The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-04-12
GOOD FOR MIR. MATES.
He Takes a Square Stand for the
Right,

Last Wednesday few workmen in
the steel plant at West Superior sent
to Manager W. F. Mates the follow
ing manifesto:
WEST SUPERIOR, Wis, April 9, 1890.
To Our Workmen: l have this
morning been handed the following pc
| titiOn:
I've, the signers hereof, having ex-
! perIenced the fact that it is impossible
/ for us. as union moulders, to work in
harmony with incompetent and un-
principled moulders, have, after ma
! ture consideration, concluded to re-
quest you to discharge Jas. Curry and
| Martin Monsotf, as we refuse to work
with them any longer.
(Signed) BY order,
NO. 40, B. OF NJ. NJ. -
This is signed in the familiar round
robin style by J F Riley. A Williams,
NJ Higgin, Michael Carr, P Johnson,
Ed Edwards, Lonis Larson, Tom
Casey, c Mackin Ben Larson and
| bears the seal of the Brotherhood of
| Machinery Moulders, of West Duluth.
| Passing by the touching solicitude
! shown by brotherhood No. 40 to pro-
tect the company against the en-
| principled moulders," it will be readily
understood that the above petition
| put in plain English means as follows:
| First-Brotherhood 10, of West Du-
| luth. proposes to run the West Supe-
rior Iron and Steel company foundry.
! Second-The signers of the petition
have formed labor trust, and al
/ though there is an abundance of work
/ for all, they propose to prevent all
moulderS not in the trust from earn
ing livlihood.
Third-JameS Curry and Martin
Mcnsof, notwithstanding they have
| harmed no man nor prevented any
other man from obtaining work, and
the company is satisfied with their,
servises, must be discharged because
| they are not in the trust
To further explain the situation
will state that there is plenty of work
| ahead in the foundry for all the men
that have been employel and several
more. In fact, / have been compelled
to purchase some 800 tons of castings
from fonndrys in other cities, and
have been debating for several days
the ACCESSIBILITY of placing another
heavy outside order. The question
for our workmen to consider is wheth-
er they want to keep this work at the
head of the lake or have 1t go else
where.
The petition requires an unjust
action and cannot be considered for a
moment l have no question to ask of
any workman as to whether or not he
belongs to the Brotherhood. That is
! his business.
| recognize the right of every work
TO n nj V
and peaceable manner, when he does
not violate an express agreement, but
shall be forced to consider any man
who joins in a strike for the purpose
stated in this petition as unfit for en-
ployment in our works.
w. f. MATES, Gen. Man.
With the above statement in his pos
session Mr.. Mates repaired to the
steel plant and explained to the men
that the company were operating
neither union or a non-union plant.
If men presented themselves for work
and their services We're wanted, the
company proposed to exercise its own
lncllnationS as to whether such man
or men should be retained. Mr..
| Mates explained to the men that a
man could be discharged for cause only
and not upon the statement of fellow
workmen. The effect of the state
ment upon the strikers was simply to
/ bring forth new demand and evi-
dences of disposition to hold out.
! The men demanded that the shops be
come union shops, and that all mat
tiers relating to the business relations
between employees and employer be
! transacted between employer and the
! union. Mr.. Mates informed them
/ that such thing WAS not to be
! thought of and the matter rests there.