S II in n~ tHe interest of Industrial
education and trade training would be like putting
the care of the hawk Too much stress cannot be
laid on this phase of the subject as long as the
present attitude of organized labor remains ur-
changed,
Mention is also made of the fnsincerity of the
labor leaders who argue that employers not in
teTested in industrial education because of the
is there for employers to avail themselves of
apprentices, the committee asks If these to he
creatures of the unions rather than of the en-
ployers?
The committee says that trade schools are useless
/ unless they turn out finished workmen, but
adds: 1T must be understood that there many
cities in this land of the free and home of the
brave in which a finished skilled workman cannot
! secure employment unless he produce union
card In closing its report the committee says:
We are pleased to state. however that industrial
freedom is IN sight and that it will be matter
of but few more years when will be blessed
vouchsafed us by the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and the Constitution Of the United States
At least we hope So
Anthony 1ttner. chairman of the committee, in
justification of the report, said that the committee
was not opposed to organized labor. but to its
methods some Of which damnable-' There
only faint applause at the conclusion OF the
reading Of the report although a committee will
be appointed give the subject further considera
| tion. Mr.. Ittner, who seemed feel that the
gathering was not entirely in sympathy with the
/ findings of the committee, asked that the new
committee be given power to emasculate the report
| in any way It saw AT. He explained afterward
that he felt thinking body of employers could
take exception TO the statements about organized
| labor made in the report.
| The Committee Banking and Currency recon-
mended I'm its report the adoption of q resolution
indorslng the Fowler currency bill and recommend
| ing its adoption by Congress The Committee on
Traffic. which appointed at the last annual
meeting resist the threatened advance in freight
rates by the railroads recommended the establish
r1ent of permanent committee, with headquarters
! in New York to deal with similar questions The
committee urged the association TO do everything
possible to bring about uniformity in freight elias
sifcation and to see the question Of express
| rates should receive similar attention.
John Barrett. director CT the International Ru-
| reau Of American Republics at Washington speak
! ing on the topic South America: our Msnufact-
urers' Greatest Opportunity" said that in all the
discussion about tariff making the question Of the
effect of the new tariff on American export trade
had been entirely neglected
Although James ". Van Cleave, OF st LOUIS
| president OF the association, repeated again yes
terday his wish to retire from the presidency the
sentiment of most Of those present at Yesterday s
meeing was that he ought to be reelected. owing
10 his successful efforts toward securing the ap-
| point1nent of a permanent tariff commission many
! Of the members believe he should take another
tenn TO continue his work. While Mr.. Van CleaFe
| thinks somebody else ought 10 serve. ne saln
/ he supposed that If the convention forced MS
| reelection he would have to accept the place
So far as could learned yesterday, there Is no
| avowed candidate for Mr. Van Cleaye's place. The
nominating committee will he elected this morning
| There will be morning and afternoon sessions
to-day and tomorrow, and the meeting Will wind
ur with the annual dinner tomorrow night