The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-30
SOLDIERS IN LABOR UNIONS.
QUESTION REVIVED ~ POTTER
CASE ~ SCHENECTADi.

Many Unions Already Bsr MEMBER Of the
National Guard. Some by Specific
Rule. Others by Established Prac.
tice-Socixiisis Bitter on subject.
The act ion OF the Painters and Decorators
Union OF Schenectady in expeliing William
Potter because lIe belonged TO the National
Guard han renewed an agitation among
labor unions which Was al it, height about
two years ago as TO the right OF members
Of labor unions 10 join the milit ia. The
question has come up since the expulsion
OF Potter from his union, but while a few
unions have agreed 10 vote against new
Applicants for membership who belong to
the National Guard. most of them have de-
cided to take no action in the matter.
A number Of unions already have pro-
visions in their bylaws forbidding mem-
bers to jain the National Guard. notably
the German organizations and the unions
which are in whole or in part composed Of
Socialists.
On the question of the legality Of unions
refusing to admit applicants to membership
who belssAa- 10, the National Guard. Lieut.
Col. 1hurston, ordnance officer OF the Ma
tional Guard. who was seen yesterday at
this city, saifroa SvN reporter:
-The matter was brought to the attention
OF the Attorney-General after the expul-
zion of .RtH1cr. Ne took the stand that. a.
labor organizations are voluntary bodies,
they can discriminate as to class. creed
or in any other way when applicants FOR
membership present themselves. II unions
were Incorporated they could not dis
crimnate in this way. Gov. Odell promises
10 bring the matter before the Legislature
and il Is possible that some legislation
may be adopted on tho subject.
MY own belief is that the good sense Of
tho labor unions will come to the rescue.
had a talk with a member " the Plumbers
union In Schenectady, and he told Inc that
his organization had no objection TO its
members joining the National Guard. and,
in fact, rather encouraged them to do So
Many unions revised their constitutions
about two years ago and inserted pro-
visions making National Guardsmen in
eligible to membership. One OF the largest
OF the organizations which have rules of
this kind Ia Carpenters Union 800, which
is made up of cabinet makers and has
membership of 400. Cigarmakers' Union
10, which has "a membership of about 500
has adopted such rule, as have Brewers,
Union No. ], the German branch of the
Machinists' Union, the German branch of
the Architectural Iron Workers tnion
a nat ional union in the brewing trade, and
about twenty unions in other trades
The Central Federated Union has not
adopted any resolution to this effect. but
some Of its subordinate unions have anti
militia rules. In the building trades very
few unions have an aiIti-m.litia rule, though
in some Of them II would he hard to get
member Of the National Guard admitted
There are about ote hundred AID fifty
unions in the ), ciaist Trade and Labor
Alliance, with ALI aggregate membership
of $4,000, which have 10 anti.miIi ia bylaw,
but according To thei rleaders have an nm
written law against their members ioiLing
the National Guard. These unions ara
COMPOSED of members Of the Socials, Labor
party. forming the -sreakirR bralch
If the Socialists One Of the officers Of
the party said To Sun reporter Yesterday:
1T would b. i'm Possible to get a member
OF the National Guard elected TO member
ship In any or the urions in the Socialist
Trade and Labor Alliance. There IL no
need to pass rule agai. II the mi itia The
unwritten law forblddng members to
ioin the militia or making ii impossible
for a member Of the National Guard to be-
admitted ia "A fronciad as il /, had been for
fftv years a part Of the Constitution Of each
union. 81.
They all believe that the only ,Ise the
militia will be put to is 10 shoot working
men during strikes The Nat ioral Guards
inen are always employed by ca nj, alisis. and
are always the instruments Of the employ
err "
The largest national organization Of ore
trade In THU country, the Journeyren
Bricklayers' ard Nasor.' Information al
Union, has practically decided to take 10
action in tho case Of members joining the
Nat ional Guard