The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-09-25
LABORING MEN ON
GOMPERS MOVE

they osJEcTsTo PARTIcEs
PATioN7oF The FEpERATIoN
FoHlTlcs;
wAsHNGTON sept 25@n s I'M
#derstogd that q revolt g on amopg
some OF the Organized wprId1smen
against The determination of b
EAmeritan Federation Q Labor
ito take am actiVe part IN ppltf
#tics. In this connection It was
pointed out by a ioutneyman printer
that one! Of the hfst reyoEts had taken
place among the c6mposttors liz the
government Printing once. and as g
result some OF the 4revolutionariesF
had been suspended nom member,
ship III Columbia Typographical I'm
ion.
One bfAAthe suspended typos said:,
There has been considerable aeitaf
ten among the employees OF the Gov
eInment Printing Once during thu
rasl week, caused by the actlon Of the
typographical union at Its meeting
last Sunday. when 60 printers were
expelled from that ORGANIZATION for
alleged donpayment OF dues and as
sessments.
Mr.. @. p. Rhodes was among the
number expelled. and when seen by
a Star reporter he stated that as the
loficers of the typographical union
lkau caused a printed list ~ those sus;
pended to be circulated, without CIV;
ing the reasons why any of the memt
bers had refused to pay their dues, he
felt that in justice to himself he
should give out the following CORES
spondence:
The first letter is addressed to Nj.
Rhodes and is as follows:
Dear sir-Thet executive committee,
acting 1nder instructions from the un:
ion, has consider. 4 the cases of mem
bers who are in arrears for dues and
assessments, as shown by the August
accounts, with the purpose of recon-
men .irsdto the union at its next meet
ing that the names OF those who nave
refused TO pay. be expelled, in accord
ance with the terms of the resolutions
as adopted by the union. Your name
appears among those who are delin-
luuent. and in order that an injustice
may not be done in your case you are
hereby notified of said delinquency.
Neglect to take steps looking to the
adjustment OF the mater must neces.
'sartly be construed into a refusal to
nay.
Your record as a union man in
years past leads to the belief that it is
not your wish to be paced In this at.
ft1tule, and that you win realize the
necessity of standing shoulder to
shoulder with your fellows in what is
believed to be the most critical stage
in the eight.hour movement.
The opening of the fall, bringing
with it increased demands for print
ing, must necessarily put many men
who are now Idle at worf, apd the
gradual falling into line of the firms
on strike jnstifes the belief that the
executive council will soon be in a
position to carry out the promise to
still further reduce the assessment
when conditions warrant It.
This was signed by T. G. Parsons,
president Columbia Typographical IN
ion.
Mr.. Rhodes reply to this communt,
cation, addressed to Mr.. Parsons, was
as follows:
Dear slr-In reply to the circular
letter which you sent neon the TIT,
inst, with reference to my being in
arrears for dues and assessments, as
shown by the August accounts. de
sire to inform you that the reason
have not paid for my August. card is
because / do lot sanction the attitude
that the members of organized labor
are forced to take II they allow the
Headers to drag them into politics.
I have been an active member OF the
typographical union for 20 years, and
I have always considered taat the part
of my oath which says that my fidel,
ity to the union and my duty to the
members thereof shall in no sense be
interfered with by any allegiance that
I may now or hereafter owe to any
other organizatIon-social, political
or religious" means that l amJnot to
mix my uuionism with politics or re
Hgion. There are good union men in
the organization who entertain differ
emit ideas concerning politics and reli
gion, and,1 have always e%ndeavored tc
respect the Individual views of those
members who differed from me OF
either OF these subjects.
If the recent action Of Samuel Com
pers. Samuel De Nedrey and other Ia
Dor leaders in their effort o defeat 9
Republican candidate for Congress II
the State of NADINE is to be takensas