The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-14
BERRY IN DENIAL
OF ALL CHARGES
PRESIDENT OF PRESSMEN
TO RESIST PETITION.
Claims Disaffection Exists in
Small Percentage of
Membership.

Maj. George l.. Berry, president Of
the international Printing Pressmcn 8
and Assistants Union OF North Ameri-
ca. denies all charges made against him
and others In bill recently filed in
federal court. asking for recelvership
for the Pressmen's home and other
corporate interests connected there
with says the Journal and Tribune. OF
Knoxville.
Maj Berry has Just returned from
the east, where he attended the con-
venton OF the American Federation OF
Labor In Atlantic City, after which
he went to New York on business. He
is In Knoxville today. In company with
Gov Tom c. Rye, of Nashville; w. A.
Cannea, OF Chicago; Judge A. T. Bow
en- and Leon Jourolmon, of this city.
who are counsel for Maj. Berry and
other defendants In the litigation. The
attorneys are engaged In preparing an
answer TO the bill, and In which Maj.
Berry states full and complete denial
of all charges will be set up On July
2S, in federal court in this city, the at
torneys will present argument as to the
petition for a receivership. Judge Ed
ward T. Sanford VIII hear the petition
and pass upon It later.
Discussing the case, Maj. Berry said
| today:
1.-THE bill filed by one OF our organiza-
lions in Chicago, and financed by one
OF our former organizations in New
York. Is the outgrowth of several prop
ositions.
First. the opposition to the sanato-
rum for tuberculosis, the home for SUI
peranhuation and the trade school, To-
Gated in East Tennessee. Men have
been agitating for years and fighting
these institutions, and through this bill
some hope in the end to secure the dis
| solution of the institutions. knowing the
membership throughout the continent
would not agree to such proposition
If vote was taken upon 1t.
Second, they desire to secure the re-
moval of the present board of directors
by court order instead of by action Of
the international union itself We have
| in our constitution the provisions OF q
recall. They have not attempted to APP
ply the recall nor have they In any
| through the laws of the international
body, for the very good reason that
more than 300 local unions Throughout
the continent are supporters and nave
confidence in the present officials.
Third, | consider 1t to be their de-
sire to break down our internationa
contractual relationship with employ
ers, which has been set up for the pur.
| pose of assuring Industrial peace ano
genuine cooperation and the settle.
| ment of differences by Cancellation anc
| arbitration. Chicago and New Yorl
unions have within the past two years
struck the employers Notwithstanding
the existence of contracts that provided
the means for arbitrating all differ
ences.
"The board OF directors has con
stantiy repudiated these actions. 1t !!
their desire TO establish what is known
as an industrial union. according to my
belief.
Fourth, the unwillingness OF GER
tain organizations to pay their wal
emergency assessment which was Levied
by referendum vote In November, 1918
of one days pay and rs cents per month
assessment for the duration of the wal
and six months thereafter. in order e
keep in good standing the members o.
our union who were In the service o.
the governments of the United States
and Canada, and also to assist II
financing the rehabilitation of members
of our organization wounded in thu