The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-27

.If thought that such treason-
 able utterances voiced organized
 Iaber's depth of loyalty to our i. most sacred principles. I'd feed
 my union card to the goats and I'd
 rather be a 'scab' tenfOld."
 This was the way E. F. Spangenberg, vice president of the Birmingham Trades Council characterized the reso- lutions adopted at meeting of the Trades Council Sunday. other promi- nent union men were equally lncensed over the resolutions and it was de- clared highly probable that the mat ter would be taken up at the meeting of the council next Sunday.
 Mir spangenberg declared that the resolutions were the work of one self ish and jealous man. assisted by a few emotionalists. It was charged that the matter was not brought up for con- sideration until after all the busi- ness of the meeting had been finished and most of the delegates had retired from the hall. Those who were known to favor the resolutions. which are characterized by many union men as  had been tipped off" to remain for their consideration.
 The resolutions declared in favor of forcing the men of great wealth to do all the fighting for their country un- til they were exhausted. Then those of moderate means were next to be drafted into the service until all or them had been killed, according to the plan outlined After that those affil- lated with union bodies and workers in general should prepare to assist the nation.
 The publication in The Age-Herald yesterday of the terms of the resolu- tion caused a sensation in Birming- ham. Citizens generally declared that they could not believe the sentiments expressed were indorsed by the mem bers of the various unions nor the working men of the city and district Union men and other workers were very generally indignant. They did not hesitate to declare that they were the work of tricksters and that scheme had been put over by small clique after the great majority of the dele gates had left.
 Arthur Elliott, president of the Typo- graphical union, vigorously denounced the terms of the resolutions and the manner in which their adoption is all 8leged to have been brought about. That the members of the Typograph- ical union would not stand by such action was his declaration and 1t was intimated by many that unless the resolutions were rescinded this organ ization as well as others would with draw from the Trades Council Such action it was declared. was not inn probable even if the action of last Sunday was overthrown at the meeting Sunday.
 "The Typographical union was
 among the first organizations to
 adopt resolutions piedging its un-
 qualified indorsement of the Pres
 ident and the unswerving loyalty
 of its members to the natiOn.7
 said Mir. Elliott yesterday. ''The
 members of our union are bitter
 in their denunciatiOn of this action
 and our delsSptes who were at the
 meeting had left before this mat
 ter was brought up. All the busi- ness had been transacted and the
 subject of Good of the order' was up. There Is always lot or talk as this is the close of the meeting
 and most of the delegates gradual ly leave the hall.
 "It seems that almost everyone had gone except the little faction which stands for socialistic propositions and they waited for, the matter to be brought up. These resolutions may be rescinded at the next meeting. All of the members of our union with whom I have talked fave withdrawal un- less they are rescinded. Even then there is quite a sentiment in our ot . ganization for separation.
 "The representative union men
 of the district are tired of n few
 of these fellows who dabbie' in
 politics and constantly represent
 themselves as heinz labor lead-
 ers,' bringing organized labor into
 disrepute. This matter is not over yet"
 The statement of Mir. Spangenbers vice president of the Trades Council president of the Barbers' union. and one OI tHe tnOSt iSpiCSVhAoSiNV CA ettS labor men, was extremely pointed. i "I want to repudiate and apologize in the name of red -blooded, full fledged American union men in Bir- mingham for the spineless and unpa- triotic utterances embodied in the reso- lutions adopted by the Trades Council Sunday and published in The Age-Her- ald today he said ssAt this time the American na- tiOn Is confronted by the greatest crisis in all It's history. Liberties for which our fOrefathers made sacrifices and are being jeopar- dixed. And to that we have men In an organization founded upon those liberties whose blood has become so paled makes me hang my head In shame. If l thought that such treasonahle ut- terances voiced organized labOr's | depth of loyalty to our most sacred
 principles I'd feed my union card