The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-13
UNION MEN DEMAND.
WIRE TAPPING LIST
Find Names Of Many Women
Among $50 Watched Is
Bar TO Publicity.
CALL FOR NEW INQUIRY

l'nof DETERMINATIONS nHue Nes'e'uoy
uyoa the Thompson investigsting com
mi,'cc. COR tho publication OF the names
~ the $50 persons whose telephone wires
had been TAPPED by tho police, with the
conversations recorded. II developed that ,
IN the li-t Of those whose wires were
tanned arc several 'cmincntly respcc-
table women" That statement was
r,1ao by Frank Moss. counsel to the
committee. IN explaining to Peter j.
Brady. secretary OF the Allied Printing
Trades Council. who. in behalf Of other
working men, presented the demand.
why II would not be fair to make the
lis, OF the tapped telephone wires pub
lie.
The trouble is" said Mr.. Moss to
Mr.. Brady, that there are n few ladies
in the list. women of excellent repu,a-
ton. and It would put them In a most
embarrassing position to publish their
names"
Insist Upon knowtnG Farts.
The letter which Secretary Brady pre-
sented to Senator Thompson in the af-
tenosn VIA signed by Hugh Frsyne.
general organizer OF the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor James T. Holland.
president Of the New York state Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor John Sullivan. inter
national oficer United Brewery
WORKERS; r. T. James. Brotherhood OF
Painters : Ernest Boehm. secretary Cen
tral Federated Union. and Henry waz-
man. United Garment Workers. Mr..
Brady was accompanied by a delegation
Of thirty.
w must insist" said the letter OF
Secretary Brady. in Justice TO our
selves and our unions and TO the public
that the reasons for the tapping OF
these wires be made known.
W are not satisfied with the evasiye
or fimsy excuses OF the Mayor and
Of the Police Commissioner that they
suspected that n crime was to be conf
mitted. But what we want and insist
upon In that all of their suspicious, the
circumstances and the basis for their
supposed suspicious be made public. We
want and insist upon securing the tran
script Of all the conversations taken
So"h " 'h' 'at' Nht Ah's WIRE ~
ening In over these wires. If our unions
have members under suspicion OF rom
hitting crimes and using the union wires
for that purpose We want to know Il.
IL there are unions whose officers are
under VIGILANCE and suspicion OF the
Police Department the rank and fle OF
these unions a. well as the employers
with whom they deal in representing
these uniogs want to know the bass for
that susuicion."
Demand for InSesttgatIou.
Further on the letter SAYS We.
therefore,. insist THAI your committee
make nuW the 'ull names furnished
you by the Polire Department. and we
also INSIST that Your committee secure
from the Police Department complete
list OF al! wires tapped Ivy them and a
transcript OF the Conversations which
were taken down"
There i q demand by the labor unions
for an investigation by the Thompson
Of the relationship between
the Police Department and the so-cdlled
private detective agencies. The COM
mittee ~ asked 60 make public the
private understanding that permits the
Police Department TO allow these private
detective agencies TO tap wires and in
stall dictagraphs and detcctaphones.
break into offices, smash desks and copy
private correspondence The public. -
says the letter. Ought to know 70 " hat
extent the so-called private detective
agencies and strike breaking associations
are supervised by the Police Depart
ment what reports they do furnish to
the Police Department of their activi-
ties"
The letter charges that the employees
Of many 81 the detective agencies are
~'ex-oonvicts and people OF such de-
PRAYED moral standing in the commu-
nifty that decent people will not ASSOC
ciate with them After naming the
private detective agencies that the la
boring people wished investigated the
letter says:
1T is high time that the public of
New York city realized and understands
the ramihcations OF these moral lepers.
70 that steps may be taken Immediately
to curtail the abuses OF the powers which
have been given them. In conjunction
with the Police Department"
In conclusion the letter refers to the
"Russianized secret service prevailing
IN New York city,"
Allowed tn Examine List.
Senator Thompson. chairman OF the
committee, said that It vas not within
the power OF his committee 10 act as re-
auested by the unions. but that the Dis
trict Attorney could act. lie promised
the full cooperation OF his committee
He said he had received a letter from
the Pinkerton Detective Agency protest
ing against the tapping OF telephone
wires and the installation OF dictagraphs
by private detective agencies.
Mr.. Brady and his delegation made a
verbal demand. and finally they were told
10 return after the committee had held
an executive session, When the unlor
men returned later they were told tina
a representative of the labor %organlza.
ton would receive a complete list of the
telephones of laboring men that had beer
tapped and that he would also be per
mitted to go over the entire list Of $50
names to satisfy himself that there were
no other names of interest TO labor.
Toward the end Of the executive seq,
SION Dr. Daniel g Potter, who figured II
the Investigation into the tapping %
c!orgyncn'S ~tclcphOn" wires. appeared
Informally and protested that his wir.
was still being tapped.
Dr. Potter Hears Listeners TnIk.
81 heard a slight tinkle on my ,ele
nhone ben last night" he said. and
Iitcd ~ the receiver. This is what
heard
".s tris goa Hayward?'
Eyes
Are YOU watching this wire to
"'yns'