The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-24
COMPERS CAN SAVE
HOMES, SAY HATTERS
Danbury Workers Helpless
without American Fed
Grafton Aid.
LIFE SAVINGS IN DANGER

DANsuRY. Conn. April 2s.--ft IL DIFF
f,cult 70 describe the effect upon this
community Of tho notice given last night
by n. n. Loewe OF his intention TO fore
close the attachments which ne holds
against tho homes OF almost zoo work.
rnen---iss TO be exact-uniess the dam
ages awarded to him as a result OF the
famous Danbury hatters' case are paid
by May 20.
Tho men and women most concerned
IN Danbury, Bethel and Norwak APP
pear not to have realised until now Just
what II meant to have the case decided
against them. These men who have
property and these women who are de-
pendent upon these men have felt all
along that they were not directly ar
fected.
The United Hatters Of North America
started tho trouble. They carried on
tho litigation. with the assistance OF
the American Federation Of Labor. and
theirs would have been the credit In
the labor world II they had won. But
they lost and now II Is the Danbury
matters who must foot the bill.
A group OF men. :everal OF them de-
PENDANTS in the suit. gathered to-day in
tho union headquarters on Main street
to talk over their troubles. None of
them pretended to know what is going
to happen. II tho local union plans
any final appeal TO the United Hatters
OF North America or to the American
Federation OF Labor for aid there Is no
official OF the union who cares TO say so.
GOmpers Against Assessment.
In the circumstances the men here
face a gloomy prospect. Samuel Com
pers. president OF tho American FEEDER
alton of Labor. said recently that he
had no intention OF asking the FEEDER
alton 10 collect by assessment a fund
20 meet Mr.. Loewe's claim OF moro than
$3.50. 900. The hatters here say that
even X the United Hatters OF North
America should undertake the collection
uf such a fund Il would mean an as
ssssment OF about $50 for each mem
Der OF tho union. and $40 Is very
large sum OF money for tho ordinary
halter
II an assessment were laid upon the
members OF the American Federation OF
Labor, with It's 1000, 900 members, there
wouldn't be any hardship on anybody !;
but this, Mr.. Gompers says. the or
ganization has no authority to do, al
though. as Mr.. Loewe says Il raised
$3.50. 900 TO defend the Los Angeles dyna-
miters In 1912.
In discussing tho situation to-day the
men pointed out circumstances which
make their obligation 10 pay particularly
distressing. One and all they asserted
that tho Danbury hatters never sane
toned the boycott which caused the
trouble. They never voted on It AT all
They had no part IN II because Mr.
i.oewe doesn't sell hats in Connecticut.
II was further averred that not one ~
the men whose property will be taken
from him II Mr. Locwe carries out his
threat ever even worked for tho Loewo
company.
Nathan g. Hoy. who has been Dan
bury Councilman and member OF tho
Board Of Assessors, Is one OF tho de-
PENDANTS who isn't afraid 10 say wha,
he thinks about tho case. He is well
along In years, and az several others
who stand 10 lose the property which
represents the toll aud savings OF NE
time, can't work any NOR. He lives
with his wife In a little home at south
well avenue.