Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-30
LABOR NOTES.

An interesting question recently arose
in a Chicago labor union as to how far
the organiZat ton should be responsible for
the conduct of its members. Three MEM
bers of the steamftters union were en-
ployed in shop and worked overtime one
Saturday afternoon few weeks ago At
the overtime rate their wages for the after
noon amounted to $462. but in paying them
Of the employer or his bookkeeper made
a mistake and paid them $4G.20. just ten
times what they were entitled to.
When the mistake was discovered the
employer claimed the money should be
returned. The union took up the matter
and ordered the men to return the amount
they had received through the mistake
They agreed to pay the money back in
weekly installments, but after paying one
installment they changed their minds about
it. The union refused to issue the regu-
lar quarterly working card to the three
members unit they paid the amount, al
though permits allowing them to work
from week to week have been given. The
men have placed the matter in the hands
of an attorney and the courts may be call
ed upon to decide whether TIL union. under
the circumstances, has the right to with
hold their working cards.
One of the men protested to TIE presi-
dent of the union that he did not think it
was any business of the organization what
a member did in a private capacity. The
president. Honest John Mangan. read
him a lecture.
Il will put the matter to you this way"
Sdlu udHSdH- suppose your ,Wlle sent
your little girl to the grocery. and suppose
that little girl was given too much change.
Would you rather have her keep 1T or re-
turn it to its rlghtful owner? You know
you would rather have her return it,"
Mangan is said to have wound up his
lecture with his oft-repeated speech made
in his controversy with the plumbers over
jurisdiction: IF we're right We'll win and
if we are not right we don't deserve to
win"
Whatever the outcome of the coIftro-
versy may be 1t demonstrates that some
officers of labor unions are not as un-
ScrupulouS as they sometimes painted.
Advices received from Go'dfeld throw
a side light on the labor situation there
and explain, in a measure, why it is be-
neved by business interests the trouble is
about over
At meeting of the Industrial Workers
of the World a resolution passed pro-
yid:ng for a separate meeting of the min
ers' branch. The success of the resolu-
ton not only paves the way for the Sc
cession of the miners. but the test vote
SHOWS the predominat;ng sentiment of the
industrial Workers to be in favor of Civ
ing up the fight. While the outcome at
the miners meeting is not a certainty. in
formation obtained in the best posted omar
tiers is that the miners Wi sever their con-
nection with the Industrial Workers
AS a result of the ultimatum Of the Ton
opah operators that no one would receive
employment who remained a member of
the Industrial Workers. the miners of that
camp met and repudiated the objectionable
organization BY their acton the Western
Federation of Miners. which has been affil-
lated with the Industrial Workers, will not
be affected.
This will probably be the result Of the
meeting of the Goldfield miners, as there
are no differences between them and their
employers. The Tonopah Mines which
closed down awaiting the miners decision.
have resumed work. The miners at Man
haitian have passed a resolution refusing
aid to the Industrial Workers of the Gold.
field district