The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-17
BOARD MEMBERS
DISCUSS ACTION
ON C0YLE CASE
Tell Method of Obtaining
Hearing Before Action Is
Taken.

Members of the board of works in
dicated Wednesday afternoon at a
meeting that they believe their course
toward John Coyle. dismissed from
the fire department, was a correct
one.
The board members stated that the
Labor Council had been misinformed
regarding the cause of the dismissal,
which was not a question of wages.
Coyle. members Of the board said, had
criticised the conduct of the depart
ment and had pleaded guilty to that
charge. His dismissal followed this
admission, the board said, and conse-
quently the action was not one of
labor
According to law. say the board
members and city attorney, a fireman
dismissed by the board of works is
entitled to a hearing in court, If de-
manded, and John Coyle had had
several opportunities to ask for a
hearing.
On his first appearance before the
board he was told of his actions and
that board told him they were con-
templating removing him from the
city fire force"
HAD Opportunity
He then had an opportunity to de-
nand a hearing, but he didn't do 1t,
continued the members. When he was
summoned before US the second time
he was again reminded Of his actions
end told that we contemplated dis
missing him, and again he failed to ask
for hearing"
When brought before the board
and asked If the charges against him
were true, namely INSTRUMENTATION.
and calling of ali the city officials, in
Guiding the fire chief. names, he ad-
mitted they were true. He pleaded
guilty there" continued the board
According TO law. he can have the
hearing il he demands one, but Coyle
rade no move 10 demand hearing.
The resolution that the Central La
tcr CCuuc,i Grievance committee in
tends &c submit &c the board of works
ct theic session Thursday follows:
"Couf rnser5y has arisen between
:he R!ctrrond Fire Fighters Associa-
tiOr and The City Administration
which is deplcra BILE to say the least,
ard after inyestiga ton on the part of
:he Gr:ev9rce Committee of Central
Iahcr Council. we find that an injus-
tice has been dnre to one Of the mem
named organization, the same being
afflicted with the American Fedora
ton of Labor.
"Jack Coylc. rs he Is commonly
Caiicd. Captain of PCse Company No.
3. was summa ril" discharged, because
ho was and is at this time trying to
maintain the principles Of organized
labor amohg the men. and for doing
so has been called an "agitatOr' and
ilercfOrC not, il The eyes and minds
# he Board OF Works of the City of
.lichmOrd, q fit man to remain in the
Richrload fire department, however
Efficient rs a. fire fighter he may be.
70" Simply telling the Board of
"-0rky ti,at no did criticse the said
""It,. and that ne had asright to do
to-. h ,ne an American citizen, and
t'.v: - 'ol6 the public, as far as he
VS. 0t1e, Of what ne considered I'M
:uHt and unfair treatment, and so in
Termed the board Of his action-in
ether words pleaded guilty to a
rharge Of which every one who be
Eeves in true democracy has an in
Rliena bic right. that Of criticiZing any
action Of public servant, or official
If he honestly believes he is right in
Ills premises, and for this reason, and
no other, Jack Coyle was discharged
But the present city administrator
cannot stand criticism-they are MOI
hig men: hig men invite criticism
and after receiving it, if just, viii
proft thereby. They will not cry as
haLy. so to a far off country to
escape it; or adjourn council without
even the Formally Of vote as the
rules require.
Now, as to the future action Of or
Ill, iN hn
Grievance committee advises and thu
members of the Fire Fighters associa
ton viii abide by the advice, for
reasonable time, that there will be nC
.walkOut' or strike though the cause
is sufficient to cause one, but the,
will stay on the job and protect, a:
they have in the past, the property o
the taxpayers Of the city, whose ser
wants they are.
"However. they will demand pub
lie hearing for Coyle, feeling assured
that if the public is fully informed a
TO the merits of the case, they will
have no reason to take any undu
means to bring to an end the ur
pleasant situation, because public ser
timent when once developed. settle
matters in just manner The Fir
Fighters will and do make a deman
for the immediate reinstatement Q
Fireman Coyle, and until he is legal
discharged, having had a public heal
ing, where written charges have bee
presented. the members of this OIL
ganiZatiOn and of thirty-odd local LAT
or organlatons-a possible member
ship of GOODWILL insist and deman
that Fireman COyle be reinstated int
his position a captain in the fire de
partment. and until this is done OF
ganized labor will not rest or la
down on the job. and will use ever
honorable and just means to see tina
justice IS done a fellow member an
brother in the great American Fedora
ton of Labor.
"GRIENANCE COMMITTEE,
Central Labor Council