The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-29
UNION LABOR AFFAIRS
CENTRAL BODY ASKED TO FIGHT
POLICE DISPATCH COMPANY.
The BARRIERS Union Suspended for
NOnpsyment of Per Capita Tax
The Suspender Workers.

The opposition of organized labor to the
establishment of the indianapolis Police
Dispatch Company was again shown at
the Central La Dor Union meeting last night
The Merchant police force asked for the
assistance of Central Labor Union in fight
ing the new company and in carrying the
matter into the courts. 1t was stated by
delegates that the Board of Safety under
the former administration had granted po-
lice powers 10 certain men on the petition
of one of the members of the Indianapolis
Police Dispatch Company and demanded an
investigation. John W. Kerr, +. j. Collins
and Henry Friedman were appointed a
committee to hold a conference with the
Board of Safety relative to the new COM
pany and report the result of its hearing at
the next meeting of Central Labor Union.
The BARRIERS Union reported that il had
been suspended by the national organiza-
ton for the nonpayment of its per capita
tax. 1t was explained that the local union
has been mismanaged and that the letter
from national headquarters to the president
and secretary of the union, stating that
the union would be suspended unless the
per capita tax was paid, had been secreted,
and the members of the union did not know
ii until they were suspended. The finances
of the union were said TO be in good shape
1t was also charged that certain BARRIERS
had conspired to break up the union. The
members of the union will now join the
union at Anderson or Elwood and still re-
tain union barber shops if another union
cannot be organized. The matter was
placed in the hands Of the organization
committee.
A communication Organizer John Blue
wrote to the national secretary OF the
Brotherhood of Painters, DecOra tors and
Paperhangers relative to the attitude of
the local union of painters toward a move
ment to organize the paperhangers in this
city was presented to the central body by
Len II. Lyster. The letter stated that a
charter had been refused the paperhangers
by the local union and that after the paint
ers consented TO grant them a charter they
rescinded the action and demanded that
they join their organization. 1t stated that
there had been one hundred paperhangers
organized and the organizer did not want
any more baby act or horse play on the
part OF the painters. A very warm argu-
ment was averted by the matter being re-
ferred TO the arbitration committee.
a report came 10 the meeting concerning
the newly organized SuSpender workers
which discloses a peculiar state of affairs
The SuSpender workers were organized with
the consent of the firm that employs them
and it was stated that the firm has now re-
fused 10 recognize them. 1t was said that
the company had advanced the money for
the charter of the union and deducted 10
the girls employed by them to make up the
amount. Recently, it is said. the firm re-
fused 10 recognize the union and il has
since held no meetings. Edgar \. Perkins
president of the State Federation of Labor
said that from his investigation he believed
the firm is violating the factory law and
also the child labor law The girls told him
the president of the company had the char
ter. but Organizer John Blue said he had
1t for the purpose of having il framed A
meeting OF the girls will be called for this
week to make further investiga lions.
j. W. Craig, of the structural iron work
ers, reported that their agreement had not
yet been signed by the Brown-K etcha N
iron works, and requested the grievance
committee TO make one more visit to the
firm. The request was granted.
Inc committee appointed to secure a new
nall reported that 1t had found no suitable
place 10 meet, but had secured the Ma
chinlStS Hall, at the corner of Alabama
ana washington streets, until permanent
quarters can be secured special meet
ing viii be held in the Machinists Hall next
Monday night and future regular meetings
at the same place until a permanent loca-
ton is secured
The garment workers reported that the
new schedule submitted TO the garment
making firms had not been signed by all
IL was said that some of the firms are
threatening TO discontinue the use of the
label. and the assistance of Central Labor
Union was asked to avert such a stem