[Newspaper]
Publication: The Morning News
Muncie, IN, United States
vol. 20, no. 144, p. 1, col. 3
FEDERATION MEETING
Marion Yesterday Passed
Resolutions of Local Interest.
SAM SING LEE CASE SETTLED,
And Whiteley Malleable Casting Works
Given Attention in Resolutions — Local
Trades Council Meets and Labor Day
Committee Makes Final Report.
The Muncie delegates to the State Federation of Labor At Marion were very enthusiastic over their treatment at the hands of the citizens of that city, as the whole town seemed to be at their disposal, from the time of their arrival until their departure yesterday.
Muncie had the largest delegation with a single exception, Indianapolis winning this laurel, but Muncie was in the lead on all work of great moment that was introduced.
Some of the most important steps taken was the changing of the constitution. The name was changed from the Indiana Federation of Trades and Labor unions to the Indiana Federation of Labor, the object being to shorten the name.
Instead of three organizers being elected fur the entire state, the president of the state organization will appoint as many organizers in each district as he deems advisable. It is quite probable that there will be two organizers from Muncie. The new appointments will be made soon. Indications are that Messrs. Albert J. Evans and George Derrick will be the Muncie appointments, as they have been highly recommended. Both gentlemen have had a great amount of experience in the work, and no mistake could be made in these selections by President Perkins.
There were stacks of resolutions, among them being one that was of important interest in this city. It treated on the recent trouble Sam Sing Lee has caused to the Muncie Trades Council and the Laundry Workers' union, by insisting that his Chinese employes be admitted into the local.
The resolution asks the American Federation of Labor not to grant charters to any Chinaman, and leaves the matter of admitting this class of people into the organization purely with the local. If the majority of the members want to admit the Chinese, they can do so, but if not, the other unions must abide by their action.
Another resolution was passed damning the officers of the Whiteley Malleable Castings company of this city because of the sign in front of their factory which reads as follows:
"Independent shop. No person who is a member of the Knights of Labor or any trades union will be employed. Open to independent workmen only."
The meeting cloned at noon yesterday, and the morning was devoted nearly exclusively to the hearing of reports from the different cities represented.
The reports showed a great improvement in all factory and milling trades, while the other trades have remained about normal. State Factory Inspector McAbee of Muncie addressed the convention, and gave an encouraging report of the operations of the factory law.
The following officers were elected:
President — Edgar A. Perkins of Indianapolis.
First Vice-President — Edward Healey of Marion.
Second Vice-President — A. T. Dye of Anderson.
Secretary and Treasurer — Robert Groff of Indianapolis.
With reference to the Chinese resolution, it might be stated that the local organization has voted that the Chinese laundry workers shall not be admitted into their organization, and this action with that of the Federation at Marion, cuts Sam Sing Lee and his men out, and the boycott that stands against him will probably not be raised.
Sam Sing Lee states that he is willing to maintain prices with the other laundries, if he can receive the same treatment they do, but otherwise he will not.
