Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-13
MaryIand-Dis of Columbia
Federation in Session.
SAM De NEDREY IN CHAIR
Gompers Declares for Franchise for
Washington.
WAY BARRED BY CONGRESS
Smoker at Eagles Hall This Even
ing-Business Sessions Be-
gin Tomorrow.

The sixth annual convention of the
MarylandDistiict of Columbia Fedora
ton of Labor opened this morning in
Eagles Hall, 601 + street northwest. The
sessions are expected to last three or four
days.
An effort was made to have the address
of welcome to the delegates delivered by
Commissioner Cuno H. Rudolph. Mr..
Rudolph was out of the city yesterday. II
was stated this morning that he received
the invitation too late to permit OF ac-
ceptance.
More than seventy delegates. represent
ing all the principal labor bodies in Mary
land and the District of Columbia, assem-
bled in the hall at the opening of the
first meeting. this morning. Sam De Ned
rey, secretary of the Central Labor Union
of Washington, was unanimously chosen
temporary chairman. In succession he
introduced Samuel Gompers, president of
the American r liberation of Labor: Frank
Morrison, secretary of the federation, and
John b. Colpoys, president of the local
Central Labor Union. All three made
welcoming addresses.
President Bryan Responds.
Mr.. De Nedrey then surrendered the
! chair to William Bryan of Baltimore,
president of the Maryland-District of Co
lumbia Federation. Mr.. Bryan made a
response for all visiting delegates.
No effort was made to open the program
Of business which will come before the
convention. At noon adjournment was
taken until o'clock in the afternoon.
The visiting delegates will be entertained
at a smoker in Eagles Hall this evening.
President Gompers touched upon many
points of salient interest in his address to
the delegates. He spoke of the victories
won by the labor cause within the past
year, not the least of which was the
Bucks Stove and Range Company fight,
provocative of such long and bitter
wrangling in the courts Of law, both in
Washington and elsewhere.
Franchise for District.
Mr.. Gompers also referred to conditions
existing at the present time in the Dis
trict of Columbia. He voiced strong ap-
prevail of any movement. which will
again invest the citizens of the National
Capital with the right Of the franchise.
Mr.. Copoys, besides giving the dele
gates a hearty welcome in the name of
Washington labor bodies, took up one
phase of the suffrage question which
had been preached by Mr.. Gompers. He
declared his belief that the majority OF
the citizens of the capital are ready and
but that they are separated from the
ballot by the forces on Capitol Hill
which make or mar legislation
During it's three or four days sessions
the convection will consider matters of
interest to labor. not only in Maryland
and the District of Columbia, but In the
nation at large.
Against Inviting Rudolph.
A real storm was threatened at the
meeting last night OF the Central Labor
Union over the proposal to invite Com
missioner Rudolph to make the address
Of welcome TO the delegates to the Mary
land District State Federation at the
opening meeting this morning. The OPP
position found its origin with the delega-
ton to the central body from the Brick
layers Union, who claimed the Commis-
sioner's former connection with the En-
ployers' Association inclined him to be
unfair to union labor. Support for this
contention came also from members from
the Carpenters Union.
When the arguments were waxing
warmest il developed that the invitation
had not yet been extended to Commits
sioner Rudolph. A committee from the
Central Labor Union called at the Com
missioners office yesterday, but Mr.. Ru-
dolph was out of the city.
Commissioner Had Friends.
The attack had not proceeded far when
friends of Commissioner Rudolph rallied
warmly 10 his support. Sam DeNedrey,
secretary of the central body; p ]. Ryan
of the Plate Printers Union. James w.
Considine OF the Sheet Metal Workers
Union. u. w. Lloyd and others spoke
strongly in favor of the issuance of an
invitation to Mr.. Rudolph, and the meet
ing finally voted to send a committee to
the Commissioners home this morning to
ask him TO make the opening address at
the convention.
Other business of the Central Labor
Union last night included the hearing of
a criticism of the work of the Labor day
committee from the secretary of the CO.
Iumbia Lodge of Machinsts President
Colpoys defended the committee. and il
was voted to lay the matter on the table.
An amendment to the constitution was
adopted calling for closed meetings OF
the Central Labor Union in the future,
and press committee was appointed to
give to the newspapers such news as the
members think the public should have.