Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-26
UN|0N|SM WILL FIGHT
TH|RD-DEGREE METHODS
President Gompers Calls Upon
All Organizations to War
Against Practice.

President Gompers Of the American
Federation of Labor has issued q call to
every union organization in the country
to exert it's influence to have the third
degree methods Of the American police
abolished, declaring the practice as hav-
ing no warrant for existence Except the
brute power of barbarism and the tradi-
ton derived therefrom.'' In personal let
tiers to officers of the same organizations
Mr.. Gompers declares that the practice
Of the third degree" or 'sweat-box,"
methods of obtaining information from
prisoners on the part of the police is a
''usurpation that must be stopped"
1T is proper to direct attention to q
police practice" he continues, mot only
unauthorized by law, but in positive terms
forbidden by the law, which, neverthe-
less, has become public scandal through
out the civilized world. 1 refer to what is
known as the third degree or obtaining
confessions from prisoners held for trial
through terrorizing or brutally maltreat-
ing them.
''From the nature of this outrageous
practice. it is difficult to obtain legal evil
dence of it's existence. However. that 1t
does exist and Is regarded by the police
as one of their functions, and tacitly ac-
cepted by the courts, we have the testi-
mony of the press In general and even of
that branch of periodicals which is de-
voted to recording and commenting on
the proceedings of the courts
Discuss Prospective Building.
The erection of an office building for
the American Federation of Labor in this
city was discussed at the meeting of the
executive council at its headquarters in
the Ouray building yesterday afternoon.
and several sites and building plans have
been submitted. The matter was referred
for further investigation and compilation
as to original cost, maintenance and prob
able income.
The secretaries of the Offices of the
building trades department, metal trades
department and union label trades depart
ment made reports showing gratifying
progress.
In the dispute between the Boot and
Shoe Workers Union Of San Francisco and
the central body of that city the council
decided that the matter was purely a
question Of trade jurisdiction and rests
entirely with the International union, and
the central body's action in excluding the
boot and shoe workers was held to be
void and the central body directed to seat
the local.
The labor representation committee of
the federation was directed to endeavor
to form labor group of congressman
elected to the Sixty-second Congress and
take every action in furtherance OF legfs-
lation to secure for the workers equal
rights before the law with all other citi-
gems; to limit and regulate the issuance of
injunctions in labor disputes; to secure
relief from the Sherman antitrust law
as interpreted by the Supreme Court: to
secure the extension of the eight-hour
work day in government and private en-
ployment, the regulation of women's la
hrr the limit finn and DrOnlDlt1On OF
child labor in any gainful occupation; to
secure proper safety appliances in all
hazardous trades and better sanitary
conditions of workshops and homes.
An offer Of a great mine owner for the
executive council to take over large
mining property and operate it In the in
terest of employees and for the benefit OF
organized labor was declined.