Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-16
BOOT AND SHOE CONVENTION.
St. Louis Men Bitter Over Recent
Troubies-Pinta States Case.

Cincinnati, Ohio. Jan. 15.-At the boot
and shoe national convention, today,
many resolutions amending the constitu-
ton were defeated. The one causing the
most discussion was that one providing
that members of general executive board
shall be made delegates at large to the
annual convention. There was much OPP
position to any representation than that
of the local union.
Most of the session was; devoted to the
hearing of MesSrS. Pinta. Lawrence and
Motto of St. Louis. regarding troubles in
that city which resulted in the revoca-
ton OF eight charters iii that city and is
suing six charters to new organizations
to take their places. During this animal,
ed proceeding. President Tobin called
VIM Tatman of Cincinnati. to the chair.
Pinta occupied over two hours of the
morning session in presenting the case
of those expelled at St. Louis and at times
was very bitter toward the general otfi-
GERS and members of the executive COM
mittee and organizers who had visited ST.
Louis and. as Mr. Pinta claimed had
usurped all the home rule of the locals
and St Louis council. Pinta insisted that
Supt. Eaton violated the contract on the
part of the employees before the unions OF
which he wass business agent did SO,
Before the noon recess was taken the
result of the vote on the proposed amend
n,ent to the constitution for members of
the general executive to be delegates-at-
large was announced: Ayes, S.; nays, 81.
Mr.. Pinta in his statement charged
President Tobin. Vice President Lovely
and Organizers c. j. McMOrrow and f. A.
Sieterman with collision with III. +;
Eaton. formerly secretary treasurer of
the International Union. after Eaton be
came superintendent of the Hamilton d
Brown factory at St. Louis. He was es-
pecially severe on McMorroW, who drew
up the contract and with Sieberman, who
executed it at St. Louis. and he extended
his charges to the general officers being
i'll ccllusion with the bosses at other fac
tories. He insisted that A. j. Lawrence,
business agent of the new or ''rebeliiotS'
council, had been discharged by Johansen
Brothers because he was Il Socialist when
he was not the last cutter that had been
to work there, and insisted that the gen
eral officers would not help reinstate him
or others who had been discharged for
ike causes.
McMorrow opened the cross-examina-
ton of pinta in n most caustic manner,
insisting that Pinta had himself endors-
ed the contract and that councils and To-
calls had both endorsed.
John II. Murphy of Lynn. Mass, asked
whether the St Louis council had author
ity to say whether the St. Louis council
should return to the union and under
What condltionsi ILnta refused to answer
the rostrum. who said that it was his per-
sonal opinion that the st. Louis workers
might return to the fold if there was a
change in the general officers and the
rules of arbitration. Later he stated that
there was no need of considering that
matter as long as President Tobin and
Vice President Lovely We're in power.
Murphy caused sensational scene by
charging the st. Louis men with being
in colluSiOn with Armstrong of Lynn,
Mass. representing the Knights of Labor
Vice President Lovely charged Pinta
with breaking contracts and other irreg
ularities.
1t is thought that the St Louis case
will occupy most of the time, tomorrow
and that the convention will be contin-
ued into next week.