The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-07
MrLLMEN,s STATEMENT.
A Committee of Their Union Gives
Reasons for Their Action.

SEATTLE, June 6, 1891.
To THE EDITOR: The communication
received by the millmen from the bosses
as final answer in regard to the existing
trouble has been given to the public, and
now that our case may be stated we ask
that the following be inserted:
In the month of January the millmen
of Seattle, assembled in regular session,
resolved to petition the bosses for reduc-
ton of the working hours from ten to nine.
In accordance with this resolution a COM
munication was sent to the employers in
forming them of our desire. This was
about the middle of April and the reduc-
ton was to take effect May 1. Owing to
the lack of minimum rate of pay and the
low scale Of wages paid in several mills
the demand called for ten-hours' pay for
nine-hours' work. A reply was received
stating that they had no obiec-
ton to a reduction of the hours
but considering the state of trade
accepted. The matter was thoroughly dis
cussed by the union men, who were
unanimous in favor of coming out on
May 1. About 100 men walked out on
May /, and are still out A committee
the purpose of bringing about satisfac-
tory senttlement, but have been put off
from time to time and at last ignored alto
gether. As means Of bringing the trouble
to speedy settlement they proposed
nine-hour working day, with pay per hour
as on May 1. This also has been
refused, the bosses claiming that
the men preferred working ten hours.
The document received from the en-
ployers has been placed away and will be
retained as literary relic. That business
men could be induced to subscribe to such
a contradictory and false bunch of resolu-
tons is a mystery. They state in the pre-
amble that "a certain labor organization
instituted strike" Then they 60 on
further in the resolution to say that
there never was, nor is there now
any trouble existing between them and the
men now on strike. Evidently the organ
iZation and the men are two distinct
factors. The men were resolute and
unanimous in their demands and are so
still. They further say that the state of
the money market, the high rate of wages
paid and the multitude of unemployed
men are averse to said strike. Why not
add, on the part of the men: did not this
show that the men did not wish to take
undue advantage of their EMPLOYERS?
Had it taken place in busy season. when
work was plentiful and mechanics scarce.
this would have been claimed. These
men came out for the purpose of eoualiz-
ing matters with their brother mechanics
who were not employed. With all these
adverse circumstances staring them in the
face. they trusted to the honor of both
employees and unemployed to aid them in
their effort. In both cases they have been
sadly disappointed. Men who have been
idle through lack of effort on their mart
in seeking employment and through lack
of capacity, having been discharged
previous to the trouble, are now in
the places of the men who came
out to better the condition of
both. Furthermore, the EMPLOYERS
appear IN their true character
in blacklisting the men who had the man.
illness and backbone to come out and as
sert their rights. The claim that thew
have all the men necessary to run their
factory Is untrue and has been proved to
be such. both by the actions and admis-
sions of those in a position 10 know. The
day following the receiving of the bosses
communication, which makes the asser-
ton that one of the parties subscribing
thereto was securing the city in search OF
men, one Of the employers wishing to
show his knowledge of social, economic
and labor matters, signi6ed a desire to
meet representatives of labor on a plat
form or cross swords through the press.
Probably this may be an indueement to
treat the public to slice of the aforesaid
article. No man eonversant with the pro-
gressive tendency Of social reform can .us-
tain the assertion that men prefer work
ing ten TO nine hours, and that the falling
off in the production of machines, through
the shortening of hours, is OF greater mo-
ment than the needed time for recreation
and opportunity 10 enjoy the privileges
only to be got through the shortening of
the hours of labor. MTLLNEss' UxIoy.
WILLIAM BARN,
RosERr GARpSER, Committee.