The herald., 1920-08-05
GRAB FOR
LABOR VOTE
Continued from Page One

vote, received only five votes of a to-
tai of one hundred and twelve. This
happened since he aligned himself
with the machine" While a candi-
date for the legislature on the Parker
ticket, he ran for business agent of
the Boilermakers, and in a field of
three candidates he won on the first
ballot by vote of two to one over the
combined votes of his competitors.
If Mr.. Leblanc really means what
he says about Behrman's friendliness
to labor, We would ask him to express
his opinion relative to the installation
of the syphon at the Melpomene Drain
age Station, several years ago, when
one boilermaker and number OF ne
gro helpers were engaged and kept on
the work, over the protest of the la
Dor CommissiOner and a representa-
tive of the Boilermakers, who inter
viewed Mr.. Behrman in the interest of
same
Also tell us about the switchmen's
strike on the Public Belt, when the
press quoted Mr.. Behrman's opposition
TO their right to strike.
Please also, Mr.. Leblanc, or other
ring shouters on this question-tell
us how you square the labor record of
Mr.. Behrman's friendliness, when he
refused to pay raises of all engineers
and all other mechanical trades in the
Sewerage and Water Board and other
city departments, including the lowly
paid garbage attendants. against the
prevailing wages paid by the Parker
Dock Board to all crafts, which is now
on a parity with that paid by outside
employers. We presume you know the
city is paying from $50 to $500 per
day les than the union scale We also
presume you know that the efforts of
our candidate, Mr.. Wilbert Black. is
all that prevented a serious strike of
these crafts against the city govern
ment when Behrman refused their
raise-and if you do not know this,
you should acquaint yourself with the
facts relative to the subject you pro-
TESS to know and discuss.
In the State campaign, Mr.. Leblanc
stated from the stump that on one oc-
casion while seeking a conference with
w. B. Thompson, president of the
Behrman Dock Board, in the interest
Of labor. he and his committee had
the pleasure of being received by a
negro representative of Mr.. Thomp-
sons. He seemed at that time to be
terribly offended. AS against this he
stated that when Governor Parker was
on the Arbitration Board. where an
agreement between employer and en-
ployee had been made to divide the
expense of arbitration on $3.50 basis,
that Mr.. Parker had gone to consider
able expense in the matter and refused
to accept any pay from them to cover
these expenses, stating labor owed
him nothing" He also stated Gov
ernor Parker's award was more than
the Union asked, and when making the
award the governor stated he was
sorry he could not give more. At the
time of beginning the arbitration the
governor urged the men to return to
work, assuring them the award when
made would be retroactive from the
date they returned to work. This
pledge was kept, and some received
as much as ninety-one days back time.
Based upon the fairness Of this |
award, the Metal Trades Union under |
took to get Governor Parker's consent !
to receive a handsome loving cup, |
which he refused; they then took the /
matter up in meeting and by rising |
vote unanimously decided to send Gov
srnor Parker an engraved card ex-
pressing their thanks and appreciation.
II Mr.. Leblanc can square his state
ment with these facts, labor might |
give him respectful attention, but If
he continues his idle rambles on the
subject about which he should know
but knows little, then We
will not question the accuracy Of his |
because we will have to
stick to the old adage, None are so
gnorant as those who will not learn"
d. ]. LEAHAN,
$40 Belleville Street.