Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-14


Injustice which has been done Mr.. w. j.
Bodley by the said Trades and Labor AS
sembly.
Mr. w. J. Bodley was appointed dele
gate from the Assembly on the sub-Char-
ter Commission. uninstructed, and re-
ported at each meeting of the Assembly
the progress of the committee. After the
subcommittee had formulated the char-
ter ready for the general committee the
Assembly passed resolutions 10 nave GER
tain measures incorporated in the charter
and the alteration of some of its proVls-
ions as they then stood. Mr.. W. j. BOD
lev opposed the resolutions on the floor Oh
the Assembly and voted against theh'
as they were directly opposite to his
views and TO what he had advocated III
the sessions of the subcommittee. Later
at the session Of the general committee
when the question of one Branch of Couh-
ell was being considered, motion was
made to strike out the word "one ana H.
sert the word two This motion was
opposed by Mr.. w J. Bodley, being IN
accordance with his previous action on
the subcommittee. This being the point
and the only one upon which he dinered
from the instructions of the Trades AS
sembly. namely: the number OF men VINO
should compose the City Council, ana
which incurred so much dspleasure on
the part of the Trades Assembly. Where
upon they. at their next meeting. without
the formality Of a trial or a hearing oil any
kind and when MI w. j. Bodley was
absent. adopted a resolution declaring ms
seat vacant and sent a communication
to the Bricklayers' Union to that effect
and requesting that a successor to MN
he appointed. to which our organization
replied as follows:
"To the Officers and Members OF the ONO
Valley Trades and Labor Assembly
"Gentlemen:-At the regular meeting OF
Bricklayers' Union No. /, Tuesday Octo-
her 9Th a communication from your AS
semblv bearing date of September %, 1896
was taken up in the regular order of bus
mess. and a committee was appointed to
make proper reply, also a motion to en-
dorse the action of Brother W. J. Bodley
on the Charter Committee of the City of
Wheeling. which received more than
four-ffths majority vote of the Union.
In reply to your request for another dele
gate in place of w. J. Bodley, allow us 10
state that we cannot comply with your
request for reasons as follows:
"First-That the Assembly failed to COM
ply with Sec 10 of its bylaws page lS).
bv not citing the brother to appear before
the Assembly to offer an explanation or
apology for his conduct so that he might
have had an opportunity to defend his
action
"Second-Brother W. J. Bodley has al
ways given entire satisfaction as repre-
sentative of Bricklayers' Union No. ! to
the Trades Assembly
"Third-Had Brother ". J. Bodley been
permitted to continue to use his own judg-
ment on the city Charter Committee he
would have been on an equality with the
members Of the committee from other or
CARNATIONS. but having been given in
structions after having served on the sub
committee without instructions. placed
him in an embarrassing position, because
the instructions given were directly op-
posite to the views which he had advocated
in previous meetings Of the sub-commlt-
tee and we exhonorate Brother ". J.
Bodlev of the charges preferred for his
removal and desire him to remain. as
heretofore. a member of the Trades As
sembly.
ISigned.l "BURK WATSON,
president.
JAS D. BODLEY,
III. s. CUNNINGHAM,
"WM. II. BRITT
U-pon receipt of this communication by
the Assembly. It was referred to a special
committee for consideration, which COM
mittee reported to the Assembly that their
action in unseating Delegate Bodley with
ont a hearing or a fair trial was illegal.
He was then relnstated and notified TO
annear at the next regular meeting for
trial and to show cause why his seat
should not be declred vacant, which trial
took place on the Sth inst, and for par
TALLY and unfairness has no equal as
The only motive was the desire for re-
venge over a personal matter upon the
mart Of those prosecuting the case, and in
order to accomplish their purpose they
had to resort to unjust and unfair means.
and all done under the cloak of main
tanning the dignity Of the Trades Assem-
bly,"
In the first place, there was no SPECIFIC
or written charges which Mr.. w j. Bod
lev demanded should he made in due form
and properly signed. This was not done
but the whole proceedings were based on
a motion from the floor Of the Assembly.
and when Mr.. ". J. Bodley asked to have
a communication from the Brickayers
Union read as evidence in his defense, the
request was denied by the presiding Off
cor although the Assembly referred to
their minutes and documentary evidence
without any question as to points of or
der etc. And when a vote was taken on
The motion to declare the seat of Delegate
W. J. Rodley vacant. they failed 10 COM
DIV with their constitution and bylaws
which REQUIRES a two-thirds majority vote
| to decide a question Of that Importance
as the vote was taken aye" and may"
instead of standing or calling Of roll. That
! kind Of a trial may seem fair to preJu-
/ diced mind seeking for personal revenge
but that is not the light in which # will
/ be viewed by unbiased and right thinking
men. And owing 10 what we deem unjust
/ and nl-advised action Of the Assembly in
unseatl1g one Of our delegates. the Brick
/ layers Union. by a unanimous vote. have
withdrawn our other delegates and severed
/ our connection with the Ohio Valley
/ Trades and Labor Assembly.
Thanking you for the use of so much OF
| your valuable space we are,
! Yours respectfully.
BRICKLAYERS' UNION NO. l.