The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-11
BARRIERS AND TAILORs LIKELY TO
WITHDRAW FROM TRADES
ASSEMBLY.
THEY CLASH WITH ITS RULES,
WHICH DISBAR UNIONS NOT AFFII.-
lated WITH AN INTERNA-
TIONAL ORGANIZATION.
BOTH OF THEM ARE EsT2ANGED
FrCim the National Unions Through
Disagreements as to the In
surance Feature.

Two organizations affiliated with the
trades and labor assembly will hold
special meetings at Assembly hall this
evening, and, if some of the expressions
heard during the past week can be
construed as the sentiment of a major
ity of the members, the two unions in
volved will withdraw from their re-
Spective International associations. Ii
such action is taken, they will also be
compelled to sever their connection
with the local central body, fer the
reason that the constitution of the as
sembly expressly forbids any union
representation which is not under the
jurisdiction of an international organi-
cation of its own particular trade.
Since Treasurer CIeary is alleged to
have gotten away with the funds from
the local BARRIERS organization, some
time in the fall Of 1896, misfortune af-
ter misfortune has fallen upon the
union until despair has seized upon the
boys to such an extent that they have
become exceedingly discouraged. Short
ly after the alleged defalcation
of Treasurer Cleary and before the
union had become aware that the hand
some balance they had thought safe
in bank had left the city in company
with their trusted officer, the interna-
tional officers notified them that they
were suspended for nOn-payment of
dues. Investigation Of Cleary's books
discovered why they were suspended.
They Immediately went to work and
squared up with the international, as
they thought, but when they present
ed sick benefit claims for two of their
members, the information was sent
back that they had forfeited their ben
efits while the union was under sus-
pension.
This was almost a FitzsimMons
knockout for the union, but through
the efforts of M E. Murray and others.
who believed the difficulty would be
finally adjusted to the satisfaction of
all, meetings have been held regularly.
although with diminished attendance
and considerable less enthusiasm.
About three months ago the two mem
bers who were debarred from benefits
brought suit in the district court to re-
cover the same. Now comes the in
ternatiOnal, through it's executive
board, and asserts that rather than
lose the case an assessment Will be lev
led against the entire membership, and
it will be taken to the court of last
resort, if necessary, to carry the point
in dispute. AS the local union is prac-
tically without funds, it is in no con-
dition to put UP finish fight, and the
action taken this evening will prob
ably result in sending the charter back
to the head organization and immedi-
ate steps to unite with the state
association.
The tailors' union is also booked for
a special meeting this evening at the
| same hall, and their grievance is prac-
tically the same as the barbers-a con-
tToversy with the International Tailors'
Union Of America, over the disallOW-
ance of a claim for funeral benefits. AS
stated last week exclusively by the
G o b e, one of the members of the
local union, named Olson, died and a
claim was presented TO the internation-
al authorities for the benefits which it
was supposed his widow was entitled
| to. On the ground that the deceased
was one month in arrears for dues, the
payment Of the same was refused. The
| union then undertook to collect the
| amount, but We're unable to secure "a
| settlement. The death benefit feature
| has not proved satisfactory to the
| journeymen taiIors Throughout the
| country, and as a consequence nu-
merous efforts have been made to
| abolish it entirely, or to do away with
| the technicalities which have always
barred the way to collecting the bene-
| fits due the surviving relatives of de-
| ceased members. The local union re-
! Gently refused to pay further interna-
tional dues until a satisfactory settle
ment was made, and the probabilities
i are that at the close Of the emergency
meeting this evening they will either
| have good assurances that the claim
will be paid or they will secede from
| the parent organization.