Chicago Officials Probe Fight of Rival Unionists
Determined to Check Bomb Throwing and Dynamite Outrages Which Have Marked War of Operators' Factions, Wholesale Arrests Are Being Made.
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Source: Variety, 15 December 1916, pg. 30.
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A new phase to the turbulent conditions
among amusement unions came to light yesterday when word was passed from
the State's Attorney's office that an investigation has been started by
Chief Attorney Maclay Hoyne of the fight between rival picture
operators' unions. Today arrests were made as reported elsewhere in this
issue.
State's Attorney Hoyne has declared himself personally as setting
out to stop bomb throwing and alleged sluggings which have been laid at
the doors of the unions.
If Hoyne gets at the bottom of the trouble and uncorks the
necessary evidence the matter will be placed in the hands of the Grand
Jury for possible indictments.
A number of cases have reached the docket lately wherein the charge
is filed that the wrongdoers were members of the fighting unions.
Recently a bomb wrecked an apartment house on Cass street wherein
resided Joseph P. Armstrong, president of local No. 110 of the
International Alliance Theatrical Stage Employees of the United States
and Canada, but luckily none of Armstrong's family was injured. Four men
[who] belong to a rival union, No. 157 of the International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers, were jailed the morning before on alleged threats
"to get Armstrong."
There was a big fight at the Rose Street theatre when "opposing
picture men" mixed things up over union contentions and George
Heiss, operator of the Rose, was beaten in an attack said to have been
made by Frank Gusenberg. Gusenberg was placed in the cell with the four
men who were arrested the day before charged with [threatening] to kill
George Halliday, operator at the Alcazar, according to the allegation.
These cases have resulted in Hoyne's determination to put a stop to
the continued trouble. Continuances on the cases when first called in
the Municipal Court were granted until Dec. 15.
Both unions are putting forth every effort to bring about some sort
of a settlement whereby the fighting between themselves will stop, and
before the end of the week Charles C. Shay, president of the I. A. T. S.
E., who has been west of late on important matters hearing on Alliance
affiliations, is expected to take personal charge of the matter.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 18 February 2000
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