The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-02
THE LABOR MEN DIFFER
CENTRAL UNION PETITIONS COVER
NOR TO VETO sTREET-CAR I'LL
A stormy Meeting, with Charges
Against Those Who Attended Sat
urday Nights Affair.
The Central Labor Union adopted the fol-
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The Central Labor Union adopted the fol-
lowing resolution last night:
THE secretary is hereby instructed to send
a communication 10 the Governor. petition
hands known as the indianapolis street.
railway bill for these reasons:
That II does not stipulate Scent fares;
mat the limit OF franchise is much too long
under the conditions opposed; that II permits
unlimited stock watering and bond issues
on franchise values and promotes public bur-
aens; that, the interests Of the people are
inadequately protected, and its general pro-
visions will be harmful to the people of the
city. that IL puts off the possibility of mu-
nicipal ownership for thirty-two years"
This resolution was adopted with thirteen
votes opposing IL, and these thirteen mem
bers formed one side in a dispute that con-
tinued all through the meeting and which
at times became bitter. The organization
was split on the question in spite OF the eff
forts Of one or two of the members to keep
harmony. About one hundred were present.
The trouble began when John F. White in
troduced a resolution which said: AN at
tempt having been made to create an i'm
preston In the public mind and with public
officials that organized labor In this city
has abandoned its stand for scent fares and
4 short-term franchise. it is hereby affirmed
-Geiterating the Central Labor Unions res
+NSCA AOA o-NtHl ldItS ana q SlOrt-term
franchise and saying the impression was
false.)
: Il demand that the names of those you
say attempted to create that impression be
told" cried Edgar Perkins.
Very well, L will speak the names of some
OF the men who were at that meeting Sat
urday night. They are Edgar Perkins,
Frank Beadle and Henry Decker"
AT this Perkins began an earnest speech. HI
commended the city administration for It's
stand in the street-railroad matter. Here
he was stopped by several members assert
ing that he was out OF order because he
was not speaking TO the resolution. Chair
man Blackburn refused to decide the point
well taken, and an appeal was taken from
his decision. 1t carried: and T. S. Gurley
TOOK the chair. He instructed Perkins to
speak only to the resolution. Perkins went
on 10 explain why he had attended the meet
Ing OF workingmen Saturday night. He
said he was an American citizen, and the
Central Labor Union, or any other organiza-
ton. had no right to attempt TO control his
opinions or the expression Of them. He did
not know who had called the Saturday
night meeting, he said, but he saw an ad-
vertisement that it was a workingmen's
meeting and he attended it. He had a right
to attend it. he declared. He had heard
that John f. White had called the meet
ing.
THAI Is a lie on it's face" cried White.
at was also said that I had called the
meeting" continued Perkins: that 1 had
been bought up by the street-railroad COM
pany."
Il was very sorry to hear it. too.' broke
in White.
Yes, l know you were, Mr.. White" re-
torted Perkins, sarcastically.
Perkins continued that, while he was in
conditions to be considered. and he did not
think 1t to the best interests OF the work
ingmen TO nail the 3-cent fare flag TO the
mast.
The other men whom White had men,
toned also said that they attended the Sat-
turday-night meeting because they under
they believed they had a right to be present.
They could not see that the resolutions
adopted at that meeting were in conflict
with the Central Labor Unions resolution.
ONE FACTIONS CHARGES.
The difference between the two factions
had become more and more wide. The ma
jority plainly-though indirectly-charged
that some of those member of the organi-
zation who had been present at the Satur-
day night meeting were in league with the
street-railroad company. j. w. Folger said:
There is a lot Of funny business going
on here. The Saturday night meeting was
called by a lot of ex-labor skates. What
do we care about bonuses? We want
money now; we want lower fares. The city
suit. Why? Because the City Street-rail-
way Company had not disposed of It's fran
chise. as 1t Is now about TO do. The City
company has been called a hold-up game
right along"
Secretary Kerr read the resolution adopt
ed at the Saturday night meeting, with run
ming on the resolutions and the
names attached.
You can't sheer at me-" called out Per-
kins, jumping TO his feet, you are paid to
sheer"
sneer at Perkins.
Jesse Landorme, the treasurer, rose and
be a thing to regret If the Central Labor
Union split over the street-railroad ques-
ton. He deplored the bitterness that had
made. He thought Whites resolution was
wrong in its imputations against the MEM
bers who had ATTENDED the Saturday night
printed at the top Of this column as a sub
stltute to Whites resolution. His speech
had effect, and several speakers followed
his line. The meeting Gained considerably,
and those who had made charges toned
them until they said 1t vas Sniy .uni4r5
the Saturday night meeting. No one took
back the charges that the Saturday night
meeting had been called by "ex-labor
skates in league with the street-railway
company.
Chairman blackburn. who was present at
the Saturday night meeting. said he would
demand that an investigating committee be
appointed 10 look into the charges that he
had been in league with the street-railroad
company. He would attempt 10 discover his
accuser and IL he did either himself or his
accuser must be expelled from the Central
Labor Union, according to the result or the
investigating committees inquiry.
White introduced another resolution. 1t
was TO the effect that. as certain members
of the Legislature had said, In voting for the
street-railroad bill. that they understand or
ganized labor was in favor OF IL,
cations should be addressed TO both houses
stating that organized labor was against
the bill. in keeping with the official declara-
tions of the Central Labor Union. This reso-
luton was also passed, and with
the same authority as had voted against
the other resolutions. Edgar Perkins said
he insisted that II be said in the resolution
that he. as a number OF organized labor.
did not join in the resolution. Others OF the
minority made the same demand. II was de-
MED them. Perkins then said he must be
put on record as voting against the reso-
luton This was agreed to. Folger intro
duced a resolution that a committee or i've
be appointed to represent the Central Labor
Union I'm the street-railroad matter. The
resolution carried and the following COM
mittee was formed: John T.. White, i. ;.
Gurley. Albert kempe. j. w. Madden and
John Blue. This committee Will call on the
Governor and make formal protest against
his signing the bill.
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