The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-22
THE CONCANNON CASE.
President Murphy Scores the White
Cooks and Walters.

Cooks and Walters.
President J. l.. Murphy, Of the Western
Central Labor Union, has sent the follow
ing letter to the Posr-INTELLIaENCER, re-
plying to the criticisms OF the members
of the defunct White Cooks and Walters
Union on p. J. Concannon and the West
ern Central Labor Unions action in the
matter:
cient space in your paper to reply to a COM
munication contained in your issue OF Friday
last, signed by the president and secretary of
the White Cooks and Walters Union, In which
they state that in your report OF the last meet
ing OF the Western Central Labor Union "they
find that p. J. Concannon, proprietor
of the Union chop house, who was an aspirant
for the nomination of constable on the Demo
cratic ticket is at present catering to organized
labor to assist him to secure political Office"
After accusing Mr.. Concannon of discharging
union help and engaging girls to perform his
work at q lower rate OF wages, the article con-
cludes: "And now this true friend of hui
mainly, who would. when an opportunity offers
itself, substitute female for male help in order
to derive greater profit from their labor, comes
begging the suffrage of organized labor. We
don't owe him any,"
tits manifestly apparent that the intenti on of
the gentlemen is to injure Mr.. Concannon po-
litically, but they either misunderstood that
part of the report OF the w. C. l. U. relative to
the matter in question or premeditatedly placed
a false Interpretation upon its construction so
to make the intent of their communication
more effective. What occurred at the last meet
ing of the Western Central, which the White
Cooks and Walters union saw fit to
elaborate upon in language suscept-
ibls of inference likely to result
detrimentally to the trades unions of this city,
which compose the organization, take this
means of placing in its proper light before the
general public. II can be summarized as fol.
lows: letter was read from 7. J. Concannon,
in which he asked the Western Central Labor
Union to certify as to what the committee re-
ported who made the Investigation last March
when he was charged with employing nom
union help, as political enemies of his were
circulating rumors that he was conducting q
non-union restaurant at that time.
The secretary was ordered, by a vote of the
union, to certify as to the findings of the com.
mittee.
Incidentally, may state that last March the
White Cooks and Waters Union was affiliated
with the Western Central and, through its dele
gates. preferred charges against Mr.. Concannon
for employing noD-union help, which the West
ern Central was asked TO indorse; but on in.
vestigation they were found to be unjustifable
and referred back to the White Cooks and
Waters Union. The Western Central Labor
Union decided that Mr. Concannan was entitled
to more specific information than the charges
contained, and therefore it was ordered fur
nished.
The statement of tho White Cooks and
Waters Union that Mr.. Concanuon "was cater
ing to organized tabor TO assist him to secure a
political ofnce," il wholly unwarranted and NOT
borne out by the report OF the proceedings, aud
is unjust to the Western Central Labor Union,
inasmuch as it has tendency to create in the
minds of uniformed people the inference that
organized labor assists caterers to secure polit-
cal Offices. The Western Central Labor Union is
a non political organization and furthers the
cause of no candidate for public office. ambigu-
Gus and misleading comments on the reports of
its meetings 10 the contrary notwithstanding
also take objection To the concluding word.
of the cooks aud walters communication
which read, And now this true friend of HUI
mainly comes begging the suffrage of
organized labor. We don't owe him any" I
do not intend to enter into any controversy
as to whether or not Mr.. Concaunon is a hu.
manitarisn, but as he addressed his letter to
the Western Central labor Union contend
that the alleged begging was done from that
organization. and desire TO inform the mem.
bers OF tho White Cooks and wAiters Union
that the officers OF the Western Central sre
thoroughly capable OF conducting ita eorrs-
spondenee aud its members competent to place
proper construction upon matters coming be-
fore them without the assistance OF the cooks
and waters.
II the " hite Cooks and Waters Union. On s,v
future occasion, deems il necessary to intsrnrer
for the benefit of the public the action taken on
proposition by the Western Central, i, will
please secure the services OF some person to psr-
form the duty who can write honestly and intel.
lieeaty-at any rate, one who knows lust
enough Dot 20 create the impression that il 8
possible to .beg the suffrage Of organi ,ed Labor.
Yours truly, JOSEPH /. MURPHY.
frssi IA n