The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-08-15
LAW BUREAU FOR
CHICAGO UNIONS
COMPETENT LEGAL TALENT is
BEING ENGAGED.
Comparative Quit Reiens in Labor
CircIes-Striker Killed by Former
Foreman.
Form Boyces Weekly

Form Boyces Weekly
The establishment Of a legal bureau
by the Chicago Federation of Labor to
fight injunction and other court proceed
ings, the killing of a union striker by
foreman in manufacturing plant,
Judge Kavanagh's renewed stand in
favor Of peaceful union pickets, and
public charges by the laundry workers
that their employers are dilatory in SUBJ
mitting their grievances to arbitration,
were the principal labor events Of the
past few days in Chicago.
The legal bureau Of the Chicago Fed
GRAFTON of Labor is something already
advocated. Heretofore the unions have
been compelled, when drawn into courts
by the employers, to combat their cases
singly. If all the unions unite in or
ganizing Il legal bureau, good lawyers
can be engaged who will protect their
interests, and thus, through thoroughly
competent legal representatives, the
rights and privileges of union men will
be less liable to be rnisinterpreted by
prejudiced courts.
Michael Sweeney was shot and killed
in what appears to have been street
brawl on the West Side, by John c..
Weller, employed by E. A. Rydson and
Co. This marked the climax of a long
drawn-out quarrel that the men have
been reported as engaged in ever since
the strike was inaugurated at the Rys-
don plant When the strike was called
Weller refused to go out with the men,
claiming his position as foreman ex-
empted him from the demands Of the
union. Weller says that Sweeney was
among four men who attaked him
while he was on his way home and that
he drew his revolver, furnished by his
employers, and shot in self-defense. He
was arrested, as was Daniel Dorsey,
who is said to have been with Sweeney.
E. A. Rysdon, Weller's employer,
throws some light on the strike situa-
>, IN ali ..s, -. 49, statement. He
said:
Tho strike at our plant has been on
for about three months. We have al
ways been willing to employ union men
and to pay the union scales of wages.
The tourble. | firmly believe, is not due
solely to the labor unions. The first
trouble came when / refused to join the
bosses association.
Our case was taken to conference OF
the unions and the bosses, assoeiat tion,E
ll
association. This i refused to pay, !, and
soon afterward a strike was called III
our plant Previous to this there had
been no trouble with the unions, and 1
am going to take our controversy be-
fore the Chicago Federation Of Labor.
"Weller has been good employe, and
naturally We shall aid him in the
trouble he has placed himself in,
through what was undoubtedly an act
self defense.
Judge Kavanagh brought down upon
his head the abuse of the corporation
press by ,lischarging four of the Illinois
Malleable Iron Company's strikers who
had been charged with making threats
of violence against two non-union en-
ployes. When the witnesses had tes-
titled the Court queried Attorney Allen,
employed by the company, as to what
he thought had been shown. Here is
reported proceedings:
I'VE have shown that the accused
men made threats of violence against
the witnesses that they threatened to
kill"
Oh, no." interrupted the court, "there
were no such assertions" Attorney AL
len protested that there were.
"Well state specifically, what did
Skoner say or do that was in violation
of this injunction?'' ?'' Attorney Allen said
that he couldn't remember exactly.
''The worst thing that has been said,
according to testimony, was told by
only one of the witnesses" declared the
court. Mrs. Lehr said that Skoner said
if her husband did not quit work it
would be bad for him.
why the testimony was replete with
threats" said Attorney Allen.
"Mention them."
The strikers told them they would
have to pick up stones in the street,
well, what does that mean?'
''They said they would be put out of
the union"
THAT one of the things they had
right 10 say. Mr.. Allen, you have made
charges that you have failed to back up
by any proof. Now so much for that.
This sort of thing keeps excitement
constantly stirred up and produces fric-
tion that does not naturally exist. More
than a week has elapsed since granted
you continuance and you have not in
that time produced single affidavit
tending to show that disorder and
violence exist about the plant Of the
Illinois Melleable Iron Company. have
no sympathy with such proceedings and
the men cited are discharged.
Another "soiled linen rumpus is
threatened, but promptness of the
Laundry Owners Association in ar
bitrating disputes will end the present
hard feeling. The Laundry Drivers
Association is acting in sympathy with
the laundry workers. They assert that
their employers have made no effort tu
adjust their disputes, although eight
weeks have passed since the strike
ended.
A strike that may tie up the construc
ton of the intercepting sewers is threat.
ened as the consequence Of the discharge
Of $50 union bricklayers by w. H. Shaw
field engineer in charge Of the excava.
tigns In Stoney Island avenue. Whe,