The morning call., 1890-10-27
BushnelI and Thurman Did En-
plOy Chinese.
That Is tho Verdict Dsclared by the Council
of Federated Trades-Ths Typo
graphical Union.


putation beirg that the gentlemen named
had sought to deceive people who sought TO
puy goods produced by white labor only.
Mr, Bushnell said that he and Mr.. Thur
man admit the hiring of Chinese, but asked
leave to establish mitigating circumstances.
Delegate Condor moved to declare the
seats of Messrs. Thurman and Bushnell
vacant.
President Thurman ruled this out of order,
saying that after the trial, if the defendants
were declared guilty, the council should then
declare what the pun shment should be.
Delegate Boyle was appointed special
counsel to represent the Council of Fed
Grated Trades, and Mr.. Bushnell spoke for
the accused.
Mrs J. K. Mack was called as a witness
and testified that Mr.. Thurman first spoke
to her about organizing union of women
and girls to solicit orders for the Co-opera-
tive Shirt Manufacturing Company. She
assisted in forming the organization. but
left it because Mrs. LightbOdy and Miss
Katie Thurman, who were never shirt
makers before, had too much to say about
il. Mr. Thurman told her that II anybody
asked her where the washing for the
factory was done, she was to say that II was
done bv white people on ranch owned by
Mrs. LightbOdy. According to Mrs. Macks
opinion, the whole matter was a money
making scheme for the men in the corpora
ton. She had hoped it was for the benefit
of the women and girls employed. She said
Mr. Thurman wrote out speeches for the
canvassers to deliver when they went around
10 the various unions in this city to obtain
orders
Miss Elsie Hartman testified that when
she Joined the shiTt-making establishments
she understood it was for tile benefit OF the
women aud girls employed. the work to be
performed by white labor, in opposition to
the Chinese. Mr.. Lightbody told her to
avoid answering if asked who washed the
shirts. She took mum Der Of orders Tor
shirts, but was refused ner percentage on
The same. The institution now owes her
So 80. and there is money in the treas
ury of the union
MI Salisbury testified that the Co-opera-
tive Shirt Manufacturing Company gave
him some work as soon as ne was able to
take it, and Mir. LightbOdy told him the CO.
operative Shirt Company would give him
patronage as long as he remained IN the
business in order to have the work done by
white labor. Mr.. Lightbody had an order
in his place when he shut down that part
of his laundry. Since then Mr.. Lightbody
and the Cooperative Shirt Manufacturing
Company have bought an interest in his
laundry. The witness thought white men
could not be employed to 90 this work at
tie price paid.
Delegate James Donovan of the Curriers'
and Tanners Union wanted to know II white
men couldn't be hired to do the work if paid
enough.
Mr. Salisbury said that white men could
do the work, but lie didn't think the factory
in which Messrs. Bushnell and Thurman
were interested could possiblyge get their work
done by white labor at present. because Gus
tom work has TO be done with great care,
and few of the laundries are prepared to do
II.
Mrs Lightbody testified that the company
has shirts laundried by Chinese for 10 cents
EACH because white men could not be en-
plOyed 10 do that kind of work. Agents
were instructed to tell the truth about the
washing and to take orders for unlaundried
shirts il possible. She found it impracteabe
to get along without the Chinese She
could not sell shirts turned out by any Of
true that ali the work on the shirts was by
white labor, that the laundryng had
nothing TO do with the making of the shirts.
Miss Thurman was called and corrObGrated
the statements made by Mrs LightbOdy.
Mr.. LightbOdy testified that he had for
years tried to obtain white labor to laundry
tile shirts, but was unable 20 do SO. He
could not get white-labOr laundrles TO do
the work. aud so was forced to employ Chi
neSe for that part of the work. He did not
seek to make any secret Of the manner in
which the business was conducted.
Mr.. BOYLE having an engagement which
called him away, Charles Grambarth was
substituted as counsel for the Federated
Trades.
Mr. Rit1neyer testified that he went to the of
fee of the Cooperative Shirt Manufacturing
Company and ordered three shirts He was
induced to dc so because two ladies appeared
before the Brewers Union and said that or
ders given to that factory would benefit the
women and girls employed there. When he
left the order he did not say that he wanted
the order to go to the union. He told them
he wanted shirts made by cooperative white
labor. There was no stamp on the garments.
Mr. Carmichael Of the Root a1l Shnp
Makers League testified that he went
around to find out If new shirts could be
laundried by white labor. he found that
some of the laundries would take few
shirts. but none OF them would take shirts
III large quantities.
Mr.. Finnerty said he made an inyestiga-
ton, and could not find any white-labor
laundrieS ready to take new work. Their
work was confined to orders for ordinary
customers.
Letters we're received from the Contra
Costa and La Grande laundries saying that
they were willing TO laundry shirts for the
factory in any quantity desired. When they
declined orders of that kind heretofore il
was because they did not do what is called
store work. Shirts made to order could be
properly handled by them.
Mr.. Bushnell read letter from the La
Grande Laundry saying that they did not
want any new work. 1t was written preVl-
Gus to the letter to the council.
Mr.. Hines was called on, but declined to
testify
Mr. Burtwell said that when Miss Harri-
man and Miss Thurman visited the Shoe
makers League Miss Hartman said that all
the work on the shirts would be done by
white labor. Miss Thurman did not dispute
this statement.
Mr.. Thurman was called on to make his
statement. He said the satisfactory was
established for the purpose of advancing
the interests of cooperation, the idea of
Natonalism. He said the solicitors were
specially instructed to sell the shirts I'M
laundried il possible. At first the shirts
was then that the printed matter was issued.
lie admitted that he wrote speech
for Mrs. Mack, but said it was writ
ten before the Chinese We're employed. His
only object was to aid the girls in organiz-
ing. so that they could improve their con-
dition. lie denied that he told Mrs. Mack
to say that the laundrying of the shirts was
done by white labor on Mr.. Lightbody's
ranch. He did not advise the ladies to go
around to the unions for the purpose of
soliciting orders.
When asked if he did not consider that he
WAS violating the constitution of the FEEDER
ated Trades Council and his obligation as a
union man by employing Chinese to do the
washing, Mr.. Thurman said he must answer
in the negative in this case, because it was
matter Of necessity for the time in order
to keep from throwing the girls out of work
and shutting down the factory. The en-
DlNN VI TIE OlliItSC Was COUSfutItu rs Il
temporary arrangement When the factory
was established the company had contract
with the National Laundry. which EN-
Iloyed white labor exclusively. That laun-
dry suspended business, and, the washing
was given to Chinese until another white
laundry could be secured.
w. A. Bushnell testified that Mr.. Thur
man had Orrtctly stated the object OF going
into the shirt-making business. 1t was
bOped to drive 5000 Chinese out of the shirt
mol hnc md n ri
white women and white girls. The tempo
rary employment Of the Chinese was re-
garded as a makeshft He told the agents
10 tell the truth about the business.
President Thurman wanted TO know if the
Bachelor associated in the shirtnakers COM
pany is the man complained of by CORE
spondrnt in the Pacific Union Printer for
representing an unfair printing Office. Mr..
Bushnell said il was the same man, but he
did not know anything about the character
of the publication for which Mr.. Bachelor
was agent
The case was submitted to the council
without argument and vote was taken by