The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-11-28
THE STONE CUTTERS STRIKE.

Mr.. Fred WIdell was seen Monday in
regard to the strike and lockout of the
stone cutters at his quarries. He says
That there was no cause whatever for a
strike, and that the trouble dates back
to last winter, when his stone cutters
formed local Bridge Stone Cutters
Union. The first effort of this union at
dlctation was successful, when it last
spring insisted that he should discharge
certain men. He was then in a position
that he could not we'll afford to stand a
strike, and acquiesced in the demands
of the Union. He now finds himself in
better position to withstand the arbitra-
ry demands of the organization, and
proposes to stand out for his rights from
now on.
It seems that the Union passed rule
that they should be paid on the Goth of
each month. Mr.. Widell has always
complied with this demand, but on last
Thursday, Nov. Goth, an expected check
of 81 900 with which be expected to pay
his men, did not arrive, and 1t was Fri
day noon before it came. Mr.. Widell
could easily have borrowed the neces-
sary money, but thought his men could
wait a half a day or 30, for once. How
ever, the Union ordered strike, and
Friday morning no stone cutter went to
work. Mr.. Widell says that half of the
cutters, who number 80 all told, wanted
to continue at work, but the rest forced
them to continue idle.
When the check came, Friday. Mr..
Widell notified his men that he would
pay them Saturday morning, and the
cutters appeared at the quarry at the
accustomed hour and wished to 60 on
with their work. They were paid of
and notified that their services were no
longer needed. Mr.. Widell thought if
they had not enough confidence in him,
after all that he had done for them, to
trust him for day or so he would have
nothing more to do with them. He al
80 feared that they might make some
impossible or extortionate demand on
him at time when he may be greatly
injured, through failure to fulfill con-
tract on time, unless he gave in. He
Immediately proceeded to fill the places
of the strikers with new men. first get
ting their promise that they would join
no Union. These new men have had
more or less experience and can 90 on
with the work. The strikers received
excellent wages, and there was no COM
plant on this score, so far as known.
The lowest paid to any of them was $50
per month, and they received all the
way from that up to STA per month.
Among the strikers is brother of Mr..
Widell-not Gus Widell, however, who
does not sympathize with the strikers.
All of the stone cutters in the city be-
long to unions, and there is some fears
that general strike may ensue, which
would greatly cripple some of the other
quarries, where finer class of work ls
done than bridge stone cutting. If a
general strike is inaugurated it would
be for the purpose of bringing to bear
upon Mr.. Widell the influence of the
owners of the other quarries, to get him
to take back the old men.
The strikers are all Scandinavians.
The affair is an unfortunate one for all
parties.
Seven or eight new stone cutters went
to work at the quarry Monday morning,
and the crew will be filed as rapidly as
he wants them. The strikers have not
attempted to interfere with the men
and are very quiet and orderly.
A secret meeting of all the stone cut
ters in the city was held at the Knights
or Labor Hall Saturday night, but
what action was taken or what the plans
are cannot be ascertained.
Home Without Mother.
The rooms in disorder,