The Washington times., 1909-02-10
ASKS UNION ADVICE
ON THE UNEMPLOYED
Secretary StrauS Opens
Conference With Lead
ers of Labor.
a'ssFz515 y i1z17zzz157

To solve the problem Of the unem-
ployed is the task taken upon them
selves by Secretary Straus, Of the De
partment of Commerce and Labor: Dan
ieI j. Keefe, Commissioner Of Tn1uai-
grafton, and a body Of representative
labor men who gathered at the Depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor this
morning, In answer 10 a call sounded BY
Secretary Straus.
II IS hoped that far-reaching and
oenenciai results win accrue from the
labors OF the conferees. An incidental
mater Of Importance is how 20 deal
with the agencies that promote fmmi-
sidllon Tor their own profit by misrep-
resenting actual conditions IN the labor
market OF the United States.
II Is the general object Of Secretary
Straus to get the benefit OF the ex-
perience OF the labor leaders TO the
end that the efficiency Of the DEPART
ment Of Commerce and Labor. and
especially the division OF Information
under the Bureau Of Immigration and
Naturalization, may be increasd to its
fun capabilities
Delegates Present.
The delegates attending the confer
ence are John Mitchell, former president
Of tho United Mine Workers, Samuel
Gompcrs, president of the American
Federation OF Labor, w. G. Lee, grand
master Of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Tra'Imeni Warren S. Stone. grand ehief
of the Brotherhood OF Locomotive En-
gineers; W. s. Garter, grand master Of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
= ID F1 A
chief of the Order or Railway Couduc-
tors; Frank p. HaWley. president of
Switchmen's Union Of North America:
William Z. Yates. president of the Ma
Tine Engineers Beneficial Association:
Andrew Furufeth president Seamen's
Inferno tional Union; r.. J. DoIau, general
secretary of The International Associa-
tion OF Steam Shovel and Dred zamen:
f. W. Lewis, president of the United
Mine Workers; George w Perkins,
president Of the Cigar Makers lnterna-
tiOnal Union; #. Y. O'Counor, president
of the International I.onCshoremen's As
soCiatlous James j.. Lynch. president OF
the International Typographical Union,
William ID. Mahon. president OF tho
Association of Street Rail
way Employees w. q. Gilthorp. general
secretary Of BoilermaIlers and Iron Ship
builders Union: Timothy Healv. DrcSi-
dent OF the International Brotherhood
nf Stationary Fifemeu; James Kirby,
president of the Building Trades Dc
partment of the Federation of Labor: A.
T. Baird, president, and J. r. y. Austen,
grand secretary editor Of Railroad Tele-
graThers.
Visit White House
After the conference the labor men.
tied the White House and were intro
duced to the resident The introduc-
uOns were mS de by Secretary Straus /
Conspicuous IT. the parry were Samuel
and Frank Morrison. respec- /
tvely president and secretary of the
American Federation Of Labor. and
John Mitchell. the labor leaders who /
are now under sentence for contempt OF /
court.
This is the second time Mr.. Gompers
and Mr.. Morrison have visited the /
White House since the November cam /
paign. when, because Of their opposition /
to President-elect Taft, they were
severely scored by the President.
Those VINO viii deliver formal /
speeches at the conference include /
Secretary Straus, Warren $. Stone, VIII /
liam T. Yates. Samuel GOmpers, and /
Clarence B. Powderly, for the division .
of information of the Bureau OF Immi- T
grafton and Naturalization OF the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor
Keefe Introduces Straus.
The proceedings were opened by Com I.
missioner General Of immigration Keefe. /
VINO stated the objects Of the confer
auce and announced the list Of speak
ars He then introduced Secretary
Straus
At the beginning Of his remar-Zz, Mr..
Straus took occasion TO stale that while
he had not consulted President T.oose-
Welt with respect to calling the cCufeT-
ance, he knew that he was actin. as
would the President in his position. M-.
straus declared that all that the Presi-
dent has done and much tnat he has
recommended, has been for the purpose
Continued on Second Page.)