The Washington herald., 1908-01-14
HOT ROW ON SCHOOLS
Chancellor Case ExciteS Cen
tral Labor Union.
ADJOURN AMID WILD UPROAR
Delegates Also DenOunee Commits
sioner Morrow, Take Fling at the
Proposed Bill Against Strikes, and
Then Return to the Educational
ProbIem-Reach No Decision.

Al a meeting OF the Central Labor
Union last night. held in Typographical
Hall, G street, near Fifth, resolutions
were introduced asking Congress to give
Or. Chancellor an opportunity TO be heard
in his defense before the Senate inyesti-
eating committee. and approving of the
investigation.
Resolutions also were introduced dl-
recung the attention of the District Com
missioners 10 Irregularities which the
petitioners say exist in the Office Of the
building inspector in the District.
JohE Purcell, Of the Electrical Work
| eTs' Union introduced a resolution alleg-
ing that the affairs of the District eEgl-
Leers' stable were handled in careless
manner. and not to the best interests of
the people OF the District.
These resolutions threw the delegates
into an uproar. and it was some time
/ before the excitement subsided II was
| also reported at the meeting last night
that a bill was before Congress making
/ il penal offense for a labor union TO
1 strike It was urged by the delegates
that action be taken in this matter
Delegates Were Nervous.
At the convening of the body the dele
gates appeared slightly nervous. as it was
/ President Lorchs first meeting after his
( election and it was known many changes
/ in the committees would be made. Presi- /
dent Lorch was opposed by the conserva-
tive delegates at the election last Mon |
day, many Of whom are prominent in la /
Dor circles, and it was believed many Of 1
these would be stricken from the lists OF /
committees.
This suspicion was verified when the /
list was read later in the meeting, and It 4
was found that sam De Nedrey was not /
slated Tor the organization committee. /
Mr.. De NedTey has been upon this COM
mittee for a number of years and is one
Of the organizers for the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor He is also editor Of the
Trades Unionist Other changes were
made that created a great deal OF dis
satisfaction.
A delegate from the bookbinders said a
bill had been introduced IN Congress BY
Congressman Smith. Of Missouri, which
made il "a penal offense for members of a
labor union 10 strike. and provided a pen
atty a fine Of not more than s, 600 or |
Imprisonment for ten years
He said an amendment had been also
introduced by Congressman Hughes, OF
New Jersey. which provided that this bill
should not interfere with the rights OF
organized labor, but had been lost
The delegate declared this bill would
affect organized labor throughout the en-
tire country II passed. and would mean
that their most s1ectual weapon, and the
rights Of every Hian-that Of leaving his
position al will-would be endangered
VIII Fight the BIZ.
J. L. Rodier speaking OF this bin. said
1t was not the time 10 talk. but the time
TO act. we have not time 10 apply foE
help. but must do the work ourselves. as
the final passage Of the bill will come up |,
this week. Il will mean that the labor {
organizations must dissolve II this bill
is passed as It now stands. The critical
time for organized labor has arrived. and
it is our duty 20 oppose this bill. If we
do not we viii be branded as towards I
and as afraid To stand up for our rights
Organized labor all over the country will
hiss at Us If We do not make a fight now
Do not stand upon the order Of going,
but 60"
Many other delegates also urged that {
action be taken IN the matter at once.
John Purcell, OF the electrical workers,
introduced a resolution asking that three
members Of the union be selected 10 call
the attention Of the District Commits
si0ners to the allegations that the Dis !
trict engineers stable was conducted in
a manner detrimental 10 the best interests 7
of the service
Charges Against Morrow. !
The resolution contained six charges, as |
follows;
The employment BY the District engineer upon \
his private property of District government en-
pioye, working in the capacity u carpenter and c
using materials belonging TO the District Of Co S
lumbia 4
Having mskilled men endsavoring to perform the / 4
Work Of skilled mechanics, which IS an imposition s
upon the citizens Of the District of Columbia
Being interested m private concerns taking con- 2
tracts from the District government wherein his v
advice IS sought By the District officials as 70 the
employment Of men or teams. the letting Of 5
contracts Il
Alleged colusions with other employees Of the Dis
tct. either direct or indirectly in the purchase Of
horses. :
In passing faTorably upon bills in which e1- \
orbtant prices are charged for supplies used in the
shops and stables
Doing work in said shops for private citizens
without the District Of Columbia being oompen-
sated.
Emmet Adams, OF the Machinists. in j
troduced a resolution asking an investi-
cation be made of the alleged irregular
conditions existing in the Office of the -
building inspector Of the District
The resolutions states that 1t is believed
the alleged conditions in the office of the 5
building inspector are unfair to the resi-
dents of the District and Capt Morrow. o
Engineer Commissioner, 1t was alleged. d
had said the only injustice he had done 0
to a complaining citizen was to let him q
get out of the Office without a personal '
This was also ihdorsed
by the union.
R. G. NJ. Ross, Of the Sheet Metal ?
introduced a resolution asking n
that fair deal be given to DR. Chancel- q
Or. The resolution said that as it was
alleged he had not been given a fair
chance 10 testify in his own behalf at
his trial, the Central Labor Union should G
ndorse the Congressional investigation,
and ask that he be given one during the
by the Senate.
Opposes the Action.
Sam De Nedrey, secretary Of the union, n
opposed this resolution and said the 9,
Central Labor Union should not take p
sides in the matter. He said: TT was y
shown al the trial that he was not a "
ht man to teach our children The board fl
Of education made a mistake In going out &
OF the District for an educator When V
DR.. Chancellor came here he said our n
system Of education was all wrong, and <
at once proceeded to turn 1t upside down.
He stated that he would not appear b
at the trial and he did not do so We II
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ts