The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-07-30
THE PEOPLES SAY
July 70, 1920.

2 July -, 1920.
Editor The Times:
Who Ii the Mayor OF Bridgeport
I Funny question to ask, we admit,
rbut we are justified in asking it be-
bcause Of our experience Of this morn
ing.
! Some weeks ago Bridgeport Lodge,
No. 80, of the Amalgamated Metal
Workers of eAmerica. decided to CON
duct an extensive campaign Of organ
ixation in Bridgeport, Conn. At first
the work of organization consisted of
distribution of literature, but later a;
the request of many of the workers
1t was decided to hold series of
ishop-gate meetings during dinner
hour.
On Friday. July 9th, Organizer
Of employees of the Columbia Graph
ophone Co. for which a permit was is
sued by the superintendent of police,
the meeting was conducted in a
peaceful and orderly manner.
The following week application was
: made for permit to hold another
meeting at the same place with Cen
era1 Secretary w. ]. Kelly as the
1 speaker, but to our great surprise we
word of explanation.
Determined to have the question
of freedom Of speech decided once
and for all. Organizer Samuel Lavit
accompanied by Kelly made his ap-
pearance at the same factory and
upon the attempt of Lavit to intro
duce Kelly, he, GIavit) was placed
z, under arrest, for speaking without a
permit
fault of $25, which Lavft refused to
put up, he was released in custody of
his attorney to await trial.
The CASE has repeatedly been post
poned and Is now scheduled for
Tuesday, Aug. 3rd, 1920.
Today he made another attempt to
secure a permit, this time for Or
ganizer Steven B1rcher, who had been
assigned to Bridgeport to carry on
the fight for free speech.
The superintendent Of police re-
fused to grant permits for either in
or outdoor meetings.
Not satisfied with the result Organ
izer Bircher and p. A. Desilets, sec
sretary-treasurer Of Bridgeport Lodge,
No. 80, visited Mayor Clifford B.
Wilson. The maor was very en-
phatic In his declaration that no per-
mits would be issued but apparently
realizing his mistake he modified it
by saying that while he would per-
consider the granting of same for
indoor meetings provided that we
furnish the names of the speakers for
his approval
When pressed for an explanation.
the mayor had nothing more to
say"
At this point the mayor was asked
why no meetings were permitted at
the plant of the Singer Mfg. Co. in
Ly~f1
regularly held every Tuesday at noon
at the same company's plant in
Elizabeth, N. j., to which the mayor
replied, You see Mr.. Games, manag-
er of the Singer Plant and If he will
permit q meeting to be held SO will
l."
Who is the Mayor of Bridgeport?
Is 1t Mr.. Clifford B. Wilson, whom
the voters of this city elected, or is 1t
somebody else2
Was Mr.. Wilson elected to serve the
people of Bridgeport or the manufac-
turers?
Why should anyone be compelled tc
kseek permission to discuss matters OF
public concern, on the streets of this
city, from Mr.. Games or anyone
else?
If Mr.. Wilson is THE mayor, he will
decide regardless of what Mr.. Fame:
or any otner employer or LABOR may
say about 1t.
Is it possible that Mr.. Wilson i.
mayor in name only.
That there is in the city of Bridge
port an invisible government more
powerful than that elected by the
people? Or was Mr. Wilson placed
into office with the understanding
that he would serve the manufactur.
ers ONLY?
These are important gu estrons anc
ought to be answered frankly
The Amalgamated Metal Worker.
of America" is bona f1de labor
union organized to help secure and
maintain for the workers employed
in the metal industry a decent 1iveli
hood and to better their working con
ditions.
The A. NJ. w. A. is active in a mum
Der Of states and many cities, bear
the best reputation and has earned
municipalities visited by it's organic
ers.
Then why this gag rule?
If conditions in Bridgeport canno
be improved upon no organizer o
organization will ever be able to ere
ate dissatisfaction among the man
workers of this city, and If condi
tions will warrant the workers to or
ganize, they have the right to-na
they are in duty bound to do SO. tina
they may make this city fit for work
ers to live in.
STEVEN BDRCHER,
Organizer Amalgamated