The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-11-10
NATIONAL assn. OF
! MANUFACTURERS
IS SCORED
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
FEDERATION OF LABOR MAKES
BITTER ATTACK.
CONVENTION OPENS AT SEATTLE
N. A. M. Described as "Worst Group of
Selfish, Mercenary Interests Now
Fattening Upon CivIization"-Many
Legislative Reforms Suggested.
CONVENTION OPENS AT SEATTLE
(By Associated PreSS.)


Seattle, Nov. 10.-"Invisible Govern
ment by organized dollars" was scored
in the report by Executive Council of
the American Federation of Labor to
the 33rd annual convention which be-
gan here today The recent congress
sional lobby investigation and the
charges of M. NJ Mulhall against the
National Association of Manufacturers
formed the basis of the attack.
The report was signed by all officers
of the Federation who compose the
executive council. 1t dealt eXhaus-
lively with all phases of labor condi-
tions in the United States and the in
sular possessions but made only an
incidental reference to +he new Fed
eral Industrial Relations Commission
and Board of Mediation and Concilia-
ton. The report was not read but a
copy was furnished to each delegate.
The references to the National AS
sociation of Manufacturers was the
longest in the report. A review OF
testimony efore the Senate and House
lobby investigations was given, going
into detail regarding the activity OF
what is termed the invisible govern
ment,' as embodied in the National
Association of Manufacturers.
Concerning the National Association
of Manufacturers, the report said
"It has been shown to be the worst
group of selfish, mercenary interests
now fattening upon civilization. The
officials of that organization have not
denied their official signatures to any
combination offered in evidence. They
have not denied that they paid their
LOBBYISTS large salaries and honored
immense expense accounts. They
have not denied that they attempted
to break strikes and that their agents
went to and fro in the halls OF Con-
gress and frequented the rooms OF its
members to prevent legislation in be-
half of labor. The National Associa-
ton through it's over-reaching greed
for power and pelf, now stands abso-
lutely discredited before Congress and
the Nation. It's influence for evil has
been materially reduced"
The report charged that only a linn
tied number Of copies of the lobby
hearings have been printed and eX-
pressed the hope that the convention
would call upon Congress to supply
more that they might be distributed
and the knowledge of the alleged
"conspiracy of the manufacturers be
widely disseminated"
Reference to the lobby investigation
concludes: "Now that the existence
of the invisible government, the strong
hold of organized dollars, has been es-
tablished beyond doubt of question,
now that its methods, purposes and
agents have been revealed to the pub
lie, those who have at heart the inter-
ests of humanity and the maintenance
Z of a Democratic form of government,
are able to attack the problem with
the wisdom of experience and knowl-
edge"
The early opening of the Panama
Canal was made the occasion to de-
clare for greater immigration restric-
ton through national legislation.
Easier access to the Pacific Coast the
report says, forced a duty upon the
workers in western states to seriously
consider the new problem of foreign
immigrant labor. The failure of rem
edial legislation in recent Congresses
was deplored.
In connection with the work of the
Department of Labor the report de-
clares in favor of the establishment
of Bureau Of Labor Safety to look
after the safety of workingmen and
the encouragement of safety devices
A museum of safety, it was declared
would be of great assistance in pro
noting these various purposes"
Only brief comment was made IL
the report on the contempt of court