The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-12
Carpenters
laugh FAKER
OUT OF CHAIR
open Forum at Local
ISL Meeting

mere was an open forum at last
Monday nights meeting of Local 1sf
Of the Carpenters Union, when the
chairman, Iaekey Of Harry Jensen and
Gar Hutchinson, decided that disere-
ton was the better part Of valor and
stepped down from his chair leaving
that honorable piece Of furniture with.
out its usual dishonorable eneum-
brance.
The reason for this strange proce-
dure is, that the chairman has not
been able to conduct the business Of
the local ever since he and other
satellites Of the faker Jensen Illegally
expelled five good members, active
in the Trade Union Educational
League, because they protested against
a scab agreement between Jensen,
Hutchinson on one side and several
Chicago contractors on the other The
union members insist that their fel.
low workers must be given a fair
trial, hence the unpleasantness.
The Vacant Chair.
But the vacant chair looked appeal
ingIy to John Steffens. the bully who
acted as chairman of the farcical
trial committee, and one Of those
responsible for classifying the record.
John thought he would show the rank
and file what a brave man could do,
so he ambled Up TO the chair, threw
out his manly chest like Bernard Nc
Fadden, and declared himself vice
president The members thought he
was rehearsing for the burlesque stage
and in order to encourage him, they
emitted hurricanes Of 'haw haws" that
could be heard blocks away. Instead
of the ham actor being pleased at this
recognition of his genius for acting
the role of clown, he appeared per
fturbed as if stricken by stage fright.
His appearance in the role of self
appointed yice-chairman was short
lived. Like the famous general in the
story who marched up the hill and
down again, Steffens retreated from
the chair with all his forces intact.
1t was wonderful strategic victory,
as Primo de Rivera of Spain would say
after he succeeds in "evacuating" a
town. The members had q good laugh,
but John proved a bad loser.
But the worthy was by no means
thru when he travelled the distance
from his seat to the gaping chair and
back again to his seat. There being
no chairman to declare them out of
order, the members proceeded to dis
cuss the question that has kept the
local in turmoil for the past several
weeks: the expulsion of the five mem
bers.
Report Falsified.
Several members took the floor
among them one of those who sat or
the trial committee. He declared that
the report of the trial committee was
falsified and that Steffens was one of
those who did the classifying. Steffens,
the bully. then read clause from the
constitution which he thought would
prove that the members were legally
expelled, but it happened to show that
they did not have trial in accord
ance with the laws OF the constitu-
ton. This caused a gale af laughter
interiected with shouts of "saphead"
and "faker."
Jim" Jensen, financial secretary,
declared that the members were ex.
Delled because he had written their
names off the books. Jensen is said
10 be afraid Of losing his job and never
loses an opportunity to show his
loyalty to Harry Jensen. his patron.
The rank and file have the utmost con-
tempt for this turnkey and if he ever
runs for Office again in Local Isl, he
will not get enough votes to cover the
head OF a tack.
Local ISL insists that its members
shall have a square deal.
Ruild fha nAlI v MNDKEDI