The herald., 1893-10-29
THE LABOR UNIONS POSITION.
A Talk from Chairman Fisk
of the Joint Committee.
The Fight Between Organized Labor
and the Times Newspaper.
The Claim Made by the Various Labor
Organic stions as to the Hostility
of That Journal to Their
Interests.


chairman OF the joint committee OF the
trades unions, railroad organizations,
Farmers Allisnce, Knights OF Labor and
other industrial organizations, having in
charge the differences now existing be-
tween organized labor and the HERALD's
morning contemporary. Mr.. Fisk was
found in his office on New High street,
busily employed auditing bills and max.
ing out his report to the International
Typographical union. When asked to
state the trouble between organized
labor and the Times, he told the HERALD
man he had nothing to say in relation to
the matter, but upon being informed
who his questioner was he immediately
arose to his feet, and, grabbing the re-
porter warmly by the hand, said:
"It has been decided by the commit
J tee that, at least for the present, their
| deliberations should not be given to the
| public, but as | am warm admirer and
! friend OF the HERALD, and as that paper
has made for itself a warm spot in the
hearts of the industrial masses, | feel
that there can be 10 harm in my giving
you a fair and unpreiudiced statement
of the case.
GAS is well known, the differences ex-
/ listing between the Times and the Typo
graphical union up TO about Is months
ago were finally compromised, the
Times, through it's agent, Colonel Wood
ard. better known as "Jayhawker,"
making certain promises to the Typo
graphical union, which were violated
almost as soon as made. The union
/ allowed matters to go on in this way
until patience ceased to be virtue, and
finally, as last resort, the union took
the few men still remaining in the
Times composing room out. This action
was Immediately indorsed by the Los
Angeles council of labor, representing
% organizations in the city and county
of Los Angeles. No sooner had this
action been taken by the council than
proffers of assistance commenced to
pour in from all quarters. The Knights
of Labor were the first to take hand,
throwing themselves into the arena in
8 way which BODIES no good for that
paper. Then came the Farmers Alli-
ance, having in the county 81 active
lodges, vowing by all the eternsls that
now they had an opportunity to fight
the Times they proposed to do it, and
do it up brown"
"What position is taken in this mat
ter by the railroad organizations. MIR.
Fisk?"
"The railroad men are our most
ardent supporters. They have warm
spot in their hearts for the printers, and
it is needless for me to cay that we
have their undivided support in this
matter. Several of the lodges have
already taken action in the matter, and
informed US that whenever we need them
we eimply have to say so. Their repu-
tation as union men is we'll known, and
their assistance will be invaluable to
u.s."
Have you interviewed the business
men in relation to your difficulties with
the Times?'
"We have visited many of them, and
have been received with uniform cour'
teey and candor. The merchants seem
to feel that their interests are closely
linked with those OF the producers. and
are not backward in saying go. l feel
confident that when the final test comes
they will be found arrayed on the side of
right and justice"
I'm your estimation, what is the nu-
merical strength CT the organized work
ingmen in the city and county, includ-
ing ali of the industrial organizations ?"
well, that is a question more easily
asked than anewered. AS near as l can
tell, there is at the present time about
10000 enrolled in the various organiza-
tions, which means, at a conservative
estimate, a population of $4,000 men,
women and children, and all doing battle
against the Times"
slN L l.. a l.. 6 1 l.
bining OF all the organizations in this
matter? There reems to be perfect har-
mony throughout"
"There ls. AS to the causes that have
led to this. there are many. If you have
been an observer OF the general trend
among labor organizations you must
have noticed that all industrial unions
ere rapidly coming together; they are
getting to point at the present time
where they stand on common ground.
You probably noticed that at the last
state convention OF the Farmers ALI
ance, held at Fresno, compact was
made between that organization and
the trades unions to work together in
certain matters. Workingmen are be-
ginning to more fully realize that that
which Injuries one Injuries all, and they
are now working on that plan. There
fore the present unanimity between the
various organizations"
Another reason is that the attitude
of the Times has always been antago.
nistic to organized labor, as we'll as to
the producing classes in general. Its
policy is looked upon as an evil influence
in society in prejudicing the public
against labor in general. And 30 the
cause OF the Typographical union is
taken up by the various organizations as
much for this reason as for the fact that
the Times employs ''scab" printers. A
more intelligent get of men have rarely,
if ever, been engaged in a struggle Of
this kind, and this will surely be a fight
to finish, in which no compromise will
be accepted"
''Mr. Fisk, you seem to be very con-
fident that the outcome O. this struggle
will be favorable to organized labor.
Would you object to telling the HERALD
readers why you are 30 confident OF
success? ?'
81 have no objections whatever to
stating some OF my reasons, but there
are many more which | do not care to
divulge at present. During the last
difficulty with the Times there were but
eight or ten organizations in existence,
many of them but shadows of what they
are today. Since that time, however,
trades unionism has experienced Won
derful growth in this city, no less than
10 unions having been organized in the
past year. and all good Ones too while