The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-05-19
SEATTLE UNIONISTS RALLY TO
DEFENSE OF MEMBERS ILLEGALLY
UNSEATED FROM LABOR COUNCIL

mitted TO show that any one OF the
defendants had ever In any way, said
or done anything to disrupt or dis
credit the labor movement. Neither
was the committee able to prove that
the defendants were members OF a
political party, except that the names
Of three Of them appeared on the bal
lot as presidential electors in the gen.
eral election of November, 1924.
Denies Right Of Opinion.
Turnout the various debates and
discussion the chair showed itself
biased against the defendants by arbi-
rary rulings on numerous occasions.
The expulsion of these six delegates
is contrary to all the traditions and
principles of organized labor. and de-
MES the right Of all members within
the ranks Of organized labor to hold
whatever political opinions they see
At. The action also violates the
pledge given to the candidate on join
ing the various local unions, which
pledges guarantee that the obligation
will not conflict with political or re-
ligious beliefs
"Since the unseating of the six dele
gates each one of them has received
vote of confidence from his local
union, and has been returned to the
Central Labor Council with new Gre
dentials. Here again the constitution
provisions of the American Federation
Of Labor have been fouted by the
president Of the Central Labor Council,
who has refused to accept the creden-
tials submitted by afflliated organiza-
tions, in violation Of the rules of the
A. F. Of L., which plainly state that
credentials submitted by local unions
shall be accepted
Locals Protest.
"a great number of affiliated organ
izations have protested vigorously
against these autocratic and arbitrary
explosions, among them being the fol
lowing Metal Trades Council, Bakers
No. g., Machinists No. 70, Painters No.
300, Building Laborers No. 242, Ship
wrights No. 1884, Longshoremen No.
1872, Millmen No. 1913.
I'VE present brief statement here
with as to our connections with organ
lied labor, and we appeal to you to
protest against these vicious tactics,
and appeal to you to do everything
in your power to assist US in our fight
to regain our rights within the ranks
of labor, knowing as you do that AN
injury to one is an injury to all, and
that the injustice which we suffer
from today may tomorrow be inflicted
upon other members (who may also
hold opinions contrary to those held
by some members in the council) if
this incident is allowed to pass unchal-
lenged.
signed: Paul X. Mohr, Bakers
No. 9, M. Hansen. Painters No. 800,
J. C. Carlson, shipwrights No. 1884,
J. Havel, 5ookkeepers and Stenoeraph-
ers No. 163o4, Il. G. Price, Maehin-
lists No. 70, w. H. Jones, Painters No.
800, Committee Of Six Defendants,
April 30, 1925"
Records of Unseated Delegates.
P. X. Mohr helped to organize the
first Bakers Union in Seattle in 1889,
was its first president at the time
when the union won its first strike.
After leaving Seattle and living on a
farm for several years, Mohr returned
to Seattle and again took up active
work in his union, being elected to
three state conventions and being sent
as fraternal delegate from the Wash
inton State Federation of Labor to the
Oregon State Federation of Labor. At
tended the national convention Of the
Bakers Union at Cincinnati, was pres
ident Of the Seattle Central Labor
Council for term OF years, and has
been assistant secretary OF the Bakers
Union for five years.
M. Hansen has been an active mem
Der of the Painters Union, is a mem
Der of the executive board of that I'M
ion and has served several terms as
delegate TO the Painters District
Council and to the Central Labor
Council.
]. G. Carlson joined the Carpenters
Union in 1916, has been a member in
good standing ever since, has been
delegate to the Seattle Central Labor
Council for three years, and at the
present time he is vice-president OF
his local union.
j. Havel joined the Office Employees
Union No. 1904 six and one-half years
ago, shortly thereafter he was elected
a delegate to the Seattle Central La
Dor Council. and with the exception
Of two terms has been a delegate rep
resenting the same organization con-
tinually, is at present and has been
for three years recording secretary
for his local union.
II. G. Price has been a member OF
organized labor for twenty years.
First Joined B. OF +. & f., later on
Joined the B. OF l.. e., has been a mem
Der OF the !. A. NJ. seven years, hold
Of