The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-10-08
CITY SOLICITORCONDEMNS AFFIL|A7ION
OF The POLICE WITH TRADES ASSEMBLY
In Report to City Council Solicitor
OBrien Opposes Recognition OF
such Union
Says Every Right Thinking Per5on IS
Opposed to Police Officers Aniliat-
ing with o. v. T. & L. A.

| II has been reported within the past
day or two that members Of the Wheel
INK police force who joined III" police
mems union arc preparing TO submit 10
City Manager Charles q. Eihltn within
short while demand for Il s. increase
: in their monthly rate Of pay.
| In view of this report. which comes
! from reliable source. much interest
is aroused BY 4 communication submit
ted last evening 10 council by Guy Sol
IcIlOr J. J. J. .O'Brlcn, IN when ne
called the attention OF council To ms
former communication to city Manager
! Ephlin, holding that the unIonIzallon OF
the police force and ITS animation with
the OHIO Valley Trades & Labor Assem-
: bly, should not be permitted
: The solicitor. IN his COMMUNICATION
! makes the charge that not only every
! right thinking person is opposed To such
! organization and utilization, but thht
such Is true OF many members "i th';
! police, force themselves. who. the sole
iIlor says, have been cuCrccd INTO JOIN
ing 1t.
The communication Was r"C"iNcd and
, filed by "A vUt" Of to !. Councilman
, John Ii. kunZ voting mo on Inc motion
, 10 receive and Tile.
! Council took no action upon ia" COM
!munICaliOn, AS Cit! Manager Erhlln IN
formed council that ne has never been
! officially informed Of the unI"nlZhti"n "l
the police force. COunClm"n Morgan
and NunZ stated that polio" officers have
! told them That they took no oath IN tn"
union which will interfere with III" DIS
charge Of Their duties to the city.
solicitor O3rlcn's communication fol-
! lows: -, -,
Sept ~. 1919
To the Honorable Mayor and Councll
of the city Of Wheeling
Gentlemen:
some weeks ago. having been advised
| that Il uUT CIn"nt was on foot TO urHan'
| iZe the city police fore" as Il labor union
and have II. as SuCn. affiliate with the
! Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assem-
I bly,, | wrote IT, the CIiy Manager a let
I tor. IL copy Of which IL hereto attached
My views las expressed in that letter.
have not changed. and experience Of the
! last few weeks elsewhere confirms my
! convictions that il, IS highly improper
and most imprudcIit that city officers.
, under oath Of the Guy. b" pcrmlt'rd l"
ationS might, p"rhars. at some timc or
! other. conflict with their sworn dbllEa-
! ti"uS to tho city ON Sunday. mote:
/ 10y ;hc public press. III" niillation OF
! Trades Il Labor .hasScmhly, was con-
! sunmatcd. This Is deeply 10 h" regret
ted There can hr but on" object IN
view in such organization and anilia-
ton ic., TO use the power of the Strlkc
60 enforce demands. liclng sworn ohlc-
crs of the City. these men are CunScrr-
ators Of the peace, and protectors OF
! persons and property. They know. or
| should know. Of no fcalty or allegiance
! To any, but the public, and the public
! consists Of all people. Of all classes,
! crccds and colnrs. Should they be Gale
upon strike. right or wrong. the public
would 10 left uHprot cctcd, tho victim Of
utter lawlcSsnCSS. and riot and rebellion
to authority would result.
Every right thinking person is or
| posed to such an organization and ahll J.
! iation AZ arc many members OF the pol
| ice force themselves. who have been CO.
cred into joining it. Most union labor
, men. who have honest labor's interest.
and the interest of their city and their
country at heart arc opposed to 1t.
: | am calling this matter I" your at
. tCntluu now. because | feel II my duty
to do So for ! believe. rs ! hav" here
tnfnrc stated. that such an organization
and HITIlatun has no authority u exist
! by any law. or Ivy any right or reason.
Respectfully yours.
tSIEncd) J. J. 7. OBriCn.