The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-15
Most Important Meeting of
Executive Committee of
American Federation Is
Held on Monday. .
ELECTRIC WORKERS
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
Definite Action, Which Will
Heal Wounds or Cause a
General Split, Is Expected
Of Meeting.
tAmcrican News scrvicc)

Washington. Jan. 14.--What Is re.
karded AZ one OF the most important
meetings Of the executive council OF
he American Federation Of Labor has
hcld In years will begin Monday at
ohe federation headquarters in this
tity. Tho long standing trouble among |
the electrical workers Is the main
subject OF consideration. Before the ,
meeting adjourns II Is expected ac.
ton will have been taken that will re-
suit In n definite settlement OF the con- |
trovcrsy or else cause split in the
ranks that may widen until II involves
the whole fabric OF organized labor in
America.
Tho trouble among the electrical
workers dates back about three years |
and already has had a most disastrous |
effect on the building trades in var
lous parts OF the United States and
Canada. Two attempts at arbitration |
have failed utterly and now the execu. |
tive council OF the American Fedora.
ton Of Labor has undertaken to set |
tie the matter
The majority OF the electrical unions
numbering some $50 locals. have been
''read out" OF the federation by Presi-
dent Gompers. The latter has taken
M and supported the cause of the mi
nority. consisting OF 100 local unions
and directed organized labor every
where to recognize no other electric
lans.
The "insurgent' majority OF the
electrical workers charge President
Gompcrs with using big stick methods.
They contend that the term 'seced-
ers" which he has applied to them,
more properly belongs to the minority
faction. This contention In based upon
the fact that the officials now at the
head OF affairs In the electrical work
ers' union were elected at a special
convention. which at the same time
impeached the old officials. ..
II is pointed out. moreover. that
the socalled insurgents among the
electrical workers are lighting for the
same principle AZ President Gompers
and his co-defendants In the Buck
Stove and Range contempt case.
namely their constitutional rights"
The majority OF the electrical work.
crs claim as their eight the privilege
OF choosing their own officers and gov
crning themselves. which right, they
allege. has been denied them by Presi
dent Gompers and the federation, who
have gone even farther and enjoined
all organized labor from giving the in.
surgcnts recognition as union men.
Both sides to the controversy have
sent representatives to the present
meeting Of the executive council. The
two factions lay claim to the same
name-lnternational Brotherhood Of
Electrical Workcrs-and both main.
tain headquarters in Springfield, Ill.
Tho minority faction, which has the
support OF the American Federation
OF Labor. IL headed by r. J. McNulty.
general president; Peter w. Collins,
general secretary. and william Hogan
general treasurer.
The officiails elected by the so-called
insurgents when the old officers were
impcached are James J. Reid. general
president: J. w. Murphy. general sec
retary. and F. ]. Sullivan. general
treasurer.
The trouble among the electrical
workers dates back to the winter ot
1907. when charges OF malfeasance oi
once and incompetence were direct
ed against President McNulty and Sec
rctary Collins OF the international un
ion. Local unions In both the United
States and Canada petitioned for a
special convention to thrash out the
Al.
call the convention. whereupon the
Cleveland local issued the call wher
tho special convention opened in St
Louis. three.fourths OF the locals. 1t IL
said. were represented. The conven
ton heard the charges and impeachet
the general officers. The American
Federation Of Labor was drawn into
the controversy short time later
when the federation convention me,
in Denver The Denver convention
seated the delegates OF the impeachet
officers and declined to recognize tn,
representative Of the insurgent major
ity.
Since that time. the claim is made
president Gompers and the federatio,
gave steadfastly supported the caus,
of the minority faction OF the electric
sl workers. though ostensibly endea
soring to bring about a friendly settle
ment Of the dispute by arbitration
The insurgents allegc that the fedora
tiou has not been sincere in its effort
to give justice to both sides. but OF
the other hand. has manifested dis
position from the start OF the troubl
to favor the minority faction,
The controversy already has sprea
to other building trades and the pre-
diction IL made that unless satisfat
tory settlement is reached at an earl
:. date serious split affecting the entir
bodv of orgAnised labor may result.