The sun., 1903-04-13
LABOR'S VERDICT ON JEROME.
HE CAN'T PROVE LABOR LEADERS
CORRUPT, SAYS THE @. y. U.

hut He nd Produce Conclusive Evidence
Of the Guilt Of q Unien Omciai whom
He Can't PrOsecute-Others 1ndieted
for Extortieu, but Not COnyfcted fes.
The tardy report Of the Committee on
Graft of the Central Federated Union as
to the result Of its visit to District Attorney
Jerome TO get the names OF labor leaders
he alleges to be corrupt was read at yes
terday's meeting OF the c. F. u. The report
is intended to show that MFR. Jerome failed
to produce evidence that any labor leaders
are corrupt but ii says that Mr.. Jerome
did produce conclusive evidence OF the
guilt Of union official, though the timidity
OF an employer who would not give testi-
mony has made his conviction impossible
The report was adopted. 1t says in part;
We held an interview Of four hours With MI;
Jerome at his reside nee on the subject OF
u mase By sm Siors shs
OF your honorable body on March % In par,
tic,ilar. Mr.. Jerome made to US z detailed
made to him since his iDcumbency in ONCE.
and especially called our attention 20 the SUE,
picious circumstances which attended several
strikes called BY the representatives oil unions
In two cases he said he could conclusiyely
been BEEN paid "a IL to T have grievance called on
but it was impossible 10 obtain evidence which
would convict any individual Of extortion.
elusive evidence OF the guilt OF union official.
but owing 70 the timidity OF q contractor.
who refused to appear as witness on the
advice OF his partner, conviction Tor ex-
tortion cannot be obtained.
Mr.. Jerome referred particularly TO tho
dicted by the irand Jury for extortion, and
although he declined to mention any names
he was conhdept that he knew -the particular
nj. nd fha m ular
who were responsible for all the debauchery
Of the labor movement which had recently
While Mr.. Jerome was positive that certain
contractors and business agents have been
guilty Of gross offences. he presented to your
guilt Of any particular business agent and
In the cases OF the three men now under in
until such time as their guilt is established.
Your committee has reason to believe that
IN at least one of the cases nov on the District
Attorneys calendar the business agent was
collecting back wages due members OF his
union.
That OF all the business agents or other ON
cials Of organized labor OF New York not one
has been convicted in the courts OF any form
That hone none Of the information impaired
70 your committee by the District Attorney
+ sufficient to Justify any one In describing
challenged by the Central Federated Union
through the Distrlct Attorney 10 suDst1n.
tiate the alleged charges widely spread
through the press have utterly failed to
bring forward any evidence to substantiate
those CHARGES.
Your committee further believes that in
the contest for ex istence that is now being
the large combinations that are deavoring
to control the bu lid ing operations OF this
city. efforts will undoubtedly be made to
use the unions In the interests OF some Of the
contending parties. and therefore the COM
mittee feel justified In admonishing the unions
found true TO fll the responsible position OF
business agent.