Samuel Gompers Papers
From William Platt

                                                                                                        Office of the Secretary.
                                                                                     Cigarmakers Local Union No. 336.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Tampa, Fla. Nov. 19, 1902
Dear Sir-

There is a great change in the Tampa situation and the entire Spanish movement has resolved to enter the C.M.IU of A. They had a strike and some of them were deported again. They came to us and asked our help. The Trades Assembly took up the fight and brought back partly by demand, and partly by force the deported party. We sent a committee with a deputy sheriff after him and brought him back. They see in the A.F of L. movement their only hope. Try if possible to pass through Tampa after convention . It would help us wonderfully. Also try and have convention pass resolutions  condemning the deportation of workingmen on account of strikes. It will have a good effect on the people we are working so hard to organize                                                                                                                                                                                                         Fraternally
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                W. A. Platt

Autograph letter, signed, AFL Microfilm National and International Union File, Cigar Makers Records, reel 36, frames 1554-55, AFL Records.  Addressed to SG in New Orleans.

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