The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-20
THE NEW.YoRK "TRIRUNEr
And its settlement With Union Prlnter'
ProSident Kenney's speech.


adjustment Of the relations existing
between the New York Tribune and
Typographical Union No. came up in
this afternoons session OF the National
Convention of Typographical Unions,
which opened here on Monday. The
subject was introduced by President
John A. Kenney, OF No. 6. Mr.. Kenney,
it will be remembered was chairman Of
the committee from No. 6 which at
tended the late Republican National
convention in Minneapolis TO advise
that body Of the settlement with the
Tribune. He, and the other members
of the committee. Messrs. Costello,
Brennan, Hurley and Hancock, in addi-
ton to performing this duty, asked for
the nomination OF Mr.. Whitelaw Reid
for Vice President. On account OF this
latter action on the part OF Mr.. kenney
and the other members Of the COM
mittee, some dissatisfaction was ex-
pressed in New York and other parts Of
the country, and an effort was made 10
get the national convention here to
censure Mr.. Kenney's committee and
also. typographical Union No. 8. It was
this that led Mr.. Kenney to appear
before the convention to-day.
Mr.. Kenney opened his speech by
making an official declaration to the
effect that all differences with the.
Tribune had been settled satisfactorily,
and that all unfriendly action hitherto
taken against that paper by the union
had been rescinded. Then he took up
the question OF his course at Minne-
apolis. He spoke OF this with some de-
gree OF feeling. For thirty-two years,
he declared, he had been identified
with the cause OF organized labor, and
for more than twenty-five years he had
been one OF the most active members OF
Typographical Union No. g. To have
his motives impugned as they had
been by certain persons and papers,
which had shown an untriendly spirit
toward the union in the past, was an
moving in the extreme. He had done
nothing at Minneapolis, or anywhere
else, that he did not believe was right,
and entirely in the interest OF the
union and that he would not do over
again under similar conditions. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Kenney denied the right
of the national convention to pass judg-
ment upon his acts. He was responsible
to his local organization, No. 6, and to
it alone. The action OF his committee
had not been passed upon by No. 9, and
until it had been passed upon his case
had no standing whatever il the con-
yention.
Mr.. Kenney's remarks made a deep
impression upon the 200 or more dele
gates present, and when he finished he
was greeted with the heartiest APP
pIause. His remarks were supplement-
ed by few words from Secretary Fer
guson, who spoke in similar vein,
heartily endorsing the action OF Ptesi-
dent Kenney and the committee.
Charles ]. Dumar, ex-president OF the
organization, who began negotiations
with the Tribune two years ago, fol-
lowed Mr.. Ferguson In a vigorous
speech, supporting the action Of the
committee at Minneapolis and declar-
ing that Typographical Union No. 6.
would indorse what had been done by
vote OF at least ton to one. John T.
Burke, chairman OF the New York dole
CATION, who was neutrality-suspicious.
as candidate for president OF the In
ternational Union, took the same view
OF the case as Mr.. Dumar, and made q
strong appeal to the convention not to
interfere with the matter, asst belonged
entirely to No. 6.
The debate was continued by Mr..
Campbell, of Tennessee, and others,
and when the resolution was offered re.
ferring the whole matter to No. 9, 1t
was carried almost unanimously, and
President Kenney was warmly con-
graduated upon the result, since 1t wis
considered by his friends as complete
yindication OF his course. Mr.. Ken
ney's friends, led by John R. o'pon-
nell, the well-known union leader in
New York, have been rallying TO his
support within the last few days, and
have made themselves felt here in tho
convention. Mr.. Kenney will return
to New York on Sunday. He has been
Ill since his return from the west, and
is still practically confined to his room.
He was seen tonight at the Lafayette
Hotel, and in response to an inquiry
about the action of the convention,
said: ~ cannot say that was sur
prised at what was done. To be per.
fectly frank, / expected it did
not believe that a convention
of fellow craftsmen, with whom
I have been actively identified for over
thirty years, would listen to the unfair
partisan clamor that has been made by
people whose friendship for the union
has been seriously questioned in the
past. / have acted, as believe, for the
best interests OF No. 6; and ] am we'll
satisfied that, when the matter is un.
derstood there, what have done will
receive the approval OF every fair.mind-
| ed member OF the organization. thor
I,oughly understand whence this criti-
cism comes, and I shall not hesitate
when the time comes to speak plainly
on this point. A persistent effort has
been made for q long time on the part
Of certain element to run No. In the
| interests Of one political party, this
same element all the time protesting
that politics must not be named In con-
nection with the union. Their protes-
sions, however, deceived nobody. :,
81 do not care to dwell upon this
point Just now; I can only say ] am
quite prepared to make my report to
the union, and have not the slightest
fear but that / shall be sustained By our
people. There is not q printer in Nav
| York who knows me who will not testify
that have placed my unionism before
my politics always, and am perfectly
willing to stand on my record. No. ]
do not care to say anything more in
reply to the absurd statements that have
appeared in print in regard to this mat
ter. While some of them have been