The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-11
SAMUEL insult
LEADS DRIVE FOR
|. MASONIC TEMPLE
Masonic Corporation Is
Shaking Down Workers

Dissatisfaction is growing among
the working class members of the
Masonic order at the high handed
way in which Samuel insult. presi-
dent Of the Commonwealth Edison
company and director in numerous
public utility corporations, has prac-
tically taken charge of the drive for
new monument to Masonry in the
loop. One member Of the Masons
who has been asked to contribute one
hundred dollars told The DAILY
WORKER that it is new campaign
of the Edison head to get some
cheap advertising.
The fact that four engineers asso-
ciated with insult as we'll as insult
himself are on the committee which
has entire charge of the campaign
to raise five million dollars has led
many Of the Masons to charge that
insult has a two.fold purpose in his
activities to further the prestige of
the Edison company, and to sell the
securities which insult controls.
A letter sent out to members of
the Utilities Craftsmen's Club, Num-
Der 1, reveals that Mr.. John F. Gill
christ, also closely associated with
insult, is chairman of the Campaign
Executive Committee. Members Of
the club claim that insult. in collect
ing the money thru his company in
stead Of the lodge, is violating the
rules Of the lodge.
1t is being pointed out that SEN
ator Daley, who was chairman of
the legislative committee which in
vestigated the building trades, called
insult the uncrowned king of the
loop" who because he named the
candidates for both the republican
and democratic Offices not only in
Chicago, bot thruout Illinois, and
that his influence extends to many
places in the middle west.
Other members of the committee
are Bernard Sunny, an official Of the
Western Electric company. All of
these companies which seems to
have felt it their duty to collect
these millions for the Masons are
representatives Of corporations which
are unorganized, and which have Bit
terly opposed the successful organi-
cation Of the electrical workers and
other unions.
Another just cause for dissatis-
faction at this new grasping gesture
of the large employers is the fact
that they have not even allowed the
members to contribute what they
desire. They are asked to give
al AL I.
must pay it. The unorganized work.
ers, it is being said by those who are
hard hit by the contribution, receive
such & low standard of pay that they
could not give enough unless prod
ed to it by their bosses.
The letter sent to members of
Utilities Craftsmen's Club No. 1,
which is signed by r. 7. Schuettge,
says in part: Brother Craftsman:
You know that the Masons Of Chi
cago are about to start campaign
to raise 100000 to erect monu-
ment to Masonry in the loop. Mr..
John F. Gilchrist il chairman of the
campaign executive committee. The
Utilities Craftsman's Club wants to
be a part Of this wonderful under
taking, and have been permitted to
organize its own team. My lieuten-
ants will be the members of the pub
licity committee. One of them will
call on you this week.
Wouldn't it please Brother Gill
christ to hand him a big bunch of
subscriptions next Friday? Let's
back him up. He made it possible
for US to earn extra money. Mason
ry has helped you and me, and now
we have a chance to turn about and
help it. Subscriptions are taken for
800, payable in five installments."