The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-21

Since the recent action of the Paint
ers' union of Schenectady, N. ", in
expelling William Potter from mem-
bership because of his connection with
the National Guard, it has come to
light that Corporal George Tamm, of
Company T., Thirteenth regiment, was
put out of Painters union No. 21S,
because, according to his own story,
he refused to resign from the militia
union, denies this and says Tamm was
expelled because he didn't pay his Dues
Tamm, who lives at 113 Lloyd street,
has been a painter for several years
and a member of Local union, No 218,
in good standing. He first enlisted in
the Thirteenth regiment on April 2S
1899. and was honorably discharged on
April %, 1902, after having attained to
the rank of corporal.
His comrades endeavored to persuade
him to re-inlist, but he refused at first,
saying that his fellow-members in the
union were importuning him to keep
out of the guard. He finally decided,
however, to again enter the regiment
and on July 1 he re-enlsted.
He went to the state camp with his
command, and shortly after his return
told Capt. Merrman that he had been
was waited upon by a committee from
the union, which requested him TO re-
sign instanter from the regiment or
lose his membership in the union. 1t
is understood that Tamms backbone
stiffened at this, and that he told the
committee that they could go to
place where the climate is considerably
warmer than that of Florida.
Was Expelled.
At the next meeting of the union
Tamm was expelled by unanimous
vote, and when he asked for reason
for this action he says he
was told that the constitution
of the painters national organ
ization prohibits any person be-
longing to the National Guard of any
state from becoming a member of the
organization.
"Tamm is one Of the best men in my
company" said Captain George c. Mer-
riman yesterday, land I am glad to
say that he has not lost any work be-
SttuSc vi lIilS uCllOll VI Tie ulllOll. L
understand that he has been working
regularly since his return from our re-
centIservice at Olyphant.
ut is certainly a deplorable condition
Of affairs that when a man who, recog-
nizing the protection OF life and prop
erty to be one of the fundamental re-
quisites of all government. joins the
National Guard he should be expelled
from q Ia ahor nj iuat fn ;,h
he belongs, simply for that reason.
Not the painters alone, but many of
the other unions object to having their
members belong to the guard. 1 have
been forced to recommend the discharge
of some of the very best men in my
company for this very reason. They
would come to me and say that if they
didn't leave the guard they would either
lose their means of livelihood or be
obliged to suffer all manner of perse-
cutions from their fellow workmen. and
so impressed would ! become with the
truth of this that I have felt it to be
my duty, from a humanitarian stand
point, to approve their petitions for
discharge
Colonel l.. A. Watres has considered
the matter it is understood, but has
decided that the officers of the guard
can do nothing for Tamm, and that his
only redress lies in the courts.
The Painters Version.
Business Agent p. F. Holton, of
Painters union, No. 21S, stated last
night to Tribune man that Tamm
was not expelled from the union be-
cause of his membership in the Ma
tional Guard, but because he was be-
hind in his dues.
'There is q section in the national
constitution" said he, (which provides
that no person who is Il member of the
National Guard shall be eligible to
membership, but this has been con-
strued to mean that the person shall
not be a member of the guard when
he joins the union and does not prevent
his entering the militia after he has
joined the union.
'Tamm was expelled from our union
solely because he was three months be-
hind in his dues, and for no other rea-
son. He Joined the Thirteenth regi-
ment after he had Joined the union,
and so in our opinion that section of
our constitution which l have referred
to could not apply to him.
Il am sure no committee waited
upon him and requested him to resign
from the regiment. l waited on him
and told him he would be expelled If
nothing else. Our rules provide that
any member who is three months be-
hind in his dues shall be dropped from