Detroit evening times., 1945-09-19

turerS OF SWltchOoafdS "A n q
other electrical equipment re-
siding outside the city OF New
York.
The plaintiffs charged that
Local 3, of the international
Brotherhood of electrical
Workers, of the AFL, had
agreed with certain manufac-
turers and contractors within
the metropolitan area 10 ex-
clude their products from New
York.
IT WAS argued that this
L combination was a boycott
against many large nonresident
manufacturers excluding them
from the greatest single marke u
IN the country.
Had the union imposed this
boycott by itself, simply by de-
claring the plaintiff manufac-
turers TO be unfair these
companies and the public would
have had no relief.
TT IS not here represented
i that Local 3 is disreputable
or that its important offices
are occupied by criminals. with
one exception. The reader may
form his own opinions as 10 its
character.
William A. Hogan, the treas
urer of Local 3 for many years.
was sentenced to Sing Sing on
July II, 1922. for grand larceny.
first degree, TO serve from !,
10 3 years.
In July, 1923. Gov. Al Smith
commuted his term to- the time
served.
After his release he was re-
stored 10 the position OF trust
IN which he had been unfaith-
ful and the parent or interna-
tional brotherhood made him
international treasurer.
The business manager Of
Local 3 is Harry Van Arsdale.
lie has been convicted Of as
Sault, first degree. in a shoot
ing case. IN which two men
were wounded. and OF melting
TO riot in a strike.
THE shooting occurred in the
d local union hall on Feb. "a,
1888. William SorenSon. a
union member, was shot in the
shoulder and stomach. and
Frank Dooner. also a member,
Adelbert Letscher gave testi-
mony at the preliminary hear
ing of the charge against Van
ArSdale on May u, 1888.
That afternoon acid wag
thrown in his face. Y
He testified at Van Arsdale's
trial and his mention of the
acid was striken out.
However, in summing up. the
prosecutor referred 10 this
testimony and this reference
was, in par. the basis OF the
reversal.
IN APRIL 30. 1885. the dis
" trict attorney. moving dis
miSSal of the shooting case, told
the court that Sorenson and
Dooner had received, between
them, out OF the unions funds,
$4,000 in settlement OF suits
against the union on account
of their wounds. Therefore they
no longer desired 10 prosecute
Van Arsdale. t
In July, 1871. the New York
Police Department found one
Albert LitScher on Local 3
picket line and reported that.
on questioning. he admitted
that he was Adelbert Letscher,
the victim of the acid.
Van Arsdale insists that the
decision TO pay Sorenson and
Dooner $4,000 was freely taken
by the membership.
At one OF the general men,
bership meetings. however. his
popularity. if that is the correct
word, was shown when, by a
motion from the floor, he was
nominated for reelection and
then reelected by acclaim.
Usual procedure calls for a
ballot election on a day other
than the day of nominations.
Van Arsdale has visited Rus
sia as an American unionist.
Local 3. with 10000 members.
is believed 10 be the largest
local in the entire American
union movement. Most of its
members, however, are IND
Class 3.
This means that one skilled
electrician, with a Class A card,
has vote equal 10 that OF an
entire local union of "B" MEM
bers, who do monotonous, un-
skilled work in factories.
Moreover. B Class unions,
whatever their size. have each
only one representative at the
international conventions. A
Class unions have one delegate
for each 100 members.