The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-25
DYERS' UNION is
NO RACKET, SAY
LABOR LEADERS
100 City Cleaners Organize
to End Price War,
Termed RuinouS.

Emphatic denial that any SEM
blance of a racket" is connected
with efforts TO organize 1ndianap-
oils retail cleaners and dyers into a
union, was issued today by local
union officials.
They scoffed at reports received
by Police Chief Mike Morrissey that
Chicago men were here to muscle
in" on the cleaning industry, as has
been done by gang organizations in
Chicago.
Approximately 100 retail cleaners
and dyers of Indianapolis attend
ed meeting Sunday at the Den
ison, called by heads Of three Sepa-
rate cleaning organizations, for the
purpose of considering the plan of
a cleaners and dyers union here, af-
filiated with the American Fedora
ton of Labor.
Represented at the meeting were
the Retail Cleaners and Dyers I'm
ion, Better Cleaners and Tailors AS
ISOLATION, and Independent Neigh
borhood Cleaners.
Price War Disastrous"
Existence of Indianapolis cleaners
is threatened by price-cutting war.
which has forced prices down to
level so low that cleaners are facing
bankruptcy, according to T. A.
Robinson, secretary of the local
union, which was formed several
months ago.
The meeting Sunday resulted in
more than 100 cleaners signing as
members of the local union, Robin
son said.
The meeting was addressed by
Adolph Fritz, Indiana Federation of
Labor secretary; Nicholas George
son, Chicago, secretary of the Hyde
park area of the Chicago Cleaners
and Dyers Union; Allen Bennett
Forsberg, representing DR.. Benja-
min M. Squires and associates, Chi
cago, industrial arbitrator; James
Angelo, chairman, Penn Service
Shop; Theodore Bauder, Better
Cleaners and Tailors Association,
and Robinson.
Racket Charge Denied
''The local union plan strictly is
on the up and up" Fritz said to-
day.
"It is affiliated with and sup
ported by the American Federation
of Labor, and, instead of being a
racket, is being organized to pre-
vent any racket from getting foot
hold here.
st believe Police Chief Morrissey
was grossly misinformed as to It's
real purpose"
Morrissey, who last week an
nounced he would not tolerate
racketeering here, and who assigned
detectives to the meeting Sunday.
after talking to Fritz, today said he
did not believe racketeering would
creep into the organization as long
as it is under the American Fed
Grafton of Labor.
Robinson today said the union
would be conducted along strictly
legitimate lines.
1--WE do not intend to use force to
gain members" he said, 'but intend
to grow through cooperation. Re
tail cleaners may join or stay out,
just as they please.
Rents Unpaid, Claim
"Our contract will be enforceable
in court. Any honest man can sign
it and have nothing to fear. The
union expects to set reasonable
price for cleaning which will per-
nit cleaners to give good service,
pay their employees living wage,
pay their bills and become 1egiti-
mate tradeSmen.
Personally, I think 81 is fair
price for cleaning a suit of mems
clothes, but few cleaners here are
getting that now, due to the price
war;" Robinson said.
"Ninety-five per cent of the local
retail cleaners are behind in their
rent, other bills and even wages, due
to price cutting"
Robinson explained that the I'M
ion proposes to employ DR.. Squires,
whom he termed the "Will Hays of
the cleaning industry" to aid in its
organization, carrying on an adver-
Using campaign here through news
papers, radio stations and bill
boards.
He denied charges of extortion in
connection with raising money for
this campaign, saying cleaners
tTYyNI i