Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-07
INSULT TO ORGANIZED LAR9R
Mercer, Baldwin and Savage Slap UniOuium
in the Face.
woRNNeMEN QUICK TO RESENT MFRONl
Mercer Held ResponsibIe for Cuttinn
orsaniHed Lahor's Representation
on Board OF Fire ana Police
Commissfoners.

very depths and the feeling OF resentment
is likely to manifest itself soon in various
forms.
Labor leaders had every reason to expect
that labor would have one place on the
board. Governor Savage had given them
direct promise to appoint one Of their
number should the supreme court favor
his appointment Of a new board. Harry
Movea. president OF the Central Labor
union, had called on Governor Savage as
late as a week ago and was assured then
that representative OF organized labor
would be given one Of the places.
GoveFnor savage's Promise.
Last winter. when it became. known that
the supreme court might authorize the
governor to appoint fire and police board,
the Central Labor union adopted resolu-
tions respectfully requesting a representa-
tive on the board. To copy Of these res
olutions sent to Governor, Savage he re-
piled:
LINCOLN, Dec. ., 1sO1.-Ben Maylard,
Secretary Central Labor Union, Omaha.
Dear Sir: The resolutions passed by the
Central Labor union OF Omaha December
approval but inasmuch as you mention no
one and I have the names OF several from
different labor organizations which they
wish appointed on the commission and not
being able to appoint all, would prefer
that the several unions get together and
81 four or Ave % peope from sVS whom 'fo 70 eec
as am desirous of giving labor one MEM
Der on that commission
EZRA P. SAVAGE. Governor.
Promises QuicIkly broken.
Acting on this suggestion the Central
Labor union submitted to Governor Savage
the names of Harry Mcvea, Louis v. Guye
and J. Fl. Saunders as It's first, second and
third choices for the prospective police
board. Since then the laboring men have
kept In close touch with tho governor and
he has frequently expressed himself as
desiring to appoint One Of these men to the
board.
"A week ago Monday night went to
Lincoln and had an interview with the
governor In his private ofice." said Harry
Mcvea last night. "and at that time he
made direct and unconditional promise
70 appoint representative Of orsanisv5
labor on the new Fire and Police board
I have been importuned by the railroads,
by the church people and by nearly every
body elee. said the governor to me- to
appoint some one on the board, but want
to tell you that in any event shall appoint
representative Of the labor unions. He
has broken his word to me and to the Cen
trai Labor union understand Congress-
man Mercer had great dsai to do With
making those appointments ana oreanized
labor Will now have something TO do with
Mr.. Mercer
ThrouEh with "Our Dave.v
II have worked harder for Dave Mercer's
election than I have to win the strike
agaist the Union Pacific and / am putting
IN my best licks at this, but never will
work for Our Dave again nor vote for
him." said W. w. Richelieu. machinist
and one Of the most active strike leaders.
Mr.. Richelieu said he had been sent for by
Mercer to reconcile him and through him
other organized labor men. "but have not
been to see him and don't think want to
see him." he continued.
Failing in his attempt to bring Mr.. Rich
elieu. his former supporter, into his pres
ence go he might try to explain away his
part In the Fire and Police board appoint
ments. Mr.. Mercer's next move was to have
Tom Blackburn send for Richeliou to see
II his art would prevail.
'I did not go to see Mr.. Blackburn to-
day" said Mr.. RicheIieu last night, ''but
guess I will respond to his request to-
morrow, just to see what sort OF a plea
they can put up. The thing has been done.
1t will take better argument than l can
conceive OF to explain away Mercer'e snub
Of the laboring men. About two weeks ago
Mercer said to me: 'RicheIieu, we want
you men to have a representative on that
new Fire and Police board and now I'll
tell you what you do. You union men get
together. appoint a committee and send
that committee down to Lincoln with US
next Monday (which would have been last
Monday and / promise you that your
wishes and interests will be recognized
Mercer Forsaixes WoFkinEmen.
"we did meet and appoint the com
mittee as recommended by Mercer, but that
committee was not even asked TO 20 TO
Lincoln after Il was appointed. The fact
is l have not seen Mercer since that day
and i never heard another word about
the promise he made. He told me dis
tinctly that nothing would be done about
the appointment Of that Fire and Police
board until our folks had been consulted
How has he kept his wordg We waited un-
I'll Monday. having made ell arrangements
for our committee TO accompany Mr.. Mercer
and the rest Of us to Lincoln to confer
with the governor but Monday passed and
we heard nothing OF them. Tuesday came
and we did hear something OF them. but
Il was not until after the new Fire and
foiice poafu nau betn named py Governor
Savage at the instance OF 'us' and had
taken their seats
so there you are. Not a representative
of organized labor on TIE board, organised
labor ignored absolutely. the board named
without even consulting organized labor.
Well all / have 10 say further is that
Mr.. Mercer seems to have gotten along
very nicely In this little matter without
the help OF organized labor; now let him
go the rest OF the way without u.s. II
Mercer can do without us we can worry
along somehow without him.
Il am strong republican. have always
supported the ticket and always expect to
vote the republican ticket. but I'll not
support Dave Mercer and don't believe
no. ! know-that no other organized labor
man Will. or n he does he Is a traitor to
organised labor. We are a unit and we
will continue 30. Our wishes and interests
are as good as our votes and when these
are ignored We shall not cast our ballots
for men who ignore and trample upon US.
Considers "a Deliberate slap.
President Edward Kennedy, head OF the
local and district organizations Of the
Union Pacific boiler makers declares:
Il want 10 say for the union men / rep
resent that We feel that Mr.. Mercer has
slapped as In the face. I
might stop right there for II Is ecareely