Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-22

ton committee or the American Feoera
ton of Labor was held at the Arlington
Hotel today. Among the participants are
prominent Industrial educators from va
rious parts of the United States. The OBJ
ject of the meeting Is to obtain all the in
formation possible regarding the different
systems of industrial education in use In
the United States and in foreign coun-
tries. Many phases Of the subject will be
discussed
Creation of the Committee.
The industrial education committee was
created at the last convention Of the fed
GRAFTON, held in Denver. Col. 1t will re-
port at the convention soon to be held in
Toronto. The purpose is to find out what
system or systems would be beneficial to
organized labor. President Gompers made
a thorough investigation into the question
while on his recent trip abroad.
The following comprise the committee !:
John Mitchell, Samuel Gompers Frank
Morrison. John Golden, Fall River. Mass. !:
James Wilson. Cincinnati: Miss Agnes
Chicago: John B. Lennon. Bloomington.
H.: Commissioner of Labor Neil. Repre-
sentative Wilson of Pennsylvania. Frank
Duffy. Indianapolis. Ind; Hugh Frayne.
city. Charles H. Winslow, Arlington.
Mass; Edward Hirsch. Baltimore; James
Roach. Albany, N. Y: Rev. Charles Stel-
zle. New York city: Stuart Reid, Lynn.
Mass, and James Duncan. Quincy. Mass
The executive council of the federation
tend the committee meeting.
Advocacy Of Vocation Schools.
The question Of vocation schools in
which trades may be taught has spread
to such an extent through the United
States that it Is one of the big questions
now confronting both educators and la
Dor leaders. Among the states now sup
porting such schools are New York, which
probably has made the greatest advances
along this Zine: New Jersey, Ms Asacfu-
sets, Connecticut, Oklahoma Georgia
and Wisconsin. The matter is being agi-
tated at present in California, Iowa.
Rhode Island, Montana and a number of
other states.
The federation is divided on the ques-
ton of the advantage of the vocation
schools in connection with the public
school system. Certain of the leaders see
In the movement an attempt Of capital
to educate at public expense skilled work
ers in an atmosphere that will be I'M
friendly to labor unions. Others are of
the opinion that such schools will work
untold good to the children of the work
ingmen and increase the efficiency OF
American workmanship and advance
American commerce. John Mitchell,
chairman of the committee, belongs to
tits last named class.
manual training into the public school
system contend that such schools are
part of the labor union movement in
the line Of progress.
! Claims for the Schools.
These advocates insist the federation
should advocate the matter for several
reasons. among them the following:
That 1t should take general interest
in the Industrial welfare of the whole
nation, and not of any class.
That such education will prevent the
importation Of goods the production of
foreign high-class labor, which bring high
prices.
That the education of young artisans in
the skilled trades will eliminate the COM
petition of skilled labor from abroad. at
tracted here by the present lack OF such
skill and the high wages offered.
The federation Is committed to the plan
to extend the age limit for compulsory
education to sixteen from fourteen years.
This, champions of vocation schools insist,
cover they can keep their child In school
and steadily increase his economic value.
1t was brought out plainly at the meet
ing today that if the public does not
introduce vocation courses into the school
system. capital will undertake the work.
This, both labor leaders and educators
claim, will mean q narrow and contracted
system and bring all the evils in it's train
that organized labor now fears
Discussing the Subject.
The speakers today included James
Duncan, vice president of the federation;
Representative Wilson of Pennsylvania,
Leslie w. Miller of the Pennsylvania Mu-
scum and School of Arts at Philadelphia:
and John NJ Shrigley. president Of the
Free School for Mechanical Trades, Will,
hanson, Pa.
The plan upon which most emphasis
was placed, and which ultimately may
form one of the committees Recommended
atoms. Is that the public school pupil after
attaining the age of fourteen years. should
have advantage of such a training as will
fit him for his life work. 1t was declared
that the public school system equips the
pupil along professional lines to the det-
rmept of his economic value.