Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-04-21

Can the workingmen of the United States
find legal protection against the X. of L. or
other trades unions?
Two years ago was compelled to Join The
cigarmaker's union. Prior to that time I
was working ten hours day, on $l2 work:
or to make it palmer, getting 81 20 for 100
cigars. 1 could make from twenty to twenty
five cigars each hour, earning from "a to so
cents for each hours work. A boycott was
/ placed on the cigars made in Benz Djamin
Woods shop at Boston Neck, and we were
compelled to join the union. Now comes the
sequel. The constitution ofthe cigarmaker's
union allows only eight hours for days
work, & clear loss OF twelve hours week, or
SO in money. From what is left We must
| pay 10 the union 20 cents each week, work
or no work, or get suspended from the un-
| ion. Aside from this. we get assessments
of from 10 cents to 81 each week, just as the
majority of the members Of local unions feel
like taxing themselves.
In fact, it amounts to about $25 year.
Now, the eight hour ruie, which causes a
loss of $50 q year, S25 dues and assessments
added, makes S175. How can We live? Ii we
do not belong to the union. we cannot work
ia any shop in the New Eneland States. You
will ask why we submit to this? a. Stras.
ser, president Of the cigarmakers' union, has
the constitution so framed that any attempt
10 alter it must be backed by two.thirds of
all local unions before it will be entertained
| by President Strasser Nov, will show you
| the power of this man StTaeser, and the con.
temptible cowardice Of his followers. Last
| fall the cigarmakers' annual convention was
held at Biughemton, n Y Almost, if not
quite, the last thing done was to smuggle
through batch OF resoiutioes. one Of which
read that it was for lhesbest interest of all
| concerned that the intetnal revenue lax on
!! cigars he retained. and hat the cigarmakers'
union make every effort 10 induce Congress
to let it remain as it is Union No. AZ, of
| Hartford, wishing to get ihe thoughts of the
members, took vote on this resolution, and
a majority of the members present v0ted in
opposition to that resolution. The moment
| Strasser got report OF that action ne sent
word to them to take back that vote or be
would take their charter away for insubordi-
nation, as Strasser says, but it really was for
| holding and daring to express political opin-
| ions in opposition to his. The Hartford
union did as he ordered, one member excepted.
| This member wrote letter 10 Strasser stat
ing his views on the subject, and asked to
have it printed in the cgarmakers journal.
Strasser refused him the use of the journal.
He then went to the Hartford Times Office
and got his letter printed in the columns of
that paper. Some one sent copy of the
| Times to Stresser. Back came letter from
Strasser ordering union No. ~, OF Hartford,
to cali a meeting within ten days and try
that member for writing the letter; aud if
found guilty, to expel him., The meeting
was called, the man was tried, found guilty,
and expelled from the union. All this for
daring to make public his political opinions.
And this Is free America
Now, Mr.. Editor, will you be kind enough
to give this statement space in the columns
of your valuable paper, and let the people
and lawmakers know how We are abused?
| If the Government tax on tobacco goes, the
cigarmakers' union goes, and Strssser knows
| it. The right to work for our families ought
to be ours without buying it, which now
we must do. If ! am out of work for month
or two, cannot take out license, for it
would not pay Now, If this tax is removed
when we cannot get work in shop we can
buy tobacco and live by making cigars on
| our own account.
CHARLES WALDORF.
Warehouse Point. Conn.
Hartford, Conn.,, Times, March q.
Rarely has the tyranny OF trade unionism,
as exemnlilied by Mr.. strasser, been more
torcibly or truthfuly illustrated than in the
above communication to our Hartford con-
temporary In view Of this expose, the sim.
pie question arises, How much longer are
iourneymen cigarmakers going to submit to
Strasser's autocratic rule? AS Jack Cade
said, sit is time there were freedom for the
bond. .n-Erchange.