The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-03-21
HUTCHINSON BUT
ASSASSINATING
HIS OPPONENTS
Article A Answering
Duffy's Letter
BY J. W. TOMBSTONE.

Detroit was quickly followed by the
expulsion Of F. W. Burgess, business
agent Of Local 8, Philadelphia, ana
campaign manager for Willis n.
Brown, candidate in the last election
for general president of the Brother
hood.
In this case the method OF proceed
ure was changed. They decided that
II would be better to make 1t appear
rs II some semblance Of investigating
the charges placed against Gurgess
was being made. The charge was of
the usual nature Of circulating "scan.
dalous and scurrilous literature"
against Hutchinson during the election
campaign.
So thousands Of dollars were spent
In sending a fake committee into
Philadelphia in order to give some le-
gality to the verdict Of expulsion that
had already been reached This
method. to Hutcheson, did not appear
so crude as in the other cases.
Impartial" committee-oh, Boyl
Just imagine, if you can, an "im-
partial" committee composed of
First vice-President Cosgrove, Cen
eral Secretary Duffy, General Treas
urer NEAL, and G. E. B. Members
Williams and Martell, rendering a YER
dict against the administration of
which they are, part.
Secretary Duffy, in his circular let
ter to the locals and district councils,
disposes of the Burgess case in the
following manner:
1.-THE case of F. w. Burgess, Local
8, Philadelphia, Pa, is a different one
(than Chicago, etc.-Ed.) He issued
scurrilous and defamatory literature
prior to the last election of general
officers, in violation of Par. ], Section
8, Of our general constitution. A COM
mittee Of five, Of which 1 was one,
went to Philadelphia in January, on
authority of the general executive
board, to investigate this matter. II
was found that F. w. Burgess did
violate Par. ]. Sec. 9. The committee
had the evidence in the handwriting
Of F. w. Burgess in their posse session"
How Can Hutch Be "Defamed"?
The literature sent out by Burgess
criticized Hutcheson and pointed out
specific acts committed by VIM. L.
Hutcheson which were detrimental to
the Brotherhood AS an example of
what Duffy considers "scandalous and
defamatory," we quote the following
from the document which Duffy SAYS
the investigation committee had as
evidence:
ITO be specific, he (Hutcheson) has
ordered members expelled from the
U. B. on the grounds that they were
members Of or aiding members Of the
Workers Party or Communists with.
out charges or trial, Notwithstanding
that the ritual distinctly says that the
obligation does not interfere with our
political opinions
Hutchinson AS Strike Breaker.
Zone memorable and far-reaching
incident in 1916, was when the gen
eral president expelled 68 local unions
at one time, then brot in Brotherhood
men from all over the country to act
as strikebreakers. This was done be.
cause the members refused to accept
the deal made by the general presi.
dent with the Contractors Associa.
ton that forced the members to re.
turn to work for so cents a day less
than the $4,000 men were receiving
four days after the strike started. II
is supposed that the general president
had good and sufficient reasons for
making this deal but the members did
not see the advantage in working fof
30 cents day less when the strike
was already practically won without
ais interference"
II. w. Burgess said many other
things about the Hutchinson admins.
tration other than the above quota.
tons, which every carpenter who
takes an interest in the organization
In the New York district knows Is
true. There is no doubt that IL the
charges made by Burgess against
Hutchinson were not based upon facts
Hutchinson would not have violated
nor would he have had any need to
Violate Sec. IS Of the constitution.
Who Got the $4,000?
Robert 7. Brindell, CRATER and ex.
car OF the New York Building Trades,
and now paroled from a penitentiary
sentence in Dannemora, was a close
associate OF VIM. L. Hutchinson, and
at the time of the deal made by VIM.
l.. Hutchinson with the Contractors
association OF New York, built a new
and expensive garage while member
OF the Contractors association said
that it cost them $4,000 TO get this
Carpenters agreement. But OF this
relationship between Hutchinson and
Brindell ! will go into more detail in
mother article.
One by one, Hutchinson is picking
out his strongest political opponents
as.I a.