Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-20
COFFEY OUTTALKS
MEN AGAINST HIM
Delivers Two-Hour Address on
labor Topics and No Fight
Left in Opponents.
NORMAN SHOWS HE'S THERE
RittIe Interchange Of Repartec
About All Fireworks that Ex-
pIode at STRAIGHTFORWARD
Platform Duel.


A terrible gruellng. planned for secre-
tary Frank NJ. Coffey Of the Nebraska
Federation OF Labor before the Omaha
Central Labor union, largely fizSled out
George Norman told Coffey that he would
not trust him across the street" 70
which Coffey replied that what Mr.. Nor
man thought caused him no loss OF
sleep. and the fireworks were exploded.
II appeared that the central Labor
union has harbored q grievance against
Secretary coffey for refusing TO publish
a communication in the federation paper.
Coffey said the publication would merely
have advertised TO the state that there
was another division In the councils OF
labor and that he deemed II proper to
suppress IT.
No Curbing for Coffey.
IF you don't like me way I'm running
the paper. you may have the JOB" said
Coffey. but as long as I'm running Il
I'll run II the way think It ought to DO
run. My opinion is not for sale or trade
and Il can't be enrbed."
Coffey talked for nearly two hours be-
fore the delegates to the union were
given an opportunity to present their
grievance" He discussed the proposed
amendments 10 the worlSmen'H compensa-
tlon law and the actions OF the executive
committee OF tho Federation of Labor.
Il was opposed TO the woriSmen's COM
pensation law as passed" said coffey,
''but We gained four years by passing r.
for We can amend IL II we so about II In
the right manner"
soIvencY of Employer.
Over the question How can the sol
vency OF an employer be guaranteed. so
that the workman can collect under the
compensation isw7'' lengthy arguments
were made. and no conclusions reached.
Under the present law the compensation
doctrine may be adopted or rejected by
the employer and the ompioye has q
chance to sue and then fall back on the
compensation.
Cdtfey recited the amendments agreed
upon by the executive committee Of the
state federation
Ad clubs. welfare commissions and the
rotary clubs were roasted by Secre-
tary Coffey. He said they dictated 70
their members the advertising Uediums
they should. patronise.
The coming session OF the legislature.
said Coffey. can make q master stroke
by providing for q state printing office,
Such an office, he said, would save the
state thousands OF dollars and do away
with lot Of political printing Jobs that
were most a joke.
J. D. Murphy, delegate from the Boiler
makers union, secured the passage OF a
resolution recommending 10 the legisla-
trre that the city charter OF Omaha be
amended 10 change the present aualifi-
cations for the office of city boiler IN
spector, The purpose Of the change is to
place the office in the hands of practical
boilermakers, the holder OF the office to
have served ten yearh "a bollermaker
and 20 have been employed at his trade
within three years Of his appointment 70
the place.
This resolution carried. on a standing
vote, "A 20 s. George Norman and two
other delegates opposing II.
w. A. Chrissman. a Central Labor
union man. not boilermaker. now holds
the office.
state Representative Jerry Howard APP
peared 20 tell the union that ne was the
peoples servant and intended 10 intro
duce aSminimum wage bill at the next
legislature. He invited the laboring men
20 get busy II they we're Interested In
this bill. The matter was referred 70
the several locals. 70 be considered and
reported back at the meeting on the
second Friday in February.
Louis V. Guye. speaking on tho COM
plant OF the notion-pictnre operators
union. suggested that the Hipp and Prin-
cess theaters be boycotted until they had
come into the union.