The Labor enquirer., 1883-10-20

.kIIMB|ALL's / L0ck0uT !.
Threatening to Discharge More
Union Hands, to Force
the Order raH a.Ha& ..-
/ at----.aE
To Remove the Boycott Brave
Leaders of the Knights of
Made to Pay a Penalty for Their
Fidelity Efforts to Disor-
i, ganize Labor. ~, g..

ball & Co. to disorganize the Knights of
Labor threw seventy.tive girls outof en-
ployment. These were among his most
skillful hands, and all more or less promi-
nent in assembly l776. The daily papers
of this city said these girls were laid off
because of lack of work in the factory.
If that were the real reason for their dis
charge it seems singular to those who
stop long enough to think about it that
the firm selected its skilled hands and
kept at work inferior ones-non union
hands, at that. All the rumors regard
ing this action 90 to show that these
girls were discharged because they were
prominent in the Order There is no
question about it. 1t is said by some of
these girls and other employees still at
work, that hundred or more hands will
be discharged soon unless the boycott is
removed. This is not manly course for
the firm of Kimball & Co. to pursue,
especially when they have only been
asked to fairly and honestly keep the
promise made over a year ago. Their
opposition to organized labor reflects no
credit upon them in this day when labor
principles are surely coming to the 'front.'
and are meeting with respect and sue
cess never met with before. In this
matter the Knights Of Labor have made
no unjust demands. The difficulty could
be easily settled and the boycottihg re-
moved if kimbaIl x Co. were al all dis
! posed to be fair. This recent discharge
of employees because they belong promi-
nentlv to the Knights of Labor, instead
of leading to the removal Of the boycott
will serve onl y to more VlgorOusl y renew
it. Already action has begun. More
circulars and calls will be issued, and the
Order wherever found will be advised to
be more persistent than ever in the boy
cotting of their goods. If the members
of the Order in this city were the only
ones concerned in this matter the boycott
could be removed and kimball & Co. be
permitted to triumph over one branch of
labor But such defeat of just de-
mands would have an injurious effect on
all organized labor throughout the land.
1t would embolden every capitalist OPP
posed to labor organizations. because
with them in existence they can not 50
easily control the question of wages, to
resist all demands Of employees. If there
was any reliable assurance that the union
hands would be re-employed and not dis
charged for their part in this lockout,
and if the firm would confer for settle
ment with the proper committees, the
bovcott could be removed and the situa-
ton of affairs changed. If, in order to
chance the honor and generosity of Kim
ball & Co. to reinstate the employees in
the factory, the district is forced to re-
move the boycott, it may be taken for
granted that the order at large, clearly
understanding that scheme, will keep
right on boycotting these goods. Under
a forced removal of the boycott, which
amounted to defeat, no Knight of Labor
of principle would use the tobacco of
that firm, would deal with no men who
dealt in them, and the firm would learn
that the forced removal in Rochester
made no change in the actions of mem
bers of the order abroad who are in
earnest in this struggle for principles.
And it would also be found that there
are men here who would see to it that
the order at large clearly understood the
reason for the removal of the boycott.
We again ask labor journals, who have
done in this matter good work, to note
this recent movement on the part of
Kimball & Co., and to caution all mem
bers of the order to renew their efforts.
Those on our exchange list are requested
to note this at once that it NAV through
us have its influence here. Believe no
rumors that the matter is settled; that
the boycott is declared off, that any con
cessions have been made, or that the
employees have any assurance of fair play
or permanency If the boycott was raised.
Rochester asks you to arouse to more
vigorous work This is matter too i'm
portant to slight-Rochester Sunday
Truth.