The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-11-27
TRADES COUNCIL
ASKS DISMISSAL
OF POLICE Chief
Public Hearing Is Requested
of Commissioners,
GIDDlNGS OFFERS PROOF
Says Labor Organizer Was
Subjected to Abuse,

Charges oi gross par,ialty oppre'-
sion, wiliul maladmilistraiion OF office
and violation Of the laws and conStilu- D
tion, not only OF the state OF Oklahoma
and Of Oklahoma City but Of the United
States, were filed today with the city
commissioners against w, y Nichols.
chief Of police, by +. J Giddngs, attor-
ney representing the State Federation
OF Labor
Proof IL Offered.
The petition asks that the commits
sioners remove Nichols from office as
chief Of police after a public hearing,
at which oral and documentary proof
OF the charges will be presented
The charges against Chief Nichols re.
suited from the arrest OF Elmer + Ball.
organizer OF butchers and similar
tradcsmen. when he came here to organ-
ixe a union among the employees Of the
packinghouses. He charges that he was
arrested without warrant; held without
bail and refused al opportunity TO em-
poy counsel, a right given him BY the
constitution of the United States and the
state of Oklahoma.
Trades Back Charges.
The Oklahoma City Trades Council
a, recent melting passed resolutions
requesting the city commissioners to
remove W. h. Nichols from office as
chief of police, but after conference
with federal authorities, the commits
sioners replied that Chief Nichols was
acting on federal authority when he ar.
rested Ball, and they suggested TO the
Trades Council that II withdraw It's
resolution,
! At . meeting OF the trades council
lsat. .Thupday night, they failed to take
the Action suggested by the commits
ii6ners and d that time passed another
resolution insisting that the comnils-
sioners act on the original one
II was the following day that the
state Federation OF Labor. through At
torney Giddings announced that
charges would be brought against Chief
Nichols. The commissioners have taken
no action on the resolutions passed by
the trades council.
Loyal, Says Ball.
In the accusation and complaint
against w. h. Nichols which will
be filed with the commissioners
today Elmer +. Ball states that
he ia registered voter OF ST,
Joseoh. Mo, and that he has at alf
fines b,en lovai 10 the limited States,
thai he IL In the erploy of the American
Federation ,f Labor and duly author.
i,ed 10 come TO Oklahoma CITY TO or.
paniye here. for lawful and humans
tartan purpose the butcher worlunen
and other similar trades. 10 the end
that thereby they might live under
more favorable conditions. both as to
wage and hours OF employment not
only for their own good but for tho
GOOD on the community.
Repudistes ]. W. W.
Rail ,,vs ,b,, n. In, .ouub, enlist.
m.nt IN The United State, army but
ws. ,eiccted on account of a physical
defect Of the muscles of his left arm
now connected with the |. w. w.
| mr. any other organization even re-
mo,ely connected herewith and
Thai h, did not come to Oklahoma City
10 organize strike bu, had advised
against any strike in this community
and had succeeded in ayerting a strike
here
lie charges that Chief Nichols ~,
November IL and almost continuously
since his inc,mbency in office has beer
guilty Of habimal and yillfui neglect
Of du,y gross partiality in office, has
arrested Without warrant or other lie.
cal n,oress has confined in iail With
out warrant or other legal process, re.
fused hail in bailabl, cases and has
beaten bruised rcSiled and applied
vile md ,nnrobiou, eDthets 10 citizens,
Hearing 1, Sought
Tn, commis,ioners are asked that A
h.a,,no n, permitted a, which oral anil
dbcumeulaly evidence NAV be intro
dur.N to sumner, the CHARGES
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