Telegram-herald., 1890-01-16
CARIERS
Wish 70 Give the Public fhelr
Version Of The Ahalr
fhs E4boosd Members Claim 80 h@Fe
~ sh5 GA Their side sad froPs>s -
Keep a -tin Upper Ifp tnfs
stoUtiy Demand an APolesf

The. communication from Mr. Bur
fo0t. president Of lAe Wool Caryer-
onion. calls out further explanation
from the expelled members. Ia ordef
to fully explain their position 10 i-e
pub.c, taey desire topub.sa yhc oitie-al
papers that were served upon them.
When the firm OF Nelson. Matter
Go. saw that there was 8 probability ot
a -tr ke that woeld be disastrous to
them, w.th the Auditorium and the la
Plaza Hotel contracts before them, they
drew up the following agreement and
presented lt, on June d., 20 the men
wuo are expelled.
"ia consideration II the wages agreed
upon. and the further consideration
hat Nelson. Matter x Co. agree to s.ye
mc steady work, / hereby agree and
pledge myseI O. remain in their e.n-
lloy. IN my capacity a. carver, until
the first day OF January, 1890.
10 was .Igucd hy the men without
demur
IN July, the following communica-
ton was received 10y each one OF the
slgucr>.
DEAR Sla-At the last regular meet
OF tine Wood Carvcr,' Association, held
July g, l>s9, you were suspended from
all benefit, 1ud privileges of the assOcl-
alton until such time a your contract
with Nelson Matter S Co. shall expire.
JosEPH DHLoN.
Recording Secretary,
O.. j.. ". &. 4.
The National Labor Convention met
I'm Boston October ID, l6, T.. is and l9.
At this meeting the matter OF tine
Grand Rapids Carvcrs Union WAS
brought up. The minutes of the con-
vcntiOu say: "ln July. 1882 the Grand
Rapids Carycr,' Association wished 90
strike the Wldd d.cOmb finn, in that cICy,
because they employed twenty-five
boys g. finish up after the carving
mIChncs.' The action was not ap-
proved 10y the convention, a. the Central
Committee thought the strike would
he against the machines and nOtaganet
the number OF apprentices employed.
George Russell, delegate from
Grand Rapids, iutroducCd'a motion that
a committee be appointed 20 draw up
an amendment 10 the constitution on
the subject of contracts. The commit
tee was appointed with Joseph Dillon,
of tins city, - chairman, and reported
the following amendment: affiliated
associations shall prohibit their men-
bers from making any contracts or
agreements with their employer, Tor
any specified time The amendment
was adopted and tins placed the coa-
tractors beyond the pale of the society.
On January u. the men were notified
that IL they would pay their dues and
fine OF - each, they would Ice received
back into the union.
The men went % the meeting of the
union and stated that they had been
di>honorahlv suspended without cause
and hlackii,tcd all over the country;
that they would pay no fines OF dues
for the term OF their suspension, and
would not affiliate with the union until
an apology for their unwarrantcd suS-
pension was made 90 them. ThcrcupOn
the six were expelled.
The TELEGBAN-IIEBALD gives these
facts without comment at the request
OF the mon who are expelled, and the
public Is left to draw its own cOnclu-
siOns.
The expelled men claim that they
violated no rule of the labor union
when they signed the agreement, but
that actuated toy jealousy, certain mem
bcrs of the union caused the amend
mcUt 10 hr made making their conduct
unlawful. four months after their sus-
pension.
There are twcnty-fOur carvers now
working i'm the factory.