The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-11
A BIG LOCKOUT.
The Trouble Between the Knit-GooGs Man.
ufacturers and Their Employees,

1
| ufacturers and Their Employees.
| NEW YORK, Nov 10.-The Evening Post saws
while great prominence has been given by the
press throughout the country to the labor
| troubles in Chicago comparatively little atten-
tion has been paid by the public at large to a
struggle now going on in this State. which in
wolves AS many people, much capital, and a
principle Of vital importance. This is the con-
| test in progress between the it-goods manu-
| facturers 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 warfare have been noted from time
to time bpt few persons have a clear idea OF tn o
nature of 6hs controversy, or realize that nearly
20, 900 mSns. women and children were employed
in the knitgoods mills throughout New York
State, which the owners have closed against all
Knights of Labor"
A long interview with one acquainted with the
history of the fight then follows In substance
1t is that within the past two years the Knights
OF Labor have been actively organizing the knit
goods employees; that as fast as they became or
ganzed they began to subject the manufacturers
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 fifty nine mills of this State OF 80 per cent
of the trade in the country The first struggle
arose at Cohoes, over the question whether or
not the manufacturers should be allowed to dis.
charge any employe they might sec fit The
issue was joined by the manufacturers declaring
lockout AT the end of five weeks T. B. Barry
of the General Executive Board of the Knights
OF Labor, and Mr.. Sheard, president of the
Manufacturers Association, signed contract
running to Dec. l, conceding the contention of
the mill owners, and work was resumed
The present trouble originated over boy
The boy, member of the Knights of Labor was
promoted to new and hitherto unoperated jack
IN the spinnlng-room. The spnners' union an
inside organization of the knights, objected.
The proprietors said they would let the machine
lie idle. The spinners demanded a 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 spnners
struck, thereby closing the mill The other
Amsterdam mills decided to stand by the mill in
trouble and lockout followed. Mr. Barry of
the knights OF Labor, declared thestrike unjust,
but was unable to put end to it, though the
mills were thrown open to those VINO wanted to
return to work from Oct. 4 to g. The employees
not returning, it was ordered that all the mills
In the State declare lock out on Oct 16 and it
was done. Since then the mills have been grad
ually hlling up with non-union men, and one
local assembly of Knights has thrown up its
charter Two mills, on the other hand, have
yielded. Messrs Bailey and MCGUIRE of the ex-
ecutlve board, have been endeavoring to settle
with them.
The executive committee of the National nit
goods Association and Messrs Bailey and Nc
CURE. or the national executive committee of
the knights of Labor met at Albany to-day,
with reference to settlement Of the differences
now existing in the knit-goods district Messrs
Bailey and Mcclure offered the following as the
only oasis on which they would settle ON behalf
of the Knights of Labor:
That all the former employees be reinstated in their
former places and that the people who have taken the
places OF the former employees be suspended until they
have made settlement with their organization for
violation of its laws and rules
The proposition was rejected and the follow |
ing was submitted by the knt-goods people as a |
oasis upon which the manufacturers would open |
their mills to the Knights of Labor:
Upon the right to empty not employ, discharge |
ployes and that continue as we deem proper as /
employees those who remained in employ at the |
time OF the lockout or strike, and those whom we |
have since that time employed.
The above was. in turn, rejected by Messrs. |
Bailey and Mcclure, who withdrew from the
conference with the statement that the negotia-
tions were ended, after which the executive
com mmltfee OF the knit-coods association, after
Iuil consideration, adopted the following:
The mills will be opened all persons whether they
pave oeeh previously in our employ or not on the
oasis GI an agreement by those whom they may en-
ooy that they will acknowledge and respect the right
II the employer to hire and discharge as he deems
lnd lockout. ~ ~