The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-23
LIGHT on FLORY's UNION RECORD.
Com nicntf0n From Members OF
SMitc hmcn.s EniOn..


Switchmcn's CniOp..
The charge that Joseph Ffory, Repun-
lican candidate for Governor of Missouri,
worked as switchman in the yards In
st. Louis n the course Of the wabash
strike In 1888 has resulted in a statement
signed by < *. Hardin. az vice master or
Success Lcdse. No. lH; W. Il. .'ohnson'
member of Success Lodge. 70. lSi, switch
mems Union. and john {. Sdrber. member
of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen-
The statement is made In answer to a com
muniCation rcctiycd from \. q. Roberts
who represents himself IS = member Of a
committee of five. selected from the various
railway organizations at 81. Joseph. Mo.
Mr.. Robects's letter Is as follows:
St, Joseph, Mo. oct. 10 leOo.-Dear SIR md
R'oher: ON last evening. October Il. the railroad
VITA tn visls Of dscusSins. ana. il possible
s.rinE TO some determination as to what our
craft ana .ne who - u member Of one of our
"IEanlz i'ioc:, and who is now a candidate for
Joseph F1oIy. mrrnier or 81. Louis Division
No . o X = Al this megt.ne. ~ a "a 9iani, mi,
from each organization present. namely: d. Of
ana G d Il Il OF l. r. ve II Si N Ma. T. made sSrtiafa o. "a "
md under irssructiona Of this body write YOU
State that man out Of ons Of our organizations
has received the nomination for 81 high an Of
as was made against Mr. Fiory couli be truth
fully made sgaiilst any one entitled to rank az
also doplors the fact that our opportunity to
SUPPORT one chosen out Of our own ranks should
be biicht"d nv their chIrrs. n not tfUa-
Ne Doubt We have all ioc6ei forward with hope
70 ihS aaY Wfn .aGerrg 9 men ~ thT9m N 'nsr
T. or personal feelings with pleasure for the
Ard We sin ,erely believe that dav has come
now and that they have the power and strength
state. We il n Joseph long for opportunity
70 hestow otr portion Of the strength of united
hr: not tn, wrong Hence our appeal TO you.
At"nt all he charge and complaints We haye
claim to be n have been switchmen in ST, Louis
tiEE on the switchmcu in the Wabash yard in
committee Was drec,ed tS ak a. the switcfnons ms
Tnion TO decide this matter for us and give us
the facts. Il possible. 50 we can act inteiiighy
now we bes,eSh ili' You. fellow ,sorEmen' to give
tl.is att -ntiun and seek out the truth in thu
anv party or personal W feeling voa might have,
that our acts may lie for the future benefit of all
The following statement mas been re-
ceived by The Republic from 5. X Hardin.
vice master Of Swtchmen's Union. Success
East ST. Louis from 1875 to June %, 1884,: y.
T. Johnson Of Success Lodge. No. lSi. and
John c. Sarber OF Lodge No. g. r. r. T.
II fs an open letter, answering Mr..
ROberts's communication:
To the Editor Of The Republic:
81. LOUIS Oct. q. lsJo..Replying TO a clrcuiar
tober is. 1896, bearing signature Of \. q. Rob
mittee was directed TO ask the Svitchrnen's $
Union to decide If Colonel Flory scabbcd:
As switchmen- we have no hesitancy in reite--
ating former statements made by US, wherein We
proved ccnclHs1Velv that Colonel E'lOry did scab
during the switcEn,en's strike in 1888 St. Louis.
No We male this statement as plain dictated
outE. not dictated for any personal interest
gain but for the purpose OF eulightening the rail-
road men OF Missouri, : from the pa
pers that sixty labor organizations have unani-
mously decided 20 use thei. influence 20 oppose
the election of Judge Klein OF the city OF 1t.
Louis Tor sayln. that the union Label a
badge of er!itude.' and we feel II they are JUS
titled in taking such action on that account we
are surely justified in placing before the public
the fact that Colonel FIo-y did scab during the
switcnnens strike OF 1883. which ordered by
STiichmen's Union. No I. East ST. Louis and TO
greater crime can be committed against organized
labor than that OF sCIhbing.
IL necessary. We Can prove at any time, IN any
court Of equity. that Colonel F,ory DID. without
hesitation, sc ab IN the swtChnc.,s strike Of 1sS3
and at no tine has he ever denied such charge
only claiming a defense that under his nhliga-
tun 70 his order he had to perform these duties.
Prior 10 the Rochester Convention Of 1850 the o.
Il. g. a nonprotectIve and Ionstriking or
gafizaticn. This Is the reason why Mr.. Elory has
a union card, and at the time in 1883
scabbed.