The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-10-17
Injunction Issued Against Off
+ +. GERS of Internati ional Body Of =
Electrical Workers.
Suit Instituted Upon Application.
e e Of the. Order Diiscr rediteF
~ Grand Secretary. .''e =

- >. =
secretary ofthe international Brother
hood of Electrical Workers, and prac-
tically without funds as a result of
losing the supportSof great portion
Of it's Organization, Peter W. Collins,
former graad secretary of the Elec-
trical Workers, last Saturday, at
sprtngfield,IIll., filed q petition for in
junction to restrain the officers elect
ed at the recent ST. Louis convention
Of the organizaA1oh, from taking pos
session OF the rles. books, records, etc.,
lof the grand Office which is located
on the third floor the Pierik build
Ing '=Ts -%.z - -. =
= ~ The Injunction.
The Injunction Is directed against
the following officers elected at st.
Louis: Grand President J. J. Reid.
Grand Secretary J: ". Murphy, Grand
Treasurer Ire =: Sullivan. First Vice
President q: James Fitzgerald. Second
Vice President M. =. Sullivan and
Third Vice President Oliver Meyers:
Messrs. Reid, Murphy and Sullivan
have taken zuD their OFFICES In. the
lefty, and service was secured on them
Saturday afternoon by the, sherifrs
office. The three grand vice %<presi-
dents are absent from the city and
could mot be served : .t>-
r.4, AIIee eations of* Complaint. i.
In hts s>bill Collins Ieclairess that he
|:ts the duly elected grand secretary;
and as such is: the custodian of: the
(recordss fiesR etc. ,as55of the grand office:
| He says that he ( has 100000 of the
Brotherhood's money on deposit and
has vouchers to- show, that he has ex-
PENDED s$4oo, o,ooo. He accuses the new
officers of attempting to- usurp his
office and by means Of a replevin
suit, IT, gain possession OF the grand
1uf recorls -
l'S: a4 says that Frank J. Sullivan has
| already obtained certain records by
fraudulent means, and that he has
secreted them in a place where he
Collins) is unable to gain possession
OF them. =. Collins declares that it
would be impossible for him to re-
cover adequate damage for injury his
reputation might sustain should he
lose the grand office. files. In the
event of their loss; he declares, he
! would be unable to clear his record
as grand secretary, and further would
be- exposed to a multiplicity Of suits
concerning his actions as secretary.
| He further accuses the new officers
of attempting to secure the files with
view to injuring his reputation and
depriving him of the only means he
has of showing how he has disposed
! of the organizations funds. He con-
cludes by hurting a final accusation
at his enemies of attempting to get
his mail at the post office and of
endeavoring to influence the locals of
the, Brotherhood not to send him their
regular per capita tax.
Judge Creighton granted tempor-
! ary injunction and Collins filed bond
in the sum of $4,000 with the United
| States Fidelity and Guarantee con-
Germ as surety.
Suit How Regarded. 49,
The new officers do not regard
Collins latest act with serious con-
Germ except in so far as the organiza-
tion itself is concerned. They have
been doing their best to keep, the
unions affairs out of the court and
deny Collins allegation that they in
tend to replevy the books and other
appurtenances of the grand office.
, They say. that they have been exert
Ing every means to arrive at peace
able. solution of the Brotherhood's
| difficulties and declare that Collins
persist in retaining in office despite
the claniors of practically the entire
Brotherhood for he removal or resig-
nation. :.~: - - / !, -Tss-2
I'VE, are in the right and we can
show it at the proper time" is the
way Grand President Reid expressed
himself Saturday afternoon. A for
NAL motion. to dissolve the injunction
was. made by the attorneys for the
defendants. An effort will be made
to have a hearing on, the motion at,
an early date though owing to the
crowded condition OF the circuit court
docket, this may be delayed for some
time. .s55 s B. 5l.s.: - - 8. :.
The nav officers are of the opinion
that Collins action &as prompted
mainly by the fact that, he is finding
himself without funds as. a result of
great numbers Of. locals. who have
given their support to the new regime
Collins has been attempting to make
light OF the action Of the st. Louis
convention and ataa made statements
to the effect that the meeting was
merely attended by some disgruntled
members. ,ss5.,.s -
BY the records of the convention
it's shown that the. great majority of
the locals of the Brotherhood were
represen ted and that those not In at
Itend dance have since guaranteed the
new officers their support and COM
CURED in the action OF the conven-s
ton. ollins and Nc Nulty. the former
grand president, who has Disappeared
since the lneetifg came III Tor 3
Iseyere scoltl at the ands Nof the