The Washington herald., 1906-12-08
FOREMAN ASHTON IS CLEARED
Acquitted by Union of Charge Of
Violating His Oath.
stormy Session of BOOkbinders Ends
with Close Vote After the First
Ballot Has Been Set Aside.

Harry +. Ashton, acting foreman Of the
b0okbnding division of the Government
Printing Office. was last night acquitted
Of the charge Of violating his union oath
brought by Alvin J. Tanner, a bookbinder
at the Government Printing Office.
The meeting Of Local No. 4, InternatIon-
al Brotherhood Of Bookbinders. was a
stormy one. and during the counting Of
the vote excitement was at fever heat
II took two ballots 10 reach a decision.
and both were extremely close ones. On
the first, 127 voted yes and SO no. meaning.
in the first instance, guilty, and in the
second not guilty.
Under the constitution of the union 1t
takes a two-thirds vote to convict a man
OF violating his union oath mot to injure
a fellow-member," and ~ was but three
short Of the necessary two-thirds.
Immediately upon the reading Of the
count. Joseph McManus, counsel appoint
ed by the union for the prosecution. pro-
tested the vote. claiming that the tally
sheets did not balance; that although but
16S persons had passed the ballot-box,
/ there were nearly 20 votes cast.
Motion was made 10 throw the vote
/ out and cast another, and an uproar
followed. President Feeney raped for
( order in vain. and everybody tried to
explain the discrepancy. Some said
/ that the ballot blanks were thin and
probably they became stuck together
and this accounted for the blanks. 1t
was explained that they were votes, and
not blanks. second outburst fol-
/ lowed. but the motion for new vote
l by roll call was carried. Self-appOinted
whips Immediately scurried from the
/ hall to gather in those who were IN a
hurry TO catch cars for home. and who
/ had left Immediately upon casting their
ballots. 1t was after midnight before
/ t:.;s vote was in, and the second count
was I1S yes and 73 no, nine short of
! the necessary two-thirds.
Union Veteran Legion Hall, on the
| Avenue near Ninth street northwest,
/ where the meeting was held on call of
/ President Feeney, was packed and
! iammed. and there was a heavy over
/ low in the ante-room and as far out as
/ the corridor. There were some book
/ binders present from as far as Balti-
I
| trains to hear the result.
! Messrs. McCarty and Hyde, counsel for
/ the defense, opened their argument, and
/ Mr.. McManus followed in the completion
/ Of his summing I'd for the prosecution
/ All three Of the counsel were applauded
/ but MCManus. young graduate OF
/ Georgetown Law School. received what
amounted TO an ovation. Their arguments
consumed over three hours. and il was
/ nearing midnight before the first ballot
was cast. When deciS.e- was reached
/ Mr.. McManus rose and stated that al
| though he had prosecuted the case to the
| utmost of his power, there was no per-
sonal i'll feeling, and, although ne regret
1 ted being defeated by so small a margin
he wished to congratulate Mr.. Ashton or
retaining his place in the union MIR
Ashton, in turn, returned the compliment
congratulating Mr., McManus on the excel
/ lent manner in which he had conducted
/ the prosecution.
/ Mr.. Tanner. after adjournment, stated
| that he is confident he is in the right
| that he merely wished TO clear his honor
/ and good name as an honest worker, and
/ the large majority voting his way, al.
/ though it fell just too short OF the nee.
! essary two-thirds. was evidence that he
| had the sympathy of the majority OF
! those attending. He announced that he
would not drop the case. but again take il
before the Public Printer. and ask to see
/ the evidence upon which he was sus-
pended from work for thirty days, and il
/ he could again obtain no satisfaction
ask a Congressional investigation through
! the Congressman from his district.