The Washington times., 1913-10-13
ACTING NAVY CHIEF
WRONG, SAYS AL|FAS
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
Misinformed as to What
Was Said by Labor Leader"

That Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
knocked down a man of straw in re-
playing to the statement of President
n. P. AIifss, OF District No. A, Inter
national Association of Machinists. In
that Mr.. Roosevelt was entirely mis-
informed as to just what had been said
by the labor leader. was the gist of 4
long statement issued by Mr.. Alias
today.
In the first place Mr. Alias says the
impression created in the published item
that the increase in wages given the
local yard employees was the cause for
q demand for increases In other yards.
Is incorrect, and Is not based Oh any
statement made by him.
TO correct an impression apparently
held by Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
said Mr.. Aiifas my statement was not
made particularly applicable to the
Washington Navy Yard. due to the fact
that .aost OF the statement had bear
ing on failure to get Increases in GER
tain yards. II does, however, apply
with great force to many other navy
yards.
The denials made by officials OF the
Navy Department to statements In the
press credited to me. are erroneous, par
TALLY due to the fact that my language
in their denials was misquoted. For
Instance, / did not say, and tsecretary
Daniels) agreed to have 4 representa-
tive on each of the wage boards at the
various yards and and a promise given
by Secretary Daniels) that an indie
pendent Investigation would be
conducted by the department of labor
But did say, the hope was held out by
Secretary Daniels that the employees
would be given a representative on the
wage board at each yard, and but tSec-
retary Daniels) offered as d substitute
10 ask the Department OF Labor 20
make an Independent investigation
Since Il is denied by the depart
Inent that An Increase was promised
upon the presentation OF satisfactory
evidence last June, does any one be-
lieve that nearly 100 representatives
would have been sent here from distant
navy yards last June at great expense,
in response TO q notice issued by Sec
retary Daniels, If no prospects had been
held out for an increase? Our opinion
on this was further strengthened when
about June rs II was rumored that the
Navy Department might not have suf-
ficient funds to give general increase,
and We were told by Secretary Daniels
that he was having his bureaus investi-
gate the amount Of funds available for
increase purposes.
About August secretary Daniels
spoke Of referring the wage question to
the Department of Labor. Had tn"
Navy Departrnent tried TO make ar
rangements with Secretary Wilson at
that time for the suggested investigation
bv that department, instead of waiting
until the deficiency appropriation bill
was beyond the point where 1t could he
amended the excuse would not now
exist that the Department OF Labor
hasn't got tine money, because the navy
ward employees have enough friends in
congress TO see that the Department Of
Labor got the small amount necessary.
The present plan Of the Navy De
partment OF allowing representatives OF
the employees Ia see the report of the
wag. board, and to comment on III"
figures submitted by them, but not TO
be allowed to Sc. the names of the
firms from which the data is collected
does not give the employees All oppor-
tunity TO ascertain the accuracy Of the
figures or the degree OF their applica-
ZION to yard conditions.
Since my veracity has been question
ed by the department when | said that
as late as the previous Saturday the
Secretary OF Labor was willing TO In
vestiyate the wage question, j desire
70 suggest that II would be quite pos
sible for the Secretary Of Labor to dis
cover between Saturday, and the follow
ing Thursday that he did not have tl0
necessary funds. There are, however
about &c, 900 labor organizations in the
United states where the word OF labor
official is as good as that of any other