The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-06-08
ToIenTr M WANT.
No Trades TaionisI 10 be- Appointed n the
Fire or Police Departments.

Fire or Police Departments.
The following which We clip from the
Tri6uHs OF May 29th, will give the members Of
our trades unions some insight into the char
acter Of the petty mahgnity Of the libel IN hu-
mAnity who nov presides over the Fire and
Police Departments Of this city. Referring
to the transactions Of the Board, it saws:
After about twenty candidates for positions
in the Fire Department had been examined.
the Beard adjourned
During the meeting, Commissioners Sheri-
dan and IalcOtt entered into a warm discus
slon about trades unions and strikes, which
originated m the President Of the Beard pro
pounding 70 applicants for positions in the
Fire Department the questions. Do YOU be-
long to trade ulious Have YOU ever been
engaged in q striker
Commissioner sheridan coutended that if
the applicant tfuthtulIy answered under oath
the set Of questions required by the charter to
be asked INN, the authority OF the Board
ceased, unless Oh, man proved himself men
tally or physically incapable Of performing the
duties, OF became guilty Of an act at variance
with the rules ami regulations Of the Depart
ment
~ MS 't'AlAANLlF ~ aA1A q ulbiis WIFI tine Ia
tention of letting him stand or fall according
to the answer, whether lie belonged to labor
organization, or had ever been striker was
to openly ana ssly insult him AS well
might the Board asa the applicant if he wa, a
Free Mason, and ever been On parade-an
Odd Fellow, and hal he ever visited the sick
a Catholic and Lad he ever gone to church,
a. 70 ask him if he was a trades unionist, be-
cause the charter did not debar him from
admittance to the Fire Department on that &C
count
Commissioner 1aicott threw his feet upon
the desk, aimsd liquid bubble at the spittOon.
and SAID that Commss Toner SheTidans re-
marks were all poppycOck.
Commissioner sheridan said his remarks
were not all poppycock They expressed his
decided convictions, AMI he did not hke to sit
by and see prejadice insult labor " hel there
was no necessity for it.
Commissioner Iaieott said the remark
about prejudice was an pcppycack H. was
laborlng man himself, and dI,ti't give 4 CONT
mental Tor anybody lie was down on those.
ID unions, hoWeser, and he vas opposed to
strikes
Commissioner Sheridan SAID workinsmen
were at liberty to strike, provided they did
not interfere with others. Ii EMPLOYERS did
not ike their terms, they were not 9th .ed t.
business transaction between man and man
Commissi ner Ialcott vas positive that
that was Al. poppycock but, ~ neither It was
or not, so long as lie sat on the Boari NJ
union man pr striker could become fireman
Suppose they should strike at a rire.
Commissioner Sheridan said that the mem-
bers OF the Department were sworn to per
form their duty under all circumstances
Commissioner lalcott said that that was all
popPycock.
And there his logic and the argument
ended
The thanks Of every workingmsn Of this city
are due to Mr. Sheridan for the manner In
which he repelled the insult sought TO be
placed upon them. We regard HIM A. one u
their truest and staunchest friends. and his
conduct while on the Board shows tbs 70 Ie
no idle compliment