The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-26
BLUE is EXONERATED
CENTRAL LABOR UNION FINDS HIM
GUILTLEss OF CHARGES.
Report of Executive Board started
Heated Discussion, but Majority
Supported Accused Organizer.

y
Union last night when the executive board
reported that it had exonorated Organizer
John Blue from the charges preferred
against him by w. J. Gilthorpe, secretary
Of the Brotherhood Of Boiler Makers and
Iron Ship Builders. Blue was charged with
exacting sums from the Atlas Union in this
city for organizing, and with attempts to
dissolve the union. Secretary Slough, of the
central body, reported for the board. The
report said the matter had been investi-
gated and that the charges could not be
substantiated. and the board voted unani-
mously to exonorate Blue. An informal DIS
cussion was entered into as 10 the policy Of
asking Blue to resign, several cOntending
that while he was exonorated, IL would be
for the good OF the labor movement TO de-
mand his resignation. However, no action
was taken on that point, as Blue told the
board that he would not resign.
When the report was finished all the dele
gates were silent, and none seemed ready
to take part in discussion. NJ. T. Butler,
of the Sawsmiths' Union, asked if Presi-
dent Gompers, of the American Federation
Of Labor, had not requested an investiga-
ton of the entire workings of the office of
organizer. Butler said a great many re-
ports had been circulated about Blue and
the delegates wanted to know the truth Of
them and either TO have Blue ousted, or,
if innocent. have steps taken to silence his
traducers. He said it is common street-talk
that the Central Labor Union is a good
place for a graft" and he was tired of
hearing it. He said complaints had come
from other organiza tions from time to time
and he thought a complete investigation
ought to be made 1--WE hear il everywhere"
said he land it is about time for this or
ganization to do something. There was a
time when corruption did exist in this body
and am told that conditions are getting to
be the same as they were then. If there is
any corruption we want to know it and
where it belongs"
ID. Il. Mcclure, of the Carpenters Union,
said the promiscious charges that are con-
tinually being circulated against officers
should be stopped. He recommended that
when a member heard to make any
kind of charge that he be brought before
the central body and forced TO prefer
keep his tongue. John Koch, OF the Brew
cry Workers said charges had been pre-
ferred against members OF the central pody
and that they had been fired out Edgar
\. Perkins, president of the State Fedora
tion of Labor, said he had heard reports,
but in his Judgment, they were the result
Of jealousy. He said men had been In the
Central Labor Union who had used II for
graft" but that they are now out
Charges are made against any man who
becomes prominent in the iabCf move
ment " said he land the best thing to do
is TO ignore them. If Mr. Blue has done
something wrong it will be discovered and
he will go down and out the same as others
have done before him" George Custer,
business agent of the Iron Molders Union,
and a member of the executive board, SAID
after he heard all the evidence against
Blue, he could come to no other conclusion
than that he should be eXonOrated. 1T IS
foolish to ask a man to resign after you
have exOnOrated him" he said. "When
we asked the secretary or the boiler marx
ers to produce the evidence and letters
upon which he based his charge he replied
that they had been destroyed. Do you pro-
pose to convict a man on charges When no
evidence can be produced TO sustain them
ID. L. StOddard, financial secretary or the
Central Labor Union, who favored asking
for Blues resignation in the executive
since the matter was made pubic. l
did favor asking Mr.. Blue TO resign and
keep the matter quiet, thinking IL Wouid
be for the welfare of organized labor. said
he, but now i certainly would not ask
him TO resign. Mr.. Blue has made good
record as an organizer, but do say that 1t
is dangerous TO organize so many unions
on such weak foundations in so short a
time" number of other delegates took
part in the discussion, and II nnally ended
by a unanimous vote being taken to ex-
onerate Blue from the charges and nothing
being said about a resignation.
The session of the central body started
off with a spirited discussion over seating
delegates from the photographers Union,
which is not affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor, but which holds a
State charter. President Feltman said the
American Federation of Labor would not
allow delegates seated in a central body
if the local was in no way affiliated with
the Federation, and ruled that the dele
gates could not be seated. Many of the del
egates wanted to seat the applicants any
way President Feltman said he would like
TO seat the delegates, but the organization
was bound by the laws of the American
Federation of Labor. The matter was re-
ferred to the credentials and arbitration
committees. to return re port after COM
plete investigation, which will be cOnsid-
cred a precedent to be followed when SIM
liar contingencies arise in regard to ad-
hitting delegates.
Business Agent Collins, of the Machin-
lists Union. moved that all local unions be
required to furnish the financial secretary
of the central body with a report of their
| assessment for the benefit of the striking
miners. He said il was & very important
matter to keep before the unions, as it was
a strike in which all labor organizations
are interested His motion to require the
| secretaries of the various unions to re-
port the amount of their donations to the