Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-24
LABOR LEADER WANTS FORMER
oTTUMWAN INDICTED FOR
LIBEL
RESULT OF SWIFT SUIT
Papers in Case Brought by Woman
Against Officers Of Alleged Harves-
ter Trust Tell Of Money Reported
Spent by Fetzer, Presumably to Sc
cure Friendship of Unienists.

From Fridays Daily.
John G. Fetzer, formerly OF Ottum-
wa and son of Mr.. and Mrs. w. H.
Fetzer Of this city, is accused of Grim
inal libel by Barney Cohen, president
of the Illinois Federation Of Labor, and
yesterday Cohen asked for an indict-
ment against the former Ottumwa
man. Mr.. Fetzer IS one Of the most
prominent business men of Chicago,
has been connected with some Of the
most important concerns in that city
and was for some years managing re-
ceiver Of the Chicago Traction COM
pany. He is we'll known in Ottumwa
and his reputation all over the west
for business integrity is such that his
friends believe that the charges made
against him cannot be based on fact
but are in reality the outgrowth of the
unusual conditions resulting from the
many labor troubles of which Chi
cago has been the scene during the
past several years.
A Chicago paper today, telling the
story Of the affair in which Mr.. Fetzer
Is concerned, has the following:
The first determined effort to meet
the charges of conspiracy and bribery
made against labor leaders since the
present strike began was made yester-
day when Barney Cohen, president Of
the Illinois Federation of Labor went
before the grand jury and asked that
an indictment for criminal libel be
voted against John G. Fetzer, former
receiver of the Union Traction COM
pany.
Incensed that his name had been
used with that of John G. Driscoll and
w G. Schardt, former president of the
\ Chicago Federation Of Labor. in a
statement that the three men had
been paid $4,000 to avert a strike at
! the Mccormick Harvester plant and
! to settle labor disputes at the Deering
plant, Cohen filed a formal complaint
and gave his testimony.
| The accusation against Cohen
gained publicity when Mrs. Rodney G,
Swift brought charges of bribery, fraud
and corruption against the Interna
tional Harvester company. In one OF
her allegations she stated that the
money used to quell labor difficulties
had gone to three men and that John
@. Fetzer had handled the amount.
i Lays Blame to Fetzer.
i ~ thought that Mrs. Swift was re-
sponsible for these statements" Cohen
said, until an investigation convinced
me that Mr.. Fetzer gave the basis fol
allegation. | now have reason to be
i lieve that Fetzer went before the board
of directors of the harvester trust an6
said it would take considerable money
to adjust disagreements with working
men. He was authorized to settle mat
ters in any way.
Later, from what hear, as well al
from the charges Of Mrs. Swift, / un
derstand that he reported to the broat
that he had paid out $4,000 and tina
par. of the money was given to me
"The jurors told me they would tal-t
up my complaint and follow it out
Later they asked me about other graf
matters, especially in relation to sucl
strikes as that in the stockyards. wher
my name was passed about as oee wht
got share of the packers money.
4 had never heard Of some of Thu
charges" HiE
Assistant States Attorney Fake re
fused to talk about the value of tn,
evidence which Cohen brought in sub
sanitation of his application for
Crlmludl llUel llulCLulcuI, UuI uS Sdl
of the Witnesses:
Cohen is one of the most sincer
men we have had before us, if appear
ance counts for anything. 1t is 10 b
regretted that more like him cannot b
be found. He volunteered to aid u
in every way in the present investigi
/, ton"
i MUSICIANS NAME OFFICERS.