Evening star., 1895-09-16
! Mr.. KENNEDY SUSPENDED
Action of Columbia Typographical Union
on the Charges Against T i'm
An Exciting Session Held Yesterday
The Committee's Report Adopted
Mr.. Kennedy I'm His Own Behalf.

Mr.. John L. Kennedy, an ex-president of
Columbia Typographical Union. No. 101.
was at the meeting of the union yesterday
afternoon suspended from membership In
definitely, and his working card taken from
him. The vote stood 1856 to 81.
The charges against Mr.. Kennedy were
published in full in The Star last week, and
alleged that as correspondent of the Day.
ton; Ohio, Journal he had written his paper
letter severely criticising Public Printer
Beredict and the adoption of civil service
in the government printing office. The at
tendance of members was very large. The
greatest interest was manifested in the
Proceedings. and at times the excitement
was intense.
1t will be remembered that the charges
We're preferred against Mr.. Kennedy by
Messrs. r. t. Toner. Thomas NJ. Lawler
and William E. Greenfield. who were dele
convention which met last year in Louis
vile, Ky. The fourth delegate to the con-
vention, Mr.. j. S. Leach, who is opposed
politically to his three colleagues, did not
sign the charges against Mr.. Kennedy
Report of the Investigating COM
mittee.
Mr.. Kennedy was summoned to appear
several days ago before committee which
had been appointed by President Tracy to
examine into the charges, but he refused
to obey the notice. and the case came up
on report from the committee before the
full union yesterday. The committee at
It's meeting, however, took testimony in
reference to the article in the Journal, the
principal witnesses being Messrs. A. p
Marston, copy editor in the government
printing office; S. H. Bell, assistant fore
man OF the specification room, and others
and 1t was stated that all who gave ev.-
dence were agreed that the article was an
ought ha NH lisba1
They also stated, when asked, that the
conduct of Mr.. Kennedy in the matter was
inconsistent with his duties as member
OF an organization Of Union printers Upon
this evidence Mr.. F'ullenweider chairman
of the committee, exported to the union
that they had decided that Mr. Kennedy
was guilty of the char ges against him, and
recommended by unanimous vote, that
he be expelled from the union.
There were loud demonstrations. both of
assent and dissent, when Mr.. Fullenwe:der
was some little while before President
Tracy got matters into smooth running
order again. Finally, Mr.. J. L. Rodier
counsel for Messrs. Toner. Lawler and
was given the floor. and ne spoke at much
length In advocacy Of the adoption of the
report ana accompanying resolution. Mr.
Rodier claimed that the article sent to the
journal had no foundation in fact, and
that Mr.. Kennedy's col duct had been utter
iy inconsistent with that of a member of a
typographical union. In conclusion, he
urged that there was but one course for
the union to take in the matter. which was
to expel Mr.. Kennedy.
Mr.. Kennedy in His Own Behalf.
AS soon as Mr.. Rodier had finished his
sleech. Mr. Kennedy was accorded the
floor, and he spoke vigorously at much
length. claiming that the committee had
prosecuted instead of prosecuted him. In
which Messrs. Toner. Lawler and Green
Held were the prime movers, and stated
that II the union voted to expel him, 1t
would simply compel him to earn his liv-
Ing in some other way. while he felt sure
that vote against him would be eventual
ly regretted. II SHALL" said he, continue
undeterred and unawed by what you may
think or do. What you propose to do will
not stand the test of time. Gloss it over
as you may, and defend it with sophistry
1t will yet loom up before you that you at
tempted to punish me in a labor union for
my partisanship and for your partisanship.
You can be assured that 1 will eventually
come back with flying colors If your YER
dict shall be against me- 1t will go forth
that a body of printers, supposed to be the
most enlightened of our craftsmen, could
not tolerate press criticism, and attempted
by a vote of expulsion, to restrict the
rights of free speech" Mr.. Kennedy was
warmly applauded during and at the con-
cit sion of his remarks, he having many
friends present
After several speeches for and against
the auOptlOn OF tne report ndu DeeH Hiaue
Mr. Kennedy was given another opportu-
nifty to speak before the vote was taken,
and he then stated that there is secret
organ eaton within the ranks of the typo
graphical unions that seeks to select Off
GERS, etc, and that 1t was these who wera
fighting him. He admitted that he had
himself, at one time, belonged to this So
ciety, but had withdrawn because he did
rot believe that an oath to do wrong was
binding
Eject of the Resolution.
The ballot was then taken and, as already
stated, resulted in 1856 votes in favor OF
the report and resolution to 64 against.
The effect will be to prevent Mr.. Kennedy
from following the trade of a union print
er. He has for some time past been en-
gagged as a proofreader on one Of the daily
papers, but few days since was dismissed,
it is said, on account of his trouble with
Columbia.
The union voted to place the lexington
and Soldiers Home railway and branches
on the unfair list