New-York tribune., 1919-09-22

tne orueIS as all attempt on the part
of the Mayor to check the inroads of
organized labor among city employees,
whom the Mayor himself, according to
report, Is attempting to organize for
the purpose of having n personal ma
chine behind him in his fight in 1921
for denomination and reelection:
Organized labor, through Ernest
Bohm, secretary Of the Central FEEDER
ated Union. announced last night that
it would ask for q peace conference
with the Mayor.
1--WE will appoint a committee Of
labor leaders to confer with the Mayor
this week" said Secretary Bohm. ave
hope that as result we can bury the
hatchet. But it is certainly singular
that the Mayor, who carries Union
card himself, should have a controversy
with the unions made up of city en-
ployes.
eve are indeed puzzled by the situa-
tion and intend to probe it to the bot
tom. Some of those unions are mem
bers OF the Central Federated Union.
1t is our business to look after the in
tercsts of the unions affiliated with us,
and on that basis we shall ask the
conference with the Mayor"
Democratic leaders are gravely con-
cerned over the possible effects of the
Mayors order on the coming election.
The action of Borough President Con-
molly, of Queens, in suspending from
duty George W. Morton, .ir., drafts
man and leader for the Technical Mems
Union of Queens, has complicated the
situation.
Morton's organization is one of the
numerous unionized groups of workers
in the cltys service having charters
from the American Federation of
Labor.
In the charges against Morton, which
he is called upon to answer to-day,
Borough President Connolly accuses
him of absence without leave, tardi-
ness, failure to punch time clock, ana
insubordination.
Morton has been assured Of the sup
port of union men in his fight and he
expresses confidence in the outcome.
Practically all the engineers, DRAFTS
men and other city employees in the
technical department Of the Borough
Of Queens are members of the Union
Of Technical Men, of which Morton is
the head. All talk Of q strike has
been frowned upon by Morton. In an
interview with "A Tribune reporter yes
terday Morton said:
Il would disapprovc Of any action
by the Union of Technical Men at this
hour, rs | deem the charges OF the
borough president SO weak that the
outcome will show the real reason why
they were brought. | feel that in the
hearing tomorrow ] will prove the
charges false and unwarranted'
Morton declared his belief that the
prlnclpal reason the charges were pre-
ferred against him was because of the
charges he, as an officer Of the Laurel
against President Connolly in connec-
ton with the alleged illegal use of
city property by private concern.
Borough President Connolly, speak
ing Of the allegation that Morton was
suspended because of his union activ-
ties, said that was not true, and
pointed TO the charges he preferred
against Morton in proof of this, say
ing there was no mention anywhere of
his labor agitation.
"Morton will receive q fair trial,
based entirely on the merits of the
case, and in now wise affected bv his
union activities," said MIR. Connolly.
The borough president said his only
opposition to unions consisted of
belief that it would rot be to the best
interest of the city to have local in
which chiefs of staff and subordinates
held membership.
Ihere was talk last night among
some of the members Of the Board
of Aldermen who arc not members of
the majority Of Il plan to ask the
president OF the board, Robert l..
Moran, if the views of Mayor lIylan on
"agitators" are shared by him.
But the employees who are members
of unions, and who believe they fall
under the Mayors characterization of
"agitators," arc not worrying so much
about the political side of the con-
troversy as they are over the action of
their superiors
When the Mayors orders to depart
ment heads to drive agitators from the
city employ was issued on Saturday,
most Of the commissioners had loft
for the week. What the commissioners
will do on their return to work to-day
is what Is giving their subordinates
! the greatest concern