The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-01-16

.DISSENSION IN
RANKS OF LABOR
EFFORT TO BE MADE TO SET.
TIE BIG SoUABBLE WHICH
THREATENS SERIOUS
TROUBLE.

Washington. d. c. Jan. 16.-what is
regarded as one Of the most important
meetings the executive council of the
American Federation Of Labor has held
in years began today at the federation
headquarters In this city The long
standing trouble among the electrical
workers is the main subject of consid-
Grafton. Before the meeting adjourns
il is expected action will have been
taken that will result in a definite set
tlement Of the controversy or else
cause a split in the ranks that may
widen until IT involves the whole fab
ric or organized labor in America.
The trouble among the electrical
workers dates back about three years
and already has had a most disastrous
effect on the building trades in various
parts OF the United States and Canada.
Two attempts at arbitration have
failed utterly and now the executive
council Of the American Federation OF
Labor has undertaken 70 settle the
matter.
The majority Of the electrical unions.
numbering some $50 locals. have been
! read out" of the federation by Pres
ident Gompers. The latter has taken
up and supported the cause of the min
oritE consisting OF 100 local unions,
and directed organized labor every
where to recognize no other electri-
clans.
The 'insurgent" majority Of the cleo
trical unions charge President Com
pers with using Rig Stick" methods.
They contend that the term "seceders. ("
which he has applied TO them. more
properly belongs to the minority fac
tion. This contention is based upon
the fact that the officials now at the
head Of affairs in the electrical work.
ers union We're elected at n special
convention, which at the same time
impeached the old officials.
The Principle Involved.
IT is pointed out, moreover. that the
so-called insurgents among the electri-
cal workers are fighting for the same
principle as President Gompers and his
co-defendants in the Buck stove and
Range contempt case. namely their
constitutional rights" The majority
of the electrical workers claim as their
rights the privilege of choosing their
own officers and governing themselves.
which right, they allege, has been de-
MED them by President Gompers and
the federation. who have gone even
farther and enjoined all organized la
bor from giving the insurgents recog-
milton as union men.
The trouble among the electrical
workers dates back TO the winter Of
1907, when charges of malfeasance of
office and incompetence were directed
against President McNulty and Secre-
tary Collins OF the international union
Local unions in both the United
States and Canada petitioned for a
special convention to thresh out the
charges. Secretary Collins refused TO
call the convention, whereupon the
Cleveland local issued the CALL When
the special convention opened in st.
Louis, three-fourths of the locals. IL is
said, were represented. The conven-
tion heard the charges and impeached
the general officers. The American
Federation of Labor was drawn into
controversy a short time later when
the federation convention met I'm Den
yer. The Denver convention seated the
delegates Of the impeached officers and
declined to recognize the representa-
tives of the insurgent majority.