The sun., 1906-12-23
SHIP SUBSIDY BEFORE JEROME.
LABOR MEN SAY FRAUD HAS BEEN
Used TO GET LABOR SUPPORT.
Circular Sent Out in the Name OF the Marine
Trades Council After $4,000 for Ex-
penscs Had been Handed 90 Arthur
ID. story, as Story says. by Alex 4. smith


ID. story, as story says, by Alex &. smith
The District Attorneys office has been
investigating a charge that fraudulent
attempt has been made TO get the support
Of labor organizations all over the country
for the ship subsidy bill which is now be-
fore Congress. The complaint was made
by Representatives Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and the Marine Trades
Council OF the Port OF New York and Vi
cinity.
The charge Ia made that through forged
letters purporting to come from the Marine
Trades Council a number OF labor organi-
cations all over the country were induced
to say that they were in favor OF the bill
According 10 Herman Robinson, general
organizer OF the American Federation OF
Labor, labor men are not in favor Of the
ship subsidy bill because there is no provi-
sion in it for building ships III this country.
Henry Bohn Of the Marine Trades Coun-
cal and Mr.. Robinson and Thomas r. Flynn,
representing the Federation Of Labor, COM
posed the delegation that called on Dis
trict Attorney Jerome. Their story was in
vestigated by Assistant District Attorney
krotel, who examined Walter \. Weeks.
business agent OF the International Brother
hood OF Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders'
Helpers Of America, and Arthur B. Story,
who has an Office in the Maritime Exchange
building Weeks is also secretary Of the
Marine Trades Council.
Story told Mr.. Krotel that in September,
1909, Alexander G. Smith who Is described
as a man who has been and Is now in Wash-
ington working in the interests Of the ship
subsidy bill, came to him and gave him a
check for s. 900. Story was told that he was
TO take charge Of some printing, the address
ing of envelopes and some other work.
He wits TO do the Job and no questions we're
TO be asked as to how he spent the money.
The scheme, according TO Story, was To send
a copy of certain resolutions TO about 1900
local labor organizations in the country.
To yet out the correspondence. Story says,
Smith furnished him with copy of the
letterhead OF the Marine Trades Council
and "a rubber stamp with Weeks's signature
10 attach 10 the letters that were sent out.
Weeks, Story says, furnished the names
of the labor organizations and where they
could be reached. The resolutions which
accompanied the letter purportinR TO come
from the Marine Trades Council said in
effect that labor" was in favor of the ship
subsidy bill
A number Of letters were received from
labor organizations supporting the bill.
IL is said that they were sent to the Senate
committee which has the bill. Story told
MT. hTOtel IildJ out Ol Tue tS,OOU ouli.u BdES
TO him he gave $50 TO Weeks. Weeks said
that Smith gave him 500 He added that
he didn't know for what purpose the letters
or anything else was TO he used.
After Weeks and Story had made sworn
statements they were allowed to go. An
effort has been made to find Smith, but
he is out Of the jurisdiction. Mr.. Robinson
said that he only wanted the letter writing
stopped. Should Smith return the state
ments made by Weeks and Story will be
used against him.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-In bitter article
in the American Fedsrdtionist the officia
organ of the trades unions, Samuel Com
pers, president of the Federation of Labor,
charges that petitions in favor of the Ship
Subsidy bill, and purporting to emanate
from the Marine Trades Council of the
Port OF New York, were forgerles. The
matter was brought to the attention of the
District Attorney of New York, whose in
vestigation developed, according TO affi-
davits submitted by Mr.. Gompers, that
Alexander Smith of Cleveland. a promoter
of the Ship Subsidy measure, arranged for
the printing and mailing of the alleged
forged circulars and paid the bills.
in all our country" says Mr.. Gompers,
there ia not a more corrupt coterie who
are engaged in the scheme to promote
ship subsidy legislation
+. II. Flynn of Cleveland, general or
ganizer of the American Federation of
Labor, was sent to New York by President
Gompers to ascertain who vsos responsible
for sending ont the circulars on the letter.
heads Of the Marine Trades Council asking
labor unions TO indorse the Ship Subsidy
bill. The Marine Trades Council denied
that il had sent out the circulars and Mr.
Flvnn called the Case to the attention OF
District Attorney Jerome