The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-12-12
PAINTERS REPUD|ATE
ARTICLE IN. M'CLURES'S
"THE TRUSTS NEW TOOL-THE
LABOR BOSS" A FABRiCATION.~
So Says President Balhorn Of the Ma.
tionaI Union. Painters Union Used
No Money to Accomplish the Pur-
pose Mentioned In Ray Stannard
Bakers Article In the November
Issue of McClure's.

Indianapolis, Dec. 10.-In the NOvem-
ber issue of McClures Magazine there
appeared an article under the head OF
1.-THE Trusts new tool-the labor
boss, by Ray Stannard Baker, syn
dicate writer in the employ. Of that
part Of the press of the country opposed
to organized labor. 1t was a story de-
signed to prejudice the minds of fair
people in an apparently fair manner.
In the article was an attack upon Pres
ident Balhorn of the Brotherhood of
Painters and Decorators of America.
This has caused Mr.. Bahlhorn to issue
the following denial to the members of
his organizations:
In calling your attention to the
charges contained in the article against
myself, I do so feeling that the entire
membership will agree with me in locat t7
ing the animus Of the attack at the
door of the Amalgamated Painters Of
New York City, who were SO brilliantly.
outgeneraled by your present Board and
General Secretary Treasurer. The ar
ticle, so far as it refers to myself and
this organization, is wholly false and
totally unworthy of belief.To begin with
the Brotherhood of Painters, came on
from Indiana and offered $2,500.00 in
cush to be used in the proper manner"
is so ridiculous that every member Of
our organization will smile when he
reads this assertion. The above incident
Is supposed to have happened in Oc-
tober, 1902. Where did this 81, 500 90
come from? Your president belongs in
the rank and file of practical painters
in our organization, and has not been
so fortunate as to be able to carry
around such an amount of pocket mo-
ney. The $2,500.00 could not have come
from the treasury of our Brotherhood,
because the Executive Board have
checked up the accounts Of the General
Secretary Treasurer twice since that
time, and no trace of such a, deal was
discovered. The charge is so serious
that had there been any ground what
ever on which it could have been
substantiated doesn't every member
know that in these political times it
would be impossible to conceal a trans
action of such magnitude? And don't
you know, further, that OUR enemies
5iin ff1eW.York would have: used lit for:
4 ~
gress- 81 fSt the rot herhood il1s th az Acrity??S
For it" is IT, fact: that our M emb bership
there have better wages and better
conditions now than ever before. de-
sire to positively brand the charge that
our men scabbed in New York as alb
solutely false and untrue and too
ridiculous to be worthy of any consid-
GRAFTON.
I assure the membership that have
hesitated to publicly recognize these
insinuations against my character but
feeling that the Brotherhood, which
has honored me by their confidence,
might expect a refutation of the state
ments referred to, / make this an
nouncement in defense of my char
acter. In the fifty years of my exist
>ence this is the first time have been
called upon to defend my honor and
integrity, and especially must I protect
it so long as hold the responsible posi-
ton that you have given me-"