Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-04-11
Court Sustains
McNl1ty-Co lIins

49, 49,
Washington, April After nearly.
four years of internecine conflict the
issues in the controversy Within the
ranks Of the electrical workers Of the
country have been determined By the
courts III Cleveland. o. Ait the Dem
yer t1s0S) convention of the Ameri-
can Federation Of labor two sets Of
delegates, claiming to represent the
International Brotherhood Of Electro
cal Workers. presented credentials.
The contention was made by the del
egation headed by McNulty that the
delegation headed by Reid represent
ed a seeding faction Of the Electro
cal Workers, and a special committee
was appointed to Investigate. The
committee, after holding numerous
hearings, recommended the seatdng
Of the McNulty delegation, and fur
Their recommended that represent
alive trade unionist be appointed by
President Gompers for the purpose
Of making an effort to reurhte the or
ganizatdon. The recommendations of
the committee were concurred in,
and ais a result an agreement was
reached and signed by both factions
and nplaced before the conventio
prior to it's adjournment. When it
came to carrying out the professions
of the agreement, however, the Reid
faction repudiated it in toto Follow
ing the reputation the matter came
before the executive council. The
council employed every means at its
comand to effect settlement. but
the representatives of the Reid fac
ton refused to accept any offer made
save complete surrender by MENulty
The executive council, after all its
efforts had failed to effect a settle
ment, officially recognized McNulty
as the official head of the legitimate
organization of electrical workers.
The officials of the recognized organ
ization commended that the convention
held in st. Louis, which was called
b ythe Reid followers, and which or
ganized the secession movement, was
called in defiance of the laws OF the
International brotherhood of Electri-
cal workers. At the inception of the
controversy the funds of the organi-
zatiou, amounting to nearly 100000,
were tied up by injunction secured by
the Grid faction, and suits Instituted
against the regular organization. Nu-
merous attempts we've made by Nc
Nulty to bring the cases to trial, but
he was unable ito do so untA recently.
At the trial the issues we're vigorous
" contested, and at its close a de-
cision was rendered which clearly and
specifically sustains the organization
of which McNulty is president and
which, in turn, is recognized by the
American Federation of Labor. While
the Reid faction has the right of APP
peal it is not Thought that it will be
taken adv&qtage Of The decision is
SO clear that it is highly improbable
that any higher court win reverse it.
In cases Of this character decisions
are reached based on the organic law
Of the organization involved, and the
decision just rendered is in strict
-
conformity with the constitution Of
the / International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers. In all decisions
rendered by the courts in similar
cases there has been no deviation
from the rule applied in this case.
Now that the issues have been de
termined by the courts it is hoped
and believed that the electrical work
ers belonging to the Reid faction will
accept the decision and conform
thereto, and assist lnreuniting the
two factions that one comprehensive
and effective organization Of electri-
cal workers shall be maintained for
the protection OF the men employed