The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-10
Executive Board to Seek APP
proval of Action in Expell-
ing Business Agent and
$500 Union Members.
QUESTION is RAISED
IN BIENNIAL REPORT
Internal War in International
Organization to Be Re
viewed; Fight for Rein
statement Expected.

Approval or dsapproval OF ths action
ma ted Associa ton OF street and Electric
Railway Employees OF America in ex-
peling c. o. Pratt and 2600 members OF
the Philadelphia local Is the Issue pre-
sented TO the biennial convention OF the
association here in the biennial report OF
the executive board. The reading of the
report OF the executive board, which COW
ers l5O closely typewriter pages, was
begun yesterday afternoon. and about
one third completed. Consideration OF the
report will probabl not be reached be-
fore Thursday.
Pratt was formerly a member OF the
executive board or the association and
| for many years up to the ST, Joseph CON
| venrion in 1911 was an international Of
ficer and took pronlnen; part In the
| international affairs of the association
| He Is well known in Salt Lake tavng or
| ganized the local street car mems union
| nd having conducted successful street
| car strike here In 1907.
| Representing the international associa-
| ton, Pratt directed a street car strike In
/ Philadelphia in which more than 5000
street railway employees were on strike.
After Pratt's defeat for reelection as an
| interpa tional officer a, the ST. Joseph
| convention he was superseded As direc-
tor OF the Philadelphia strike. The local
at Philadelphia. however determined not
to be without the counsel of their leader.
so they elected Pratt member of the
local and selected him as secretary and
business agent. The executive board held
that Pratt was not eligible TO member
ship In the Philadelphia local, nor 10 hold
office In the union.
Start Negotiations.
| With a view TO settling the strike. the
| international officers opened negotiations
| with the traction company. The officers
OF the philadelphia local insisted that
Pratt be made a member OF the confer
! ence committee. but the international Of
fcers declined to recognize him as the
| business agent OF the local. Thereupon.
the local officers declined TO be bound by
| any agreement that the international Of
! ficers might conclude with the traction
comoany The international officers then
| ordered a referendum and the local Off
| GERS were sustained The suspension OF
Pratt and the $500 other street railway
men from the union resulted. Acting In
depcndently. Pratt and his men finally
| settled the strike.
| Pratt and a large delegation from Tia
Independent Philadelphia union are IN
Salt Lake seeking reinstatement Their
| fight for reinsta tement will come UP with
the consid Grafton OF the report Of the ex-
ecutive board. Pratt and his men are
not regular delegates to the convention.
| because they have been expelled from
the union by the executive board. The
convention, however. may review the ac-
ton of the board and may reverse the
course Of the board.
viii Seek Floor.
| As soon az the reading Of the report 10
concluded and the debate 10 begun.
friends Of Pratt who are delegates to the
convention will ask that Pratt be given
the privileges of the convention floor to
explain his side of the case This VIII
be the first test vote on the case
| An exhaustive review OF the causes
which led up 10 the expulsion OF Pratt
and the other members OF the Phiiadei-
phia local is contained in the report or
|
deals with the efforts Of the information
al officers TO adjust the difference in
| PhiIadelphia and 10 settle the strike.
Rules are quoted tending TO show the in
| eligibility OF Pratt to hold office In the
| Ph,la delpha union. The charges made
] by Pratt that the executive board WAS
prp judiced against him are reviewed IN
| the statement OF the proceedings OF a
speclaI session OF the executive board.
Complaints that Pratt inctted pre1udtcs
against the international officers WHICH
resulted In their being hooted and Jeered
by Philadelphia street car men are also
noted Al the special meeting the board
ruled that Pratt was not eligible TO mem
hership In the Philadelphia union. The
board In rendering It's decision recited I'm
great detail the rules governing the re-
| iauons of the international association
and local divisions, ending with the as
surance that the greatest freedom OF To-
cal action possible under the rules would
| he granted the local Pratt is scored
| In the decision, which says that the union
| is not one-rnan movement. but aims ia
he a harmonious concert OF all MEM
bers.
Question Submitted.
The executive board then ruled that
Inasmuch as less than one-fourth of the
total membership of the Philadelphia To-
cal had taken part in the meetings up
holding the local officers. the whole
! question as to whether or not the inter-