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Show PRATT DECLARES OFFICIAL REPORT FALSIFICATION Business Agent of Suspended Philadelphia Carmen's Union Makes Speech in Theater. NO BITTERNESS IS APPARENT IN TALK Resolution Adopted Asking Convention to Reconsider and Give Case Hearing Before Adjournment. G. O. Pratt, business agent of the Buspondcd local union of street railway rail-way employees, of Philadelphia, took a piece of time-honored advice yesterday yester-day and rented a hall. Tho hall in question was the Salt Lake theater and Mr. Pratt talked to a large and sympathetic audience, nearlj- every ouo preHont being a delegate to the convention con-vention of tho Amalgamated Association Associa-tion of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America, which is now in session in this city. Mr. Pratt's reason for renting a hall was that he had been denied permission to appear ap-pear upon the floor of the convention antl make a plea for himself and thc suspended union. Perhaps, somo day and in some manner, man-ner, will be mado known .just why Mr. Pratt and the Philadelphia union were suspended, but tip to this time, it has not been made plain. That tho union waB Buspondcd and its charter revoked and that Mr. Pratt also was suspended is a matter of record, but the whys and tho wherefores are not forthcoming. forthcom-ing. Sensational Charge. It may be said of Mr. PT.att that he is an entertaining and convincing speaker and it may be further said that, dospite his declarations that ho and thc nnion have been most unfairly dealt with, his plea last night was devoid of oxtrome bitterness and he appeared to be fair even to his ffcn-6108.' ffcn-6108.' ' Mr. Pratt's most sensational charge was mado noar thc close of his address, when he declared that the international in-ternational officers had falsified their report to tho convention now in session ses-sion and that he could prove it, if given tho opportunity. Although sov-eral sov-eral persons present had attempled to interrupt Mr. Pratt during the early stages of his address, this statement brought forth no protest. Tho big meeting was presided over by Brighnm IT. Ttobcrts, who assisted Mr. Pratt and thc street car men's union in settliug a strike here somo years ago. Mr. Eoberts said iu introducing intro-ducing Mr. Pratt that ho had endeared himself to the street car employcce, aH well as tho public, in this city and that ho was entitled to a respectful hearing. Mr. Pratt was given a grc:l ovation, as he acknowledged tho intflC duction. In oponing his address h said: I am not here tonight to" assail the personal character of any international interna-tional officers or to criticise their Individual Indi-vidual shortcomings. 1 am here solely sole-ly In the interests of the dues paying pay-ing members of organized labor, who have been drawn Into the movement because of Its advocated policies of justice and a square deal. They have boon taught that thc fundamental fun-damental principles of the movement that they are engaged ln are the protection pro-tection of the rlghta of humanity; that no man shall be condemned without with-out a fair and linpartlul hearing, and that conciliation and arbitration were to be substituted for "power and force. 1 am here tonight In tho support of that doctrine, while the cannons' convention con-vention haB boldly placed itself on record as repudiating thc entire fabric fa-bric upon which their organisation was founded. Attacks Officers, 1 fulK' rcallzo tho handicap with which i now contend. Tharo aro eighteen international oftlcers who must defend their position at any coHt. There are nine more men who signed a statement that was prepared for them and sent broadcast, and there are live men here from Philadelphia, Phila-delphia, four of whom are charged with being witnesses, to whom tho international in-ternational officers advanced $ I T00 of your per capita tax to bring them hero. That makes thirty-two men to ucBin wiiii. iiiuiu u.;ivbunj unlocking un-locking for ofdeo who must support tho machine or their hopes aro blasted. ,, The "Motorman und Conductor and the "Union Leader" have been ncd for two years to poison the minds of tho membership in this cuso and offlrors have been sent at your expense all over this country to pour oil upon the troubled wnters of dls-content dls-content that has boon aroused over this unwarranted and unpiecudciiteu '"t'o'do able to meet suoh an unequal contest single-handed and alono I have as my weapons truth and documentary docu-mentary evidence which I only asked to be given the opportunity of submitting sub-mitting to an Impartial Jury and I would abide by their verdict. When Mr. Pratt made thc statement (Continued on Page Throe.) in DECLARES REPOflT FALSIFIED (Continued Jrom Pago One.) concerning the ? 1500 paid to brlnsr men Jmro from Philadelphia, a deletjato arose and began a denial of the statement, but he wn called to order by Chairman Rob-ertM, Rob-ertM, who said that any person present who desired to las heard would haw an opportunity at the conclusion of Mr. Pratt's address. History of Strike. Air. Pratt then gave- a partial historv of the trouble In Philadelphia, showlni; tJiat division 177 of that city had been suspended and that he also had buen suspended sus-pended after having polled 4270 votes for a union agreement imdur the laws of the .Amalgamated association. It was ndded that the lo-al had appealed from the d- clslou of suspension and done everything every-thing in Ita power to secure a reversal of the ordir. but that It had not succeeded suc-ceeded In doing so. Mr. Pratt then called attention to tho fact that ho was a member of tho executive ex-ecutive board of the international association asso-ciation for eleven ycara and that he xvuu defeated for chairman of tho board at til. Joseph, Mo., two yearn ago by a vote of 113 to S5. M-r. Pratt also addci that Prosidont Mahon had eulogized him up to the time of the Philadelphia strike, but had "quit" him after that time. Tho declaration was then made that no definite charge had over been mado against the Philadelphia union, although it -was generally understood that tho union was charged with Insubordination. In tills connection Mr. Pratt declared that he had never violated the law of tho association in any rcspocL Mr. Pratt then took up the action of tho International officers on tho Philadelphia Phila-delphia strike nnd doclarod that they hud declined to servo with him and that they had given him the worst of it whenever opportunity presented. Mr. Pratt's re-, mnrks concerning the strike nnd the final settlement were largely technicnl. but he added that some of the international officers offi-cers had slandered and abused him and that they had refused to lllo definite charges against him and permit him to answer them. Mr. Pratt then said that after he had been virtually thrown out of the Philadelphia Philadel-phia union the men comprising tho union flockod to him, elected him their business agent and proceeded to do business outside out-side of the international association. Tells of Attacks. Mr. Pratt dwelt at considerable length upon scurrilous articles which had been published about him, ns well as untrue statements that had been made concerning concern-ing him and made the charge that some of tho publications had been paid for with money which members of the association had paid In us dues. In this connection Mr. Pratt said: "I charge President Mahon Ma-hon with being afraid to permit me to be heard before an Impartial Jury " This statement was greeted by prolonged applause. ap-plause. Attention was also called to a paper only one Issuo of which ever appeared in which Mr. Pratt was bitterly attacked. This paper was printed in Philadelphia and the men responsible for Its publication publica-tion were arrested for criminal libel. Mr. Pratt next called attention, to a large number of resolutions that had been adopted asking for the reinstatement of the Philadelphia union. He also read a letter form the editor of the News-Post In Philadelphia, complimenting him for the stand he had taken and the good work he had done. Reference also was made to the fact that two committees of three each, one from Trenton, N. J., and the other from Now Orleans, had investigated the Philadelphia matter and had Indorsed the stand taken by the union and by Mr. Pratt. "I am ready to go upon the tloor of the convention here at any time and answei all the questions that anybody warns to ask." declared Mr. Pratt at this point This statement was wildly cheered. Mr. Pratt then referred to the fact that Secretary Reeves had told him that ho was up against a stone wall constructed con-structed by n master builder and that he could not beat it. To this Mr. Pratt added that lie. still demanded charges in writing against himself and tho suspended sus-pended local. "This Ih not my Individual case," Mr. Pratt continued, "it Is the case of the carmen of Philadelphia. There are 7000 of them there nnd $108,000 has already been lost to the International brganl-zatlon brganl-zatlon through thoir suspension. I also charge that the International officers have falsified their reports to the convention now In session, and I can prove It. There never lias been found anything wrong with the Philadelphia local and tho men who comprise it should be given a chance. The spirit of unionism demands de-mands it. Tho international officers have turned down every offer made by me and tho Philadelphia local. Tills statement was greeted by applause ap-plause and Mr. Pratt thanked the attendants at-tendants for their patience and took his seat. H. B. Barron, financial secretary of division 477, who filed the protest which Is said to be responsible for the movement move-ment which brought about the suspension suspen-sion of the old local -177, was given the floor and said that t lie local was still doing business and that It had delegates here. He also said that organized labor could settle Its own disputes. Mr, Barron Bar-ron admitted that he had been friendly to Mr. Pratt up to the time or the St. Joe convention. Resolution Adopted. At this time Chairman Roberts presented pre-sented tho following resolution which was adopted by a unanimous voto: Whereas, the local union of Slroet Railway 'Employees of Philadelphia. Pa., representing over 000 members, have been suspended by the general executive board of the international organization, and VVharcns, the susptnded local haa asked for an appeal from tho decision decis-ion of smid general executive board, and Whereas, the suspended local delegated dele-gated one C. O. Pratt to appear before be-fore the convention of street railway rail-way employees now In convention assembled as-sembled and present or submit their side of the conliovorsy before the delegates In convention assembled, and Whereas, one of the fundamental principles of organized labor should be to give every one a fair and Impartial Im-partial hearing, whether they be right or wrong, a nd Whcrcaf. paid CJ. O. Pratt did express ex-press a desire to appear before aid convention and submit evidence In behalf of the suspended local, and Whereas, said convention refused to rIw him a hearing; lie It therefore Ttesolvcd, that organized labor and those In sympathy with the princl-ple;.- of organized labor. In mnsn meeting assembled, in the Palt Lake theater on tho 1 Itli day of September. Septem-ber. 1913. do In the name of Justice to the suspended local a?k the delegates dele-gates to Mild International convention conven-tion to reconsider inelr former action ac-tion in denying Philadelphia local a hearing through their representative. Mr. Pratt, and that they glvo -mid C. O. Piatt an opportunity to present pre-sent evidence in behalf of the suspended sus-pended loral before the convention of street rnllway employees now In session In tills city. President Mahon, of the Amalgamated Association of .Street and Klertrb Rall- way Kinplovo of America, when nd-I nd-I vised or tho charge of C. O. Pratt "that I the international officers had falHilied their renort to the convention now in 1 session In this city," sld: t "The statement of Mr. Pratt Is ab-solutcly ab-solutcly false. The reports have been i"-arofully gone over and the accounts have been audited by a committee, so-lecled so-lecled for that purpose." When shown" thl.r Htatomeiit. Mr. Pratt tnadi! the following stalemont: "I am not trying to adliidtrat lhl matte" in the newspapers, but If Pve!ieut Mahon will permit me to apoeir lieforu an unprejudiced un-prejudiced Jur, T will prow the truth of my statement. I alr.o reiterai, tb,i the international officers have fatal sled their report " |