The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09
COUNCIL CONSIDERS
THEATER DISPUTE.
Manager of Central Promises TO
Yield TO Stage Employees.
Pending Inquiry
Charge That Politics Figures in
Dispute AfOuseS Gala
gher's Ire

After the adjourn
S-sSss, s-S--ssssS5s55sS=ss2s-,,-- ment OF the labor
S-SSS7Sssz27ssS|7 council last Friday
night Ernest l.,
Howell Of the Central theater visited
The council hall. and after a consulta-
~.op agreed TO comply with the request
OF the theatrical stage employees union
that three men. an electrician, stage
carpenter and property man, be en-
ployed pending the investigation of the
controversy The merits of the case
viii be taken up Monday night The
contention as developed in the argu-
ments made before the council at the
last meeting is that the manager
claimed that he could not afford to hire
three men as the receipts did not war
rant the expense, and further, that
therefwas not work for more than one
man on the stage. The stage employees
contended that a theater must have not
less than three men. as an electrician
can not do the work OF the carpenter
and the carpenter do the property
mans work.
During the debate William G. Rusk.
secretary and business agent Of the
stage employees. opposed the motion TO
concur in the suggestion that the eX-
ecutive committee investigate the mat
ter and said that he did not want II
Investigated by a committee that had
already passed judgment on the matter.
He said that the union had been asked
10 cease action against the theater
pending an investigation. and added:
This was done at the request of the
manager Of the Central theater, who is
the president of an Improvement club
There's politics IN this. He promised
as president Of the club to deliver a
certain number or votes if the union
was downed. I've got the proof of
this
EMPLOYERS HAVE RIGHTS
Secretary Gallagher said that the
manager. who had proved a good friend
10 organized labor. had complained that
the union was trying to force him to
do what he could not do and TO force
him TO employ more men than he
needed and he had asked for an inves-
tigation by the council. AS he had
asked for an investigation the eXecu-
tive committee thought that in view Of
this the union should wait until the
matter was looked into. The secretary
SAID that the charge had been made
IlaL lnefe was IolAiCS III TIC case
and that a delegate had stated that he
could prove it, He viii have 10 prove
il" said the secretary. -or 7 VIII sec
that charges are preferred against the
delegate" He added that employers as
well IS employees had rights and that
each side was entitled 10 fair hear
ing And let me tell YOU he con-
tinued. 1t is time that this council in
quire into the right OF d union to tell
1. a HrarfafF1
number of men when he does not need
them. and that certain unions, acting
under the laws OF their international
body. Independently boycott a place and
point TO the fact that they are sup
ported by organized labor. without
which assertion the boycott would not
amount to to snap OF my fingers.
These unions must he made to under
stand their place in the council and
that when a boycott is declared il must
be by the authority OF the council In
this particular case. after reading let
tiers that passed between the manager
and the union prior 10 the trouble and
Z sworn statement by the mana ger. to
my mind the union was wrong and the
mana ger right"
No PROOF OF POLITICS
Rusk said that he had no objection
10 having the matter investigated. but
did object TO any investigs tor who de-
clared that the union was wrong and
the mana ger right.
President Kelly interrupted the
speaker by saying: you did say that
there were politics in this matter and
that you had the proof
RUsk changed his attitude by saying:
I'm The heat Of my talk ! went little
further than I intended. What ] meant
30 say was that J had proof that 1 had
been told that there was politics in the
matter and IT had been said that votes
had been promised
The regular meeting of the musi-,
clans union, local No g. viii be held al
headquarters next Thursday afternoon
Tor the consideration Of the reports OF
officers and or the board OF directors a
proposition to cooperate with the gar
meut workers union I'm the matter OF
boosting" the union label and plan TO
assist the local box makers and saw
Ners on strike.
AT the last meeting OF the board OF
directors of this local the following
who had been suspended for nonpay-
ment of hnancial obligations. were re-
lnstated. NJ Bayles. y. l. Williams "
J. MCCOY and r. b. Finegan D. c. Rose
brook and Irene Franklin were sus-
pended from membership because of
suspension IN local No. 81 OF Los An
geies from which they were trans
ferred r. r. Bliss OF the San lose
local was admitted into the local on
transfer.
Recording secretary John A. Keogh
and \. l.. Ritzau left for Minneapolis to
attend The session Of the American fed
GRAFTON Of musicians.
The following members of the local
have been cited 10 appear before the
hoard or directors next Tuesday 10
show cause why they should not be
penalized for violation Of the uniform
law. Former president of the local. {.
r. Cassasa. T. y Ritzau =. r. Wilson.
r. H. Slissman. r. Pedro. ". NJ. Kcogh.
O. Goerlich. T. r. Frederick. a. l..
Fourtner and O. Schlott
The board has decided that leaders.
and contractors who furnish music for
Dicnics at Shell Mound park must
charge transportation for ihe mon
when they are furnished for societies
from outside Of Oakland, Berkeley and
Alameda.
AT the last meeting Of the executive
committee Of the labor council Michael
casey of the board of public works and
delegate 20 the council from the broth
erhOOd or tea amsters. made A statement