The Washington times., 1912-05-31
ORGANIZED LABOR
TO TAKE PART IN i.
COMING CAMPAIGN
President Gompers Shows
Progress of Unionist Legis-
lation in Congress.

What amounts to a declaration that
the organized labor forces are going to
be extremely active in the coming CAM
paign this summer and fall Is made by
President Samuel Gompers OF the Amer
lean Federation of Labor In the June
number of the Federationist, the official
publication of the American Federation
Of Labor.
President Gompers calls for the cleo
ton of trades union members OF the
House and Senate.
He urges every State federation, city
central body and every individual trade
unionist to work for the nomination and
election Of trade unionists to Congress.
Evidence is not wanting that already
there is marked activity on the part Of
labor in this direction. Interest is being
| shown not alone in the membership Of
the next House but also In the member
ship of the Senate.
Already Fifteen Members.
1t is pointed out by President Gompers
| that fifteen members of the House Of
| Representatives are trades unionists in
good standing In their respective unions.
| He says.
| THE achievement of this remarkable
result of three Congressional campaigns
typifies the aggressiveness Of the trade
unionists in the congressional districts
from which these members were elected
and emphasizes the potency of well-di-
rected trades union effort
| That a remarkable amount of progress
| in the direction OF important labor legis-
lation has marked this session of Con-
gress Is emphasized by President Com
pers. He notes especially the fact that
the Houe Labor Committee, which is
now headed by trades union man, Will
son of Pennsylvania, has been especial
ly active. Among the things it has done
are:
Reported favorably the children's bu-
reau bill which was passed by House
and Senate and is now law.
Reported favorably the eight-hour bill
which passed the House without a dis
: Reported favorably the bill to estab-
lish department of labor.
Report On Taylor System.
Made an investigation of the Taylor
system and an adverse report on feat
ures Of 1t.
Reported favorably the musicians
bill, which provides that enlisted mu.
) sicians In the service and pay of the
l Government shall not accept employ
ment in competition with civilian mu.
/ sicians.
Reported favorably the industria
commission bill for a sweeping invest
cation of industrial conditions.
Reported favorably the bill to TAX,
II labor organizations out from under thu
II operation of the Sherman anti-trus
II law.
Il A convict labor bill was favorably re-
Y ported to the House and was passed b,
an almost unanimous vote. The bill
= provides the States shall have power Il
| enact legislation prohibiting the sale o.
conyict-made goods within their re
spective borders.
| In addition to the favorable action oI
| labor bills by the House Labor Com
mittee. due to presnce Of trades unioi
men on 1t. trades union men have ais
welded an influence on other commit
tees and on the course of the Hous
| in general
Evidence OF this is seen in the pas
sage by the House Of the anti-injunc
j tion bill, in the favorable action b
the House Judiciary Committee on tn
u bill providing for jury trial in case
n of indirect contempt, in the eight-hoL
'. provision in the fortifcations bill whic
I provides for the manufacture of orc
y nance and power under an etght-hot
e come lawn the eight-hour provisio
2 for clerks and carriers In the posto
l. flee appropriation bill and the "ant
+ gag" provision in the postoffice apprt
n priation bill. in the bill passed by II
l. House allowing second class mail rate
- organizations, in the bill against manu
# facture OF white phosphorus matche
a | which has passed both houses and
10 now law, in the favorable report
az the House Merchant Marine Committt
"a of the Wilson bill to enhance safety
~ seamen and passengers at sea, and
I several other matters.
1