The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-25
TROUSERS IN THE UNION
CENTRAL LABOR ORGANIZATION VIM
DICTATES MGREGoR's .sPANTs."
President Gurley, of Carpenters
Democratic Candidate.


Commissioner John McGregors trousers
were duly unionized last night. They were
up for discussion again at the meeting of
the Central Labor Union last night. A
special committee that had been appointed
to investigate whether or not McGregor
wore nonunion trousers and was unfair
to labor made a report. embracing the
testimony of McGregor, who bought them.
Tailor Foy, from whom he bought them,
and Tailor Bookmeyer. who made them.
McGregor testified that he had known Foy
for long time; had often seen him march
ing in Labor day parades; saw him at the
Labor day demonstration at Anderson;
read his name on labor committees, and had
every reason TO suppose that he was trading
with a union man. Foy himself said that
he had formerly been member Of the
Journeymen Tailors Union. but that when
he opened a shop he was no longer per-
mitted to be a member, as bosses" cannot
belong to the union. Foy did not make
trousers, simply made coats and vests.
When McGregor ordered the trousers he
turned the job over to Bookmeyer. Book
meyer testified that at the time he made
the trousers he was under suspension from
the union, but had afterward been rein
stated. The committees conclusions on the
evidence was rather ambiguous 1t simply
found that McGregor ordered the pants of
Foy, who sent them out to Bookmeyer, who
was at the time under suspension. mo-
ton to receive and file the report was made
and carried. That did not end the contro-
versy. There was long discussion, dur
ing which several members of the Central
Labor Union declared that the whole con-
troversy was trivial and should never have
been taken up.
Delegate Sands moved to exonerate Mr..
McGregor. The chair ruled that such
motion could not be entertained, inasmuch
as the Central Labor Union had already
condemned Mr.. McGregor. Others, while
admitting this to be true, insisted that such
action was taken before the organization
knew anything as to the merits of the case,
and that as Mr.. McGregor had been con-
demned before being granted hearing, he
should now be exonerated from any wrong
intentions toward organized labor. Mr..
Barnett then moved that the organization
find that Mr.. McGregor had been guilty
of no wrong intent. This led to a very
lengthy discussion. Speaking to this ques-
ton, President Gurley. of the Carpenters
Union, declared that the present County
Commissioners had employed more union
carpenters and union men of other trades
than any others that had ever been known
in the history of organized labor. He did
not think it fair to jump upon candidates
on the eve of an election. There were
other organizations that could say some
thing along that line. There was one cam
didate on the other ticket who had en-
ployed nonunion carpenters.
SINDLINGER UNDER A BAN.
When a committee went to see Peter
Sindlinger and asked him to employ union
men, he replied:
Gentlemen, am building cold storage
warehouse, not a union"
I'VE intend to turn Pete Sindlinger down
next month";" exclaimed President Gurley
in some heat.
E. A. Perkins spoke of many things he
knew Mr.. McGregor5 had done for organized
labor HE turned trick for the printers
said Mr.. Perkins, land also showed himself
friend of the bakers Nevertheless, he
thought it best to let the matter end with
the filing of the report.
Mr.. White deplored the fact that politics
was being dragged into the union. 1t was
such discussions as the present that dis
rupted labor organizations, he said
A delegation from the engineers organi-
cation said that in 1892 when the engineers
had their strike at Brightwood Mr.. Nc
Gregor had given ball at Mozart Hall for
their benefit and had turned over 1925 to
them, something that no other organiza-
ton had done. When work was being done
in the courthouse basement Mr.. McGregor
had gone to plumbers and asked to see their
cards, Notwithstanding that. the work was
being done by a union plumber.
There was violent opposition to such state
ments as these from Delegate .Stracke. of
against Mr. McGregor. Stracke said Nc
Gregor patronized Foy because they were
both Masons. The chair ruled that they
were in order as tending to show what Mr..
long discussion along this line, indicating
that If Mr.. McGregor had bought nonunion
subject was tabled. Then there was an
other discussion over what should be done
with reference to sending out circulars
against McGregor The chairman took the
structed to withhold the circulars one
month. This enraged Tailor Stracke. who
was not Modified even when he was in
formed that the Tailors' Union could send
out the circulars itself. Another delegate
wanted to know If circulars sent out would
bear the Endorsement of the Central Labor
Union to an attack on Mr.. McGregor. He
was informed that it could not
Delegate Decker. of the carpenters, who
was one of the committee, declared that
he did not believe in getting out dodgers
just before an election to injure candi-
date.
81 vote the other ticket, If you please Mr..
Chairman" said he, land / want to say
that there are other unions than the tailors
who could come here and try to fight a
man just before election. For one, if dodg-
ers are sent out against Mr.. McGregor
want TO see Pete Sindlingers name on them,
too" He characterized the attack on Nc
Gregor rotten politics.
1t was voted to hold the circulars for
month. No one made any motion to investi-
gate Mr.. Sindlnger's labor record, not even
after open charges that he was unfair
were made on the floor of the hall by so
many Democrats. Several Democrats de-
clared that the whole thing was a political
scheme, among them Mr.. Beadle, of the
Typographical Union.
At the Antioch Church Tent.
There was large and enthusiastic meet