The day book. [volume], August 23, 1913, NOON EDITION, Image 4

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

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l isiness success of a non-union newspaper, such as Hearst's Examiner
and Hearsts' American, especially in view of your thorough acquaintance
with the abuses that these papers have heaped upon the organized labor
movement of Chicago. Why, it is only like yesterday when I recall the
1 . stinging criticisms -that you directed against the Hearst newspapers for
: their position toward your union in respect to the jurisdictional conflict be-
tween the steam fitters and the plumbers. Why the change at this par- g
ticular time? '
j, Morepver and above this fact, I direct your attention to the instructions
1; of the 32d annual convention of the American Federation of Labor, held in
" , Rochester last November. This instruction reads as follows:
' ' "The committee recommended that the executive council of the Amer-
ican Federation of Labor be instructed to appoint representatives from the
k council to proceed to Chicago at the earliest date possible for the purpose
j; of endeavoring to effect an adjustment of the controversy now existing be
tween the Printing Trades Unions and the Newspaper Publishers of that
city."
In view of the foregoing and in that you are a member of the executive
I " council of the American Federation of Labor, and having been quoted as in
in favor of-assisting this non-union newspaper, one of the Publishers' As
sociation, which you were instructed to adjust a controversy with, and
- further that you have in telegram to me approved of the scheme to assist
this non-union newspaper financially, does in my opinion vitiate any in
j fluence or service that you may be now and hereafter to the movement as
the vice-president of the American Federation of Labor, and as the presi
dent of the International Printing Pressmen and Assistants' Union I call
upon you to tender your resignation as the seventh vice-president of the
American Federation of Labor. Your actions have dissipated and have be
'shieared the title of vice-president of the labor movement of this country.
If there had been, or if you could give an excuse of lack of knowledge of
the situation there would be some justification for overlooking this posi
tion that you have taken, but you above all of the vice-presidents of the
American Federation of Labor know the situation in Chicago, and there
is not the slightest excuse or justification for the attitude that you have as
i sumed in allying yourself with a non-union newspaper, making that non
i union newspaper profits, which in turn is now, has been used in combatting
tie interests of organized labor.
You know better than anyone of the murders that have been com--
mitted by the thugs, the strong-arm men of the Newspaper Trust of Chl
! cago during the conflict which has been imposed upon the Printing .Trades
Unions chiefly by the Hearst newspapers. You know, as well if not better
than anyone, of the sixteen hundred or more arrests that have been made J)
; upon trumped up charges against members of our union and their sym-
j pathizers. I repeat that you know of the death of the union street car men
and of the death of a union teamster resulting from the paid thugs, and
murderers of the Newspaper Trust, but in view of all of this you so far for
get yourself as to ally your influence and personality with the Hearst Ex
aminer, the newspaper that precipitated all of the trouble that has caused
all of the sacrificing and poverty existing at the present time in the ranks '
of the printing trades artisans of Chicago.
I am serving copy of this letter upon the Secretary of the American
Federation of Labor requesting that he bring same to the attention of the .
executive council of the A. F. of L. and demand the said council to take sum
j mary action in rebuking you and relieving you of further opportunity of dis