The Rock Island Argus., 1885-09-01
REDUCTION RESISTED.
JOurneymen COOpers Take Action to
Protect Themselves Against Cut
in Prices..-ROck Island In.
terested.

Because Of reduction in the price paid
for the making of light barrels, the Jour
neymen coopers of Davenport are upon
the verge Of strike. And in the action
of their brother workmen across the river
the coopers of Rock Island are greatly |
interested. The coopers OF Davenport
and Rock Island are working in unison.
However, no indications of a srtike have
been shown here. and investigation this
morning reveals no anticipation of one.
The cause of the trouble in Davenport is
a reduction of four cents by one manu-
facturer and of three cents by another.
The first conference was held in Daven>
port Saturday, when John Herman, of
Davenport, was elected chairman and d.
}. Chinn, of this city, secretary These
offices were Only temporary, but at an
other meeting held yesterday they were
made permanent. The meeting was held
in the union shop across the river and the
following preamble and resolution was
presented and adopted;
WHEREAS, The cooper interest of this
city has assumed such shape that it has
become necessary TO take some suitable
action for our own protection, therefore
be it
ReSOloed, That it is the sense of this
meeting that six cents is a fair price and
just for the making of onion barrels, con
sidcring the shortness of the season.
The above was carried by rising vote
of 80 to not voting, with none in the
negative. Then the meeting by unani-
nous vote decided upon one inch chime
and a motion refus ng to allow cubs or
apprentices to work was carried without
opposition. The meeting also resolved
to have no hoops nailed. After some dis.
cussion it was decided that none of the
cOopers should return to work unless the
bosses agreed to re>employ all of the
men. A motion to the effect that in the
event of = boss contemplating "a reduction
of wages or a cut that it shall be an
nOunced on Saturday, or pay night,
ever that might be- was carried and an
other that prevailed is essentially an
agreement not to make over 81 per week
until the present supply of barrels is par
TALLY exhausted and the market will ad>
nit of the manufacture Of more. An i'm
vitation was extended to the manufactur-
ers to meet in consultation for the pur>
pose of effecting an adjustment of the
difficulties, and the meeting adjourned to
meet at o'clock at the oat meal mill.
At the afternoon session the first BUSH
ness of Importance was motion refusing
to compromise for less remuneration than
six cents per barrel After discussion thu
motion was adopted unanimously 1t wa,
decided to hold a meeting each evening
|
The following committee was appointed
by Chairman Herman to wait upon thu
bosses and secure from them an cxpIes
sion relative to the position which they
occupy: Phillip Miller, FEED Widigan
and George Clemmens. A second meet
ing will be held at 5 o'clock this evening
at the corner of Third and Marquette
streets to discuss the situation, 10 whicl
all knights of the adj are requested to be
present.
Yesterday morning Jo Woodruff, o
Milan, who cut to four cents, raised til,
price to five cents, but the coopers hav
demanded six cents. The Davenpor
Gazette publishes the following by re
quest:
Referring to an article in the Der Dem
obra of Sunday. Aug 80, headed Coop
ers' Strike, = we, the employees of j. Mar
tin Miller, will say that he was the last t,
| reduce the price for making onion bar
@ rels.
f. MOORE. E. l.. GoLDsBURY,
N GoLDsBURy, j j. FELKIN.
, BERNARD LAGER, ii. &. CLEMENT.
From their action it is evident that th
S coopers are determined not to work un
less the manufacturers pay them 81
t cents. The latter have not yet deter
mined what they will do.