Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-11
FIGHTING THE K. OF l..
THE GREAT STRIKE OF THE KNIT GOODS
WORKERS.
Twenty Thousand Men, Women and Children Idle
A Strike Equal 70 That st ChieagO in Which
Vital Issues are hvOlyed--A Fight
Squarsly Against the Knights.

New YORK, Noyember.-The Erening
Post says: while great prominence has
been given by the press throughout the
country to the labor troubles in Chicago,
comparatively little attention has been
paid by the public at large to struggle
now going Oh in this State which involves
as many people, as much capital, and a
principle of vital importance. This is the
contest in progress between the knit goods
manufacturers and the Knights of Labor,
which has now become an open war upon
the latter as an organization.
Though the most conspicuous facts in the
struggle have been noted from time to
time, but few persons have clear idea OF
the nature of the controversy, or realize
that nearly 20, 600 men, women and chill
dren were employed in the knit goods
mills throughout New York State, which
the owners have closed against all Knights
of Labor"
HISTORY OF THE STRIKE.
A long interview with one acquainted
with the history of the fight then follows.
two years the h. of L. have been ac-
lively organizing the knit goods employees;
that as fast as they became
organized they began to subject the manu-
facturers to petty annoyances, in The way
of demands touching the conduct of their
business, that finally the manufacturers,
in self defense, were compelled to form an
association, which embraces the 80 mills
of this State, or 50 per cent. Of the trade
in the country. The first struggle arose
at Cohoes, over q question whether or not
the manufacturers should be allowed TO
discharge any emplOye they might see fit.
The issue was Joined by the
manufacturers declaring lock-
out. At the end of five weeks, II. T..
Barry of the General Executive Board of
the h. of L., and Mr.. Sheard, President of
the Manufacturers Association, signed q
contract running to December l,conceding
the contention of the mill owners, and
work was resumed. The present trouble
originated in Amsterdam, n. Y. A boy q
member of the X. of l.. was promoted to n
new and hitherto unoperated jack in the
spinning room. The Spinners Union, an
inside organization of Knights OBJ
jected. The proprietors said they
would let the machine be idle.
LOCKED OUT
The spinners demanded a promise that q
member of their union should be put on in
case the jack should be started at any time
in the future. This was refused, and the
spinners struck thereby closing the mill.
The other Amsterdam mills decided to
stand by the mill in trouble, and lockout
followed.
Mr.. Barry, of the X. of l.. declared the
strike unjust but was unable TO
put an end to it though the
mills were thrown open to those
who wanted to return to work from Oc-
tOber to 9. The employees not return
ing, it was ordered that all the mills in
the State declare lockout October l6,
and it was done. Since then the mills
have been gradually filling up with non
union men, and one local assembly of the
Knights has thrown up its charter. Two
mills on the other hand have yielded.
Messrs. Bailey and Mcclure, Of the Exec
utive Board, have been endeavoring to
settle the matter, but the mill owners
refuse TO treat with them.