The Washington times., 1905-07-17
ARMED THUGS HURT
THIS LABOR LEADER
Donnelly Left for Dead by
Rivals Followers.
ECHO OF CHICAGO UNION WAR
Chief Brutally Assaulted by Hired
Touts of Old DriscolI "Ma-
chine" Gang

CHICAGO. July 1L-Sluggers of the
'wrecking crew" type invaded the Chi
cago Federation of Labor at its semi
annual election, ard after holding up
the Judges at the point of revolvers and
tearing up the ballots, used brass
knuc<les and sungshots on Michael
Donnely, prominent among the con-
servative labor leaders. and left him
Tor dead on the floor of Bricklayers'
Hall,
The assault by the thugs, which was
carried out with a wild West" au-
dacity and a precision that showed
careful drilling, was the method adopted
To block 'anti-machine' reforms in the
organization. The assailants are un
knoWn-they were not even recognized
By the men they held up-but circum-
stantiai evidence indicates that IN at
tempting deliberate murder they were
acting at the instigation Of the old
gang" element, the crowd that in
vented the educational crew and
"DriscolIism" as an agent for beating
strike breakers into submission
Nearly Killed Once Before,
In picking Michael Donnelly. who is
president of the AmaIgamated Meat
Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North
America. as the victim, the thugs Sc
lected the labor leader who was directly
responsible for the repudiatiOn of John
c. Driscoll by The Federation three
years ago. Donnelly is a man of untm-
peachable character. and his ability
was shown last summer when he con-
Quoted the stock yards strike. Three
years ago Donnelly was the victim of
a similar assault, when he was beaten
severely by sluggers and had carbolic
acid poured into his mouth Driscoll
confessed recently to grand jury that
he had paid hired assassins $50 each to
put Donnelly away
Donnelly may recover. but will prob
ably lose the use Of his right eye. After
breaking up the election, the sluggerS
made an attempt to get President Dold,
of the Federation, but were frightened
away by friends of the labor leader.
This was taken as an Indication that
the ''wrecking crew was under instrGc-
tions to sIay several OF the men who
have taken prominent part in the re
organization OF the Federation on the
lines that resulted in the disposal of the
machine six months ago.
Threatened in Savage Note.
For a week the old element had been
threatening violence at the election, and
Friday and Saturday it was openly
predicted that bloody fight would Oc-
cur at the polls. The issue was the
reform element against the "opposi-
tion." with Charles Dold. of the Piano
and Organ Workers, as reform candi-
date. and J. F. O'Neu. of the Freight
Handlers, as candidate of the "Oppo-
sition.'' An hour bexore the polls
opened an anonymous message was re-
eeiyed by President Dold, reading:
If O'Nei is not elected there viii be
HI TO pay and no election"
The attack occurred at noon yester-
day, two hours after the polls were
opened and at time when BTicklayers'
Hall was deserted except for the judges
OF election, watchers, and SeTgeant-at-
arms. The saloon beneath the hall was
crowded with delegates at the time,
While the street outside was packed
with labor men discussing the pTOba-
bic outcome of the election. About 200
votes had been cast at noon when q
man entered the hail and sauntered up
to the balloung table. lie asked for II
ballot. but was challenged and left in
an assumed rage, ostensibly 20 get his
credentials The judges noticed that
the visitor took deliberate survey of
the hall, but paid no attention 10 the
matter.
Judges Held Up by Armed Men.
\ few inmates later. while eight men.
heavily armed. guarded the stairs and
subdued all who ventured that way,
seven armed men entered the hall and
front of the baIlotboXees under pain Of
'having their blocks blown off" if ghey
uttered q sound. Knowing the desper-
ate character of the educational com
neittee" the judges obeyed without a
Quibblc.
These guys don't look Ike DonneIIy.' %
said one of the thu0s. The judges were
then packed IN a small room, whore Two
armed men mounted guard over them.
The others waited until Donnelly came
into the hall. when they set upon him
and beat him until he was supposed to
be dead. They then destroyed the bal
lots and ESCAPED.
Teamsters in Bloody Fight
Last night a serious riot was narrow
" averted between union ANA uCa-uaiou
teamsters. Nearly 100 non-uniou team
STEERS who have taken The places o. the
strikers have been living IN the vtciu-
tty of union headquurters A number ol
union men leaving BricklaEers' Hall en-
countered some non-UIiou drivers.
i general fight was soon In progress
clubs and bricks We're being used in
discrminately and several shots were
fired. bat the police. who had beer sum
moucd when the trouble commenced
arrived I'm time 10 prevent blooGShed. II
WAS necessary TO make several arrests
however, before the opposing factions