The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-14
PARDON JANITORS
"RAILROADED" BY
BOSSES JUDGES
Big Labor Delegation
Visits Governor
lspeelal 70 La paIIy Workerl


dent Of the Chicago Flat Janitors'
Union, and nine other labor leaders,
convicted Of conspiracy in Cook
county
81 am convinced, after giving both
sides a full hearing, that to permit
these convictions to stand would be
denial Of the right to fair trial be-
fore an impartial tribunal" the state
executive said in announcing his de-
cision.
The action followed a hearing yes
terday when arguments for and
against pardons were heard by the
Governor sitting with the Board Of
Pardons.
The conviction grew out of the al
legged conspiracy Of the union on
GERS to extort money from owners
lof buildings where janitors were en-
lployed and has been considered a
frame-up engineered by the employ
lers' association.
Big Delegation.
The pardons followed the appear
ance at the statehouse Of the largest
delegation of labor men ever seen
here. For over six hours the repre-
lsentatives Of organized labor told the
governor and parole board their opin-
ion Of the methods used to railroad
the members of the janitors' union by
the employers organizations and rep
Iresentatiyes responsible for what was
described as "a nationwide conspir-
acy against the labor movement
whose purpose it is to destroy or rem
der completely ineffective existing la
Dor unions"
1t was charged that the employers
and their attorneys, Edwin Raber and
Dudley Taylor, were aided by the en-
ployers' association in bringing such
pressure on the trial judges that the
bench itself took a hand in intimi-
dating jurors. Raber was character
lied by John Walker, president Of the
Illinois Federation of Labor, as the
lawyer who "does the things that
Dudley Taylor will not do, and they
. must be pretty bad"
Special Prosecutors Condemned.
I The hiring of special prosecutors
by the state in labor cases was un-
sparingly condemned by the union
! heads, and they informed the gov
: Fernor that legislation would be souS.ss
to curb this evil. A detailed and as
| founding revelation of the efforts of
the employers association to block
I labor legislation and frame. labor
men was related by the delegation, ev-
cry member of which had some expe-
rience of his own to relate corrobo-
rating the general charge that a Bit
ter warfare, in which every sort OF
weapon was used, was waged by the
employers against the unions.
A petition signed by 22s,OOO union
lists, asking pardon for the janitors,
was also presented to the governor
Among the labor representatives
present were the following:
John H. Walker. PRESIDENT al Towers.
first vice-president; James G. Corners,
second vice-presidenti Ensil Reinbold.
third vice-president; Joseph W. Norton,
fourth vice president; Thomas Kelly,
fifth vice-president NJ. J. Whelan. sixth
vice president; Mary M p n e 81,
seventh president; Robert G. Fritz
chic eighth vice president and Waldo
Cross, ninth vice-president. an Of the
Illinois State Federation of Labor.
John Fitzpatrick and Oscar Nelson.
vice president, Chicago Federation Of
Labor.
Michael J. Kelly. secretary, Amalga-
mated Meat Cutters No. SAC
Walter e. Schaefer secretary Electri-
cal Workers No. 1874.
William Tracy, secretary, International
Brick and Clay Workers Union.
Paul David, delegate, Street Mems Lo-
John Clay, secretary treasurer, Laun-
dry Drivers Local Union 712
Charles wills, delegate, machinists'
Frank Harrington. president Illinois
miners, state organization.
A. w. Kerr, chief counsel legal depart
ment. Illinois Mine Workers state organ
Irvine Strain. legal department and
representative legislative board, District
l2 Illinois Mine Workers.
NJ. Hertz, delegate, Printers Local 10i.
p Berren, delegate, Transfers Local
Art Wallace. delegate. Painters Dis
Tom Maiioy. delegate Moving Picture
George Brown. delegate Stage En-
ployes Local No. 2.
Thomas Heafy, delegate Brick lay
William Rooney, delegate. Sheet Metal
Workers.
Robert Byron International organizer.
Workers.
Ed Powers. delegate. window wash
ers
William Boyer secretary. Broom and
Whisk Makers International Union.
Samuel Freeman, delegate, Freshmen s
Local No. z.
Edward Ryan, president. Building
Trades Council, Chicago.
j. Horan, Janitors Union Local /,
Ralph O'Hara, Stage Employees Inter
national organizer
George Buick, delegate Machinista'
District Council.
Walter Krindick. Biz Posters Local
A. Ielp. Architectural Iron Workers
These members Of the state board OF
o pardons were present: Governor Len
Il Small, G.. II. jenkins director; VIII
e Colyin, superintendent; Mount Pen.
niwell; Sherman w. searle, assistant
= superintendent; Charles p. Hitch, as.