The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-05-07
NEW ANGLE
IN ANCIENT
COURT FIGHT
Whiting Labor Lodge Asks For
Dissolution of international
Brotherhood.

Dissolution ,of the international Bro
tberhood Of Boilermakers and Iron
Shop Builders and Helpers of America
together with the appointment OF
receiver pendemte lite. Is asked IN
suit filed this morning in the ham
rnond superior court.
The suit is another angle OF the
old hEht Of Lake Side Lodge No S9'
~ Whiting for recognition which has
been continuing for several years since
the locals charter was revoked by the
International Brotherhood. The new
suft probably involves more parties
than any suit ever hleds in Lake
county court. There are 2TS members
81 the lodge represented BY rnv plain
If and the defendants include 16hs2o
officers and members Of the brother
hood.
The complaint which was fled BY
Attorney ". J. WINERY specifies only
FIVE men. Harry Newbert, John 5.
Coughlan. Frank Rorks, Thomas J..
Wiley and F. F. Sweeaey as represent
ing Lodge SO, while sevnty four Inter-
national and district officers and mem
oers of the executive council are set
out as defendants. the ct al including
the rest Of the $4,000 which it is said
would be impractical to summon into
court. Summons are being issued TO
Indiana officials in twenty-three diff
ferent counties which have locals Of
the brotherhood. The title Of the CON-
plant requires eight pages and the en-
tire complaint comprises forty-two
pages.
The history of the career OF "old
50" is given in detail The lodge was
=
Ctnicako and on October II. 1909. the
general convention re-issued The char
ter The jurisdiction Of 30 then in
cluded a large part of Cook county.
III. and all contract work in Lake
county. Ind. Later by agreement and
an order OF the general convention the
jurisdiction was changed TO include
only the part of Cook county south Of
saith St in Chicago and all of Lake
county. Headquarters continued at
South Chicago.
In September. 1917. a resolution OF
The general convention reduced the ter
ritory OF SO to only Lake county and
The meeting place was changed to
Whiting. The first meeting at Whit
ING was held March l., 1918 IN the
X Of T. hall and meetings have been
held there regularly since then. Many
II the present members are charter
members of the local and have been
paying dues into the lodge for more
than twenty-five years.
About month later came the order
from Louis Weyand. president OF the
international Brotherhood. revoking
the charter OF "Old 80" and expelIng
al members. This brought the storm
ot court proceedings which has ragged
intermittently since then A charter
was granted 10 new lodge having the
same name and number
In November 1918. judgment was
rendered in the superior court = Ham
u1ond in favor Of the plaintiffs in a
suit which has been brought by Of
acers and members Of old 80" u en-
Join the grand lodge from interfering
with the plaintiffs in the exercise OF
their rights and privileges as members
Of the brotherhood The grand lodge
was ordered to take them back into
membership but the present complaint
says that they have nos been reinstated
and that the defendants refuse 10 obey
the orders OF the court
An injunction was also granted
against the defendants IN the L. S
District court. hut it is said that they
have disregarded this also.
Owing to the organization Of the new
lodge bearing the same name and
number. the plaintiffs say that they
arc left remediless other than TO ask
for the dissolution of the Interna tionaI
brotherhood and the appointment Of
4 receiver who can take charge Of the
assets. reduce them TO money and dis
tribute 1t among the members This
action is requested owing to the money
which members of "Old SO" have paid
into the brotherhood and which they
sre unable to draw upon now as bene-
hts. Many Of the members IT. is said
are past sixty years old when they
should have the benefit of the retire
ment clauses OF the. constitution. At
the same time it is said the men are
unable to obtain work where union
men are employed