, 1879-08-24
DECIDEDLY CHEEKY.
The "Whiteners at Engel's
Leather-Factory on
Strike,
Because q Drunken Workman Was Sum-
marily Discharged.

It has come to queer pass in Chicago "hea
business man can't discharge drunken en-
ploye without the employees fellowworkers
threatening the employer with strike unless
the drunken emoloYe Is put back. And yet
just such thing has happened within the past
few weeks to the firm of Edward Engel d. Bro,
leather manufacturers, Of No. POL Lake street.
The firm recently passed through one strike,
and generously granted the men their demands.
Considerable work was going on at the time,
which necessitated their putting on more men.
When the hurry WAS over, the firm found them
selves in shape to discharge some OF
their help, and began week ago yesterday
with one Conrad, whose bibulous habits led him
to visit beer-saloons otteuer than was consist
ent with sobriety in worKingmau. his Fellow
workingmen, to the number OF ten, without
giving the firm any notice whatever, Immediately
| threw down their aprons a1iu struck. IN the
fulness OF time, e,-that Is to say, in day or two
they drew up and sent to the firm the foilo"-
| ing warning:
| Nessrs. EngeE Bros.-tiEErLEHEN: You have
discharged this morning Mr. George Conrad without
any Cause, and il you don't reinstate him we are
bound to strike, although willing to share up
with all and every man IN the SHOP and Ike to see
the business in good shape to the benefit Of the pro-
| pretors md hands. Please send word loftn"Ha
| to No. Il Crosby street. tolgnedl
| TuE COMMITTEE or THE WAtrHERs-
| For the information OF those Who are not
"up" in the technical terms OF the leather
employ, among others, a class Of workmen
known as whlteners," though. In the choice
spelling of the Committee, the pIonunciamento
issues from the wattners." Ibis particular
class Of workmeu acrape the leather "1tn shasp
knives, and thus perform part OF the finishing
process, which changes rough hide to eood,
| durable leather There is good deal OF kpack
in the. thing, and the men a. Engel brcs nave
t for years earned from SIS to s24 week a. tne1t
| trade. But they arc chlyalrous, anu, "nen q
comrade gets drunk and is bounced, they propose
to stick up for him, demand bis reinstatement, I,
and strike II they cannot enforce tnat ue1na1lI
| In any other way. But Enges BROS were noI
| to be bulIdozed. lhey informed tle "ouo.oo
intimidators that they didn't propose TO Re.
fnstate Conrad under any circumstances, aud
! tharernon tho strike commenced. It not only
relieved the firm OF these ten, but it threw some
| t"ensS-nse na'o"e1o "o' ~ "oA"' ~
| COMPLETELY UPSET TIE BUSINESS
t - .lo ch,, ana mart of vhich ia 70 dcuandent
" 'us cnvps s"o r
upUu auotet. +.,os aao1 ~ +o,l- ooone, the
lhero mas oeen eoot oea. Co. ~. 1nso';a rfsancs
| manufacturers curing tAe past "eeh :" ie4e'eu
Yesterday afternoon at 8 O'Clock in a meet,
iny ut the Office OF Grey, Clark & Co., and Engel
Bros, at No. al Lake stree., IL lo5 !, u,e the
purpose of deciding what stand to take IN inc
matter. There we're present at the mGetue
! Messrs Grey, Clark d Co., Edward Engel
Marcus Welt Of We'll Bros, l.. fteiier o. L;
Pfeifer d. Co., Louis and George E!tel o1 El'el
& Co., K. Populorum, lnomas han1nouo nn y, y,
Walker, oaStey O. ~ anu eaeo a. r,,ro,o
tap,s1 na y. a,,d took wIdc range. Some of those
tnao t .aA aa az ~ fst in favor of fighting fire
pIesens "se - .noat ratol,atnr unon the
Win nte: ~ ~ fo.annfoct,,rcrs, nnion. anG
= ~ ~ thira ,+ in Fiat war Others more
seel .us aa and ~ rnnre cantions. favored the
,oiics ~ start with. Int intimated that il
| RCaEC q1AA~J ~ ot"a