The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-02-19
TIE LABOR WOR { D /
Plan % Crush Out Workers
Papers BY Harsh P. o. Ruling

Washington, Feb. 1S:-Third AS
sistant Postmaster General. A. M.
Travers has promulgated an order
which, If carried into effect, will put
out of business all of the trade journ-
ais and magazines which receive SUBJ
scriptions from" their Organizations III
a body and carry outside commercial
advertising. This ruling will also xii!
all the fraternal papers, the organs of
the various mutual benefit and insur-
ance organizations.
From every Quarter of the coun-
try letters are pouring in to the legis-
lative committee of the American
Federation of Labor asking that ac-
ton, quick and decisive, be taken to
protect the labor press from financial
destruction. Out of this mass of cor
respondence it Is sufficient to quote
from one signed Jointly by six Of the
best known labor editors in America,
whose headquarters are located in
Kansas City, Mo-:
10 Samuel GOmpers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor.
Dear Sir and Brother: The local
postoffice authorities here for some
time past have been causing the off,
c1al publications of the several inter-
national organizations located in
Kansas City, especially the Railway
Garments Journal, considerable an
noyance by insisting that they should
make entry as second class matter
under Act Of Congress Of July Is,
1884, that according to ruling Of the
Third Assistant Postmaster General
debars them from carrying advertise
ing originating from sources outside
the organization or foreign to the
nature of the contents Of such pub
LEGATION. Endeavor to have the act
amended.
In this connection we desire to
call your attention to the action taken
tons Nos 81 and II. Fraternally,
Signed: J. E. Bray, editor Anal
gamated Sheet Metal Workers. Journ-
al; J. A. Cable; editor of Coopers'
International Journal; E. J. Baker,
editor Leather Workers Journal; J.
A. Franklin, editor the Journal of
the International Brotherhood of Boil
ermakers, Iron .Shipbuilders and Help
erss of. America; W. j. Adams, editor
Railway Garments Journal; Wilbur
Braggins, editor of the Railway
Clerk
Realizing the gravity of the situa-
ton provoked by Travers' interpre-
tation of the existing postal laws, the
legislative committee of the A. F. of
l.. united with the National F'raternal
Press Association, which was en-
deavoring to defend the rights of the
100000 men and women in this
country belonging to-. fraternal and
beneficiary organizations, whose press
was also threatened with extinction,
and drew up house bill No. 1888,
which has been introduced in the
house of representatives by Congress-
man Dodds of Minnesota.
That the passage of this bill, which
contains a clause stating specifically
that nothing contained in this act
shall he so construed as to prevent
such periodical publications from con.
tanning or carrying: advertising mat
ter, whether such matter pertains to
such benevolent and fraternal So
c1et1es and trade unions is to De
bitterly fought by the same powers
that caused Third Assistant Postmas-
ter General Travers to commence his
attack, Is but too clearely apparent.
The grip Of the supreme court upon
Gompers, Morrison and Mitchell, the
stupendous fine of,a quarter of a mill
lion dollars levied upon the hatters,
and lastly this body blow at the
printed means of communication be-
tween the members of organized la
Dor, all go to show that the great cor
porate interests Of America think that
they have found the means whereby
the wage workers may be crushed by
the interpretations of the laws Of
the land.