Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-03-12

Endorse Gaunt Local Option
Measure Now Pending in
The State Assembly.
HAVE A LONG DISCUSSION
To Probe Strike Near Me-
tuchen-AIso to Take AC-
ton in Recent Strike
0utrages in Roosevelt.

At a meeting attended by about
fifty members, the Central Labor I'm
ion last night endorsed the Gaunt
local option bill now pending in the
house, and directed that the secre-
tary communicate with the assem- bly,
man and senator from this county
and urge their support of the meas
ure. The action OF the union is ad-
mitted as unprecedented, and proba-
bly, the first time that any trades
union or combination of trades or
ganizations ever went on record in
favoring prohibition in any form.
The central body, composed of dele
gates from nearly every labor organ
ization in the city, also passed reso-
lutions opposing two bills, which are
declared to affect organized labor, re-
Gently introduced in the house by AS
semblyman Arthur A. Quinn A COM
mittee was appointed to try to have
charges brought before the April
grand jury against Sheriff Edward +.
Houghton and jeremiah O'Brien as
accomplices before the fact in the
killing and wounding of strikers at
Roosevelt January ~.
Discussion of the Gaunt local OPP
tion bill and other matters occupied
the union ustil nearly IL o'clock.
Arguments were made pro and con
In reference TO local option, and
there developed lively debate.
Those ,fayoring the bill declared that
IL no HqLor were sold In this state
that the working man would be by
f. utter off, would have more mon
eySy ySsothe and feed his family and
etfucate his children. They argued
that each community should have the
right to say whether liquor should
be sold within its limits and that any
city or municipality desiring to abol-
fsh the traffic In liquor should be
able to do so.
1t was also pointed out that the
liquor interests were the means OF
degrading politics and that they with
irresponsible politicians had in many
instances been able to outwit those
standing for the best interests of
the city. Most Of those who spon-
sored commission government few
meetings ago. spoke in favor of local
option. 1t was significant that most
of the men who spoke in favor of
the bill were not Prohibitionists. and
many of them used liquor moderate
Iy. This fact was brought out by
the different speak ers, who said that
although they took drink when
they felt SO inclined, liquor was an
enemy to the working man
The committee appointed at the
last meeting to rave brought before
the grand jury the assault and bat
terry charge made by striker against
Lewis Albrecht, the general manager
OF the Phoenix Ceramic Works at
Metuchen, reported that the matter
had been taken up with the prosecu-
tors office, and they had received as
surances that the charges would, be
placed before the grand jury by Pros
ecutor William e. Florance. The
same committee was instructed to try
to have the next grand jury drawn
without the assistance OF Sheriff Ed |
ward F. Houghton, and to request
the prosecutor to lay before the April |
grand jury charges against the sher- |
III and jeremiah O'Brien, as accom-
plices before the fact In the shoot
ing of nearly score of strikers at |
Roosevelt January 10.
The present grand jury exonerated
the sheriff, but the union men point |
out that the grand jury was drawn
by the jury commission, composed of
the sheriff himself and Fred Coz. They
claim that the sheriff should have
nothing to do with the drawing of
a jury to hear charges against him
self. The reeently-enacted chancel-
ior Jury law provides that the jury
composed of the sheriff
and citizen of the opposite political
party shall draw the petit and grand
juries.
A committee was appointed to
make thorough Investigation of the
fight now on between officers of the
American Federation of Labor. as to
the operation of the State Depart
ment of Labor. 1t was brought out
that Commissioner Bryant was
worthy OF his position, and that there
Ia no reason for change. 1t was :
at the meeting that Assem-
olyman Quinn had introduced a bill :
N the house providing for the ap-
pointment of three commissioners at
1 salary OF $4,000 each, In opposition
% other officers Of the A. F. and L. 1t
was pointed out that the creation of
wo additional commissioners would +
)e an unnecessary burden on the tax g
payers. r
A resolution was adopted favorfng f
he retention of the present law in 9
eference to the appointment of cit a
Zens by the sheriff to suppress any Ir
trike or other riots, and opposing 4
he passage of the bill introduced by n
Quinn, which 1t was
,rought out would allow the sheriff
o appoint special or ''profes-I S
ionap' deputies to handle riots. Thel
ecretary was ordered to send. copies z
i the resolution to the MiddIesax in
and senator. ls