The Washington times., 1901-10-04
AN INTERNAL DIssENsIoN.
suit to Enjoin Against the DfssoIv.
ing of n Labor Union

Several members of Union No. l, Car
penters, Joiners and Stair Builders of the
United States. yesterday fled a petition
for injunction. in the Supreme Court OF
the District, in which it is asked that
certain officers of the organization be re-
strained from declaring the union dis
solved; from amalgamating with the
United brotherhood, and from transfer
ing certain funds to the last named or
ganiZation. The complainants are Rich
ard Hudson. Richard l.. Fowler. John f.
WhitemoTe, Arthur +. Moorisett, Melvin
n Steele. George d. Heider. John F.
Magee, Thomas E. Silcott, Joseph a.
Sanker James r. Murray, George L.
Cook, George F. Herbert. John F. Ma
loney. Charles T Boss and Stewart E.
Barrett. The officers of the organization
who are named as defendants are Robert
Z. Johnson, President; Frank Nolte.
Treasurer, and Robert Dows, Secretary
Of Carp enters. Joiners and Stair Build
ers' Unicn, No. /.
1t is stated that the organization is a
voluntary. fraternal and beneficial cor
poration. and has a membership of about
eighty ms mt ers. 1t is further stated that
the union has a fund of $500, deposited
with the Washington Loan and Trust
Company and the Equitable Building As
sociatiOn.
IT is explained that on May % last an
amendment was offered to the constitu-
tion providing that the section stipulating
that the union should not be dissolved
against the objection of ten members be
changed so as to increase the number to
twenty-five. This amendment, II is stated
was adopted at Il mes>ing held on June
last.
At the meeting in May, it is stated,
there was also an amendment offered to
the constitution providing that all money
for dues, fines and assessments should be
converted into a general fund to be dis
tributed under the direction Of q two
thirds vote Of the union, and also that all
benefits, tor death or disability. be paid
by assessment upon the members This
anne nGment, il is explained. was to super
stde all previous laws of the union rela-
tive to distribution in connection with
these matters.
This proposition it is stated. was CON
sidcrcd at a meeting Of The union held
on June p and was objected TO on the
ground that it virtually abolished the
benefit fund 1t was, nevertheless. it Is
said, carried by a vote of thirty-twO to
sixteen. At that time it is alleged that
the benefit fund amounted toSSS00. which.
by the adoption of the amendment just
referred to, placed it at the disposal of
the members generally. ' D.!
pn June ~ a cJmmltttee OF fNe mem
berS was appointed to consider the ad-
visibility Of the aitilation of Union No
! with the United Brotherhood. On Sep
tembCr i6 last this committee reported
favOrably on the suggestion.
The court is asked that the amendment
TO the constitution changing the number
from ten TO twenty-five members as nee
essary to dissolve the organization be de-
ciarod void and of no effect. and that the
action converting the benefit fund into
general fund also be declared void and
unconstitutional II is further asked that
the officers Of the union be restrained
from disso!ying the organization so long
as ten members object; and from abolish
ing the benefit fund. or consolidating it
with any other fund; or from turning
over the funds Of the union to any per
sons or committees Howard Boyd is
named as counsel for the complainants.