Workingmen's municipal convention held; Barney Grant among list of delegates

WORINGMEN IN POLITICS

City Ticket Nominated and Platform of Principles

Adopted at Convention.

The Workingmen's municipal convention, held in last night in the chamber of the Muncie Trades Council, in the Patterson block, with a view of selecting candidates for the Common Council from the six wards, was attended by a large number of the delegates from the various local union labor organizations and some fifteen delegates from the ranks of unorganized labor.

The convention wan strikingly one of chaos. At times during the deliberations of the meeting a scrap was imminent among the members, but fortunately no blows were exchanged, al­though words in some instances were used that would on other occasions, perhaps. have precipitated a personal encounter. The meeting from begin­ning to end was fraught with super­fluous debate and a bitter exchange of personalities, the green-eyed monster being conspicuous to a pronounced de­gree.

There was much ambiguity in the minds of some of the delegates as to the right of the seating of the delegates without the proper seal of organized labor upon each respective credential, and as a sequel the delegates, to file number of fifteen, from unorganized labor Jumped up excitedly, and with great emphasis announced their inten­tion to bolt the convention.

Pandemonium then reigned, and the delegates, one and all, were very un­ruly. Before order was restored a num­ber of the delegates had left the hall, but the few remaining of the non­-union delegates were persuaded to stay, and it was finally decided that the men without the unions' seals would be entitled to seats in the convention.

Misapprehension also existed in the rank and file of the union men. It ap­pears that a number of these delegates had given their credentials to another delegate who failed to attend, with the reult that they, too, came within an are of being ejected from the hall by the sergeants-at-arms, who were James O'Neil and William Getz. It was at a late hour when adjournment was made, and the Sabbath morning found the members still wrangling, the session being adjourned in a few minutes be­fore midnight.

The convention was called to order by Chairman Pro Tem Tuttle, Rev. Mr. Oxtoby led in prayer. He later made a short address, and was tendered a rising vote of thanks at the close of his remarks.

O. S. Tuttle was then made tem­porary chairman, with George P. Hayworth as Secretary. Rules were suspended in both instances.

The following committees were then appointed after considerable dis­cussion, in which a high degree of ex­citement was attained:

Credentials Committee — Word Mul­len, D. H. Gracey, Edward Herron, T. M. Palmer, Daniel Donnelly and Fred Gass.

Resolutions — William Connolly, W. H. Odell and Frank Bowen.

Rules — Daniel Lowney, John Berlin and B. J. Grant.

Platform — Richard Burns, William McFadden and O. P. Hayworth.

After the appointment of the com­mittees, the discussion took place as to the seating of the delegates that were without the seal of organizations.

The entire proceedings moved very slowly.

Speeches were made by G. P. Hay­worth, S. E. Watson, Otto Sellers, John Dodd, August Niebeck, Cassius Can­ning and others.

O. S. Tuttle was elected permanent chairman by ballot, with Otto Sellers a close running mate. George P. Hay­worth was made secretary by acclamation. Then followed the rending of the platform.

THE PLATFORM ADOPTED.

The platform adopted was as fol­lows;

Consideration of the laboring movement in America and what it has done to ameliorate the economic condition of the wage earners, and what the future holds forth, leads incontrovertibly to the con­clusion that no movement, no mat­ter upon what lines, contains such benefits to the workers as this. The old maxim that all progress is along the line of least resistance was never before exemplified. In its inception the movement acted only upon industrial lines, but a widened application of its sphere noted its advent into the field of legislation. Now conditions continually arising require new means which has necessarily widened the scope of its work and broadened its field of action, so that in the end there must be a class movement upon the political field.

Therefore, it is our duty and privilege of trades union men to discuss economic and political questions and all questions which have any bearing upon their indus­trial and political liberty.

Recognizing this fundamental proposition in its broadest applica­tion to the trades union movement, the delegates from organized and unorganized workingmen of Mun­cie in convention assembled for the purpose of nominating a city tick­et from the ranks of workingmen do adopt the following principles as their platform:

This convention declares that life, liberty and happiness for ev­ery man, woman and child are con­ditioned upon independent political action as well as upon equal economic rights. That the co-operation of these two factors is absolutely necessary to bring into being an industrial system resting upon the brotherhood of man. The control of political power is the logical sequence of trades union agitation and growth, and whether the work­ingmen will it or not they will be forced sooner or later to take in hand the reins of government. The control of political power by the wage workers will usher in a new system of production which will not be a system that benefits the few at the expense of the many, but will benefit the many to the su­preme good of all. As necessary steps toward political control this convention advocates.

"First. Municipal ownership of all public utilities such as street railways, telephones, gas and elec­tric lighting plants, water works and others or the distribution of power, heat, light, transportation, water, etc., all municipal franchises to be owned and operated by the municipality in the interest of the people.

"Second. municipal service wholly divorced from partisan poli­tics and promotion to rest upon merit.

"Third. Eight-hour service for all employes engaged directly or indirectly on municipal, work and the rate of wages not to be less than $1.50 per day.

"Fourth. All municipal work to be under the direct control and management of the municipality without the intervention of con­tractors.

"Fifth. Payment of all munici­pal employes weekly with lawful money of the United Suites with­out any provisions to the contrary and equal pay for equal work re­gardless of sex.

"Sixth. Creation of a fund by the common council of Muncie to buy up all cor­porate interests now held in Mun­cie when the franchises shall expire; provided, however, if any such corporation refuse to dispose of its interests at its real value such fund to be used to establish a competing plant to be owned by the municipality.

"Seventh. Revision of and sim­plification of all municipal laws.

"Eighth. Thorough revision and equalization of the salaries of pub­lic officials.

"Ninth. Direct legislation through the initiative and referen­dum.

"Tenth. An employment agency to be owned and conducted by the city with power to find employ­ment for honest, industrious men out of work without any cost to those seeking employment.

"Eleventh. The appointment of building and milk, and plumbing and meat inspectors by the city council.

"Twelfth. A more equitable distribution of public improvements in the city.

"Thirteenth. A more equitable appraisement of property.

CANDIDATES SELECTED.

The First ward presented before the convention the names of S. E. Watson and Cassius Canning. Ballots were cast, and Mr. Canning was elected by 52 to 37 votes. Canning a well-known glassworker and very popular. He is a young man. Watson is the agent of the American Wringer com­pany, and has many friends.

Noah Stainbrook, a street car con­ductor, was unanimously declared the candidate from the Second ward.

J. T. Bertin, a carpenter, was endorsed as the candidate for City Coun­cil from the Third ward.

Frank Williamson, of Retail Clerks' Union, No. 66, a clerk at the store of Kohrs Bros. & Bath, was nominated from the Fourth ward.

The Fifth ward nominee is Edward Herron, an iron worker employed at the Indiana.

The Sixth ward chose Francis J. Lafferty, a white-liner employed at Ball Bros.'

With the exception of the First Ward, the candidates for Council were selected by each ward, and ratified by the convention.

THE DELEGATES.

J. Gabriel,                                      J. T. Bertin,

F. A. Myers,                                   M. Wurtzler,

Levi Brannan,                                John Galeanor,

N. M. Penrod,                                D. H. Gracey,

L. M. Stebbens,                             J. R. McLain,

Peter McPherson,                          Edward Hubbard,

Thomas Murray,                            Edward Herron,

James Olwell,                                Joseph Cahill,

Daniel Donley,                               John Palond,

Frank E. Duke,                              G. B. Davis,

L. E. Davis,                                    Richard Burns,

Thos. Harrison,                              J. C. Wilson,

George Phipps,                              Ernest Wyant,

William Getz,                                Casper Orebaugh,

Henry Briles,                                 Noah Stainbrook,

George Lake,                                 Fred Davenport,

Thomas Lysaght,                           Edwin Slattery,

Thomas Pacey,                              Willard Carey.

E. A. Owen,                                   Daniel Embody,

Reuben Benson,                            J. B. Funk,

H. Shockley,                                  W. Derbyshire,

C. M. Brosom,                               R. Hottinger,

P. Brock,                                        David Lee,

J. W. Graves,                                  Ed. Kennedy,

C. Van Stein,                                  John Watts,

Fred Wilder,                                   John Shaubert,

Wm. Speckman,                            B. J. Grant,

P. J. McArdle,                                William S. Perdiue,

Ed. Bender,                                    Clarence Calloway,

George Geitz,                                 Carl Janney,

Frank Williamson,                         Sutton Kanel,

Roy Goetcheus,                              Joe Hoyt,

John Lewis,                                    Harry Dawson,

S. A. Warey,                                    C. E. Coplinger,

S. A. MacDonald,                           C. C. Louthain,

M. Schlesky,                                   Charles Snyder,

Ed. Seldomridge,                            H. Harrington,

Ed. Ball,                                          John Dowd,

Joe Klinke,                                      B. Warren,

Frank Snell,                                    John Heidleman,

L. L. Luddington,                           John Kinsley,

Charles Jackson,                             James Woodruff,

Will Stevens,                                  Ed Roach.

Frank Marts,                                   John P. Maris,

Godfrey Weil,                                Thomas Dixon,

Frank Green,                                  Frank Bowers,

Frank Abbott,                                 Winfield Brand,

Charles Luckner,                            Geo. Hoffinger,

E. O. Monahan,                              C. T. Geary,

A. Meeks,                                      G. W. Weachter,

R. F Mann,                                     Joe Early,

William Morgan,                           Charles Horton,

Chas. Vanneiler,                             Fred Rowley,

John Wintech,                                 Wm. McFadden,

John Pierce,                                    Thomas Tolbey,

Charles English,                             Ervin Ford,

Ed. McCreary,                                E. Ward,

Cliff Hamilton,                                A. Jacobs,

W. H. Odell,                                   W. A. Brunner,

H. M. Caldwell,                              H. C. Austin,

P. C. Lacey,                                     Fred Gass,

James Maliff,                                  Thos. McAuliffe,

A. Ambrose,                                    John C. Fox.,

James Gallin,                                  James Quinlan,

T. M. Swan,                                    George Jenkins,

Charles Gibbs,                                Geo. Fredericks,

Robert Tinsley,                                Wm. Connelly,

Cal. Burbridge,                                Ed. Scanlan,

Daniel Rooney,                                Sher. McArthur,

G. P. Hayworth,                               John Williams,

Word Mullen,                                  D. J. Kinley.

John Kennedy,                                 Joe Wilson,

A. E. Williams,                                John J. Maule,

James M. O’Neil,                             August Neibeck,

S. E. Watson,                                   D. C. Darst,

James Cassidy,                                 O. S. Tuttle,

George Derrick,                              C. E. Keeler,

Fred Daniels,                                   Thomas Fulmer,

Otto Sellers,                                    John Stephens,

Joe Boehn,                                      Del Armstrong.

Herschell Ringo,                             Ed Hill,

Fred Griffith.