New-York tribune., 1903-02-12
FIGHTS or GU4RDSMEN
Question of Trade Unions and the
Militia Discussed.

Albany Feb 1.-THE Assembly Committee on
Codes gave a hearing to-day on Assemolyman
Hughess bill, which prohibits persons or corpora
tlons from discriminating against members of the
National Guard in the matter of employment
membership or fraternai association
There present in opposition TO the bill James
A Lavery, chairman OF the legislative committee
of the Workingmens State Federation; Edward
Utting, representing the trades assembly or
Schenectady; Assembyman Butler. AssembIyman
Prince and E. a. Vessels representing labor or
ganzations of Schenectady.
In favor of the bill appeared the Citizens Asso-
citation of Schenectady, headed by Justice Jodson
S Landon. DR.. A Y. Raymond and former Judge
Yates.
Mr.. Lavery opened the discussion by declaring
that the bill was direct insult to organized labor
He said in part:
This measure impeaches the loyalty and patriot
more loyal or patriotic. Founders of labor or
ganzations have bled and died for the old flag.
Corpora tions and corporation representatives,
sometimes prate about serving the government
American War trade union men went to the front,
and their labor unions carried them free on tnelr
books, and on their return wounded and sick. they
paid them disa bilIty money. when they could not
hurry the government into giving them much
needed pension Laboring men fought 10 oNtrcoHie ere me
national and State disaster not brought on @ 10y
themselves but by the wars OF p01canS m o
riot. 1t is the paid hirelings and hoodums as mas mas
been proved again and again. You are the jurors;
Organized labor has been indicted for disloyalty
refute the charge.
Mr. Utting said in part:
This bill insults and hurts from thirteen r',t thou f2e
sand fifteen thousand men connected Win the
trades assembly to which am attached. All men
individually in unions have the right 10 say
thev will associate with other men II they 90
not choose to. Put the same restraint on any
frater1lal organization. Would You dare say a
secret order shall not have the right TO reject an
applicant for membership for any reason II sees
tit?
DO you not limit the individual right o: your
members as citizens and when you say IIheE
shall not join the militia asked Chairman FhH-
we have right to make our union rules. re-
piled Mr. Uttng. We don't pull people INTO OUT
union. We cannot compel man TO lolh US w e
have the right To refuse him admission Tor an!
reason.
Assembyman Butler read brief address % IN
which he dUct the patriotism of the iapor man
and declared that non-unon men melted riots:
J. NJ. Hanlon declared the act had pt"l az ~
after a consultation between the military author'-
ties of the State and the paid attorneys "i the
corporations. .,. ,t- ~
to the expulsion Of Potter. the painter IRON ms
LEGAL union in Schenectady He insisted t1at t dot
Guardsman The nill not intended to hurt
ANYBODY. The militia necessity II Vas
wrong and should be unlawful to restrict III any
way the material from which the National 6uard
could be drafted As it was now. LABOR union 4''e"
were practically afraid to Join the guard.
Judge Yates averred that a labor orSahiza'i3Il
insrlted the flag when it debarred grlardSmen. m
time of war there would be scarcity or Tdut"
fighting men. Such rule the labor orsi5 I'd @
lions had promulgated would result IN the demo
lition of the National Guard. Labor union men
did not approve If iawlessness, therefore theE
should not strike a blow at the guard which put
down Ia awIessness. The bill was taken up IN eN-
ecutive session. but action was taken