Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-11-10
BIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION OF A.
L. OF L.. READS OF sINNISIBLE
GOVERNMENT" BY \ NATIONAL
MANUFACTURERS.
THE LOBBY INVESTIGATION
REPORT CHARGED THAT ONLY LIN
TIED NUMBER OF COPIES OFIOB-
BY HEARINGS PRINTED-MAY
ASK FOR MORE.
tBU Associated PreSs.l

DU Associated PTeSS
Seattle. November I0.-"Invisible gov
Iernmcnt by organized dollars" was scored
in the report of the executive council of
the American Federation of Labor to the
}3rd annual convention which began here
today. The recent Congressional lobby
investigation and the charges of NJ NJ.
Mulhall against the National Associa-
ton of Manufacturers formed the basis
of the attack.
The report was signed by all officers of
the Federation Mho compose the cXecu-
tive council. Ii dealt cXhaustively with
all phases of labor conditions i'll the
V United States and the inSular possessions
but made only an incidental reference
| 70 the new Federal Industrial Relations
Commission and Board of Mediation and
| Cancellation. The report was not read
but copy was furnished to each dele
gate.
The reference to the National Ass 1cia-
tion Of Manufacturers was the longest In
the report. A review of testimony before
the Senate and House lobby investiga.
tiOnS was given, going into detail regard.
ing The activity Of what is termed the "in-
visible government" as emb died i'll the
National Association of Manufacturers.
Concerning the National Association Of
Manufacturers, the report said
1T has been shown to be the worst
group Of selfish, merccnary interests now
fattening upon civilization. The officials
lof that organization have not denied thai
they paid their lobbyists large salaries
and hOnorcd immense expense accounts.
They have not denied that they attempted
TO break strikes and that their agents
went To and fro i'll the halls Of Congress
and frcQuentcd the rooms Of il members
To prevent legislation in behalf of labor.
The National Association through its
overrcaching greed for power and pelf,
now stands abs llutely diScrcditcd before
Congress and the nation. It's influence
for evil has been materially reduced
The report charged that only limited
number Of copies of the lobby hearings
have been printed and expressed the hope
that the convention would call upon Con-
arcss 10 supply more that they might be
distributed and the knowledge of the al
ltHpU COHS plTdCN Va tHC Hl''hui"NtuhNhS
be widely disseminated.
Reference to the lobby investigation
concludes: Now that the existence of
the invisible government, that strong
hold Of organized dollars, has been cs
= tabiishcd beyond doubt or question, now
that It's methods purposes. and agents
have been revealed to the public. those
I who have at heart the interests of human
| ity and the maintenance of a democratic
q form of government, are able to attack
0 the problem with the wisdom Of expert
! cncc and knowledge
I The early opening Of the Panama Canal
I was made me occasion To declare for
greater Immigration restriction through
G national legislation. Easier accesse TO
4 the Pacific Coast, the report says forces
\ 4 duty upon the workers IN western
e states to seriously consider the new prob
, lem of foreign immigrant labor. The fail
urc of remedial legislation in recent Con-
crosses was deplored
In connection with the work of the
Department Of Labor the report declares
in favor of the establishment of Bur
]. eau of Labor Safety to look after the
: safety of workingmen and the encJur-
agement Of safety devices. a museum of
safety, it was declared, would be OF
great assistance i'll promoting these var
ious purposes.
= Oniv brief comment was made IN the
u report on the contempt Of court sentences
u bending against President Gompers. Vice
4 President Mitchell and Secretary Morri-
! son. A review of the ease was given but
= aside from declaring that the "opinion OF
the District Court Of Appeals did not
Give a decision to the fundamental issues
npon which organized labor had been ask
ing a judicial ruling" the report refrains
from comment on the courts findings.
Urgent need for the solution of the pro
blcm Of the unemployed was brought tc
It the attention of the convention. Sympa
9 thy with their condition was expressed
n and the belief was voiced that the unem
Y ploved might be used in road construction
which automobile travel is making daily
d Of greater importance Legislation to tha
lend was urged.