St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-11
THE KNIb-GOoDS WAg.

hrln has made preparations tn slaughter
800 head day received from Chicago.
THE KNIB-GO0DS WAR.
The uanufacturcrs Engaged In n
little Struggle With the knis hts
of s.abOr ias New YORK State.
New YORK. Nov. 1O.-Whle 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 on in this
state which involves as many people, as
much capital and principle of vital i'm
pOrtance. This is the contest progressing
between the knit-goods manufacturers
and the Knights OF Labor. which has
now become an open war upon the latter
as an organization. Although the more
conspicuous facts so far have been noted
from time to time but few persons have
clear idea of the nature of the controversy,
and realize that nearly 20 900 persons were
employed in the knit-gOOd mills through
out New York state, which the owners
have clio ed against all Knights of Labor.
A long interview with one acquainted with
the history of the fight shows that thin
have been
ACTIVELY ORGANIZING
the knit goods employees that as fast as
they became organized they began to sub
ject the manufacturers 10 petty annoy
ances in the way of demands touching the
conduct of their business; that finally the
manufacturers, in self defense. were COM
PEELED to form all association which en-
braced the fifty mills of this state, or
so per cent of the tIade in the country.
The first struggle arose at CohOes. over the
question whether or not the manufacturers
should be allowed to discharge any EN-
ploye they might see lii. The issue was
Joined by the manufacturers declaring a
lockout. At the end of five weeks. L. b.
Barry of the general executive board Of
the Knights of Labor and MIR. Sheard.
president OF the Manufacturers assoc atom,
signed a contract RUM ny to Dec. l. coll
ceding,,the conditions of the mill owners and
work was resumed.
THE PRESENT TROUBLE
originated in Amsterdam. n. Y. A boy, a
member of the Knights of Labor, was pro-
NOTED to a new hitherto unOperated jack
in the Spinn ng room. The Sp nnerS uniOn.
an outside organization of the knights, OBJ
jected The prOpTietOrS said they would
let the machine lie idle The spinners de-
manded promise that a 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 mills The other
Amsterdam mills decided to stand by the
mill in trouble. and lockout followed.
Mr.. Barry, of the Knights of Labor.
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 Oct. to 9.
The employees not returning, 1t was ordered
that all the mills in the state declare a
lockout Oct l6, and It was done. Since
then the mills have been gradually filling
up with nOn-uniOn men, and one local
assembly Of knis It's has thrown up its
charter. Two mills, on the other nand
have yielded. MeSSrS. Bailey and McGuire,
of the executive board. have been endeav
orng to settle the matter. but the mill
owners refuse to treat with them
FAILURE OF A CONFERENCE.
ALBANY, n. Y. Nov. 10.--The execu-
tive committee of the National Knit Goods
association and Me>srS. Bailey and Mctiuire
of the national executive committee of the
Knights Of Labor, met here to-day with
reference to a settlement of the difficulties
now existing III the khlt goods dlStr ct.
Messrs. Bailey and McGuire offered the fol-
loving as the Oniv Das,S OH which they
would settle Oh behalf Of the Knights of
Labor:
Tat all the former employees be reiDstated
in tueir former places and that peop.e wlO
have taken their places he suspended until
theyhave mace Il settlement with their organ
iZa.iOu Tor violating its Il. Us and rules
The propOst on was elected and the fol-
lowing was submitted by the knit goods
people as a basis upon which the manufac
tuTerS would open their mills TO the Knights
of Labor
We INSIST upon the right to employ or not
employ. discharge or not discharge whom we
thInK UeSt us our employees, and we deem
mained in our employ III the time of the lock-
out aud strike and those whom we have since
that time emplo, ed.
The above was in turn rejected by Messrs.
Bailey IL Mcclure. who withdrew from the
conference with the statement that the
negotiations wele ended. after which the
eXec.ie We committee of the knit-GoOdS as
ISOLATION. after full consideration, adopted
the following:
The mills will be open to all persons,
whether they have been previously in our
employ or not, on the basis of All agreement
by rose nom we may employ tlat they will
acknowledge and respect the rights of the
EN- dover 10 hire an discharge as he deems
best and not iute fere with OF Ter enplo yes,
including those wnO nave Ueen at work dur
ing he recent strike and 10 -k-ouJ.