The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-03
days go by. In an interview yesterday
with w. u. White, superintendent of the
shoe factory. he said:

days go by. In an interview yesterday
with w. u. White, superintendent of the
shoe factory, he said:
The facts in this matter and the position OF
the firm have already been stated, but in order
that the public may be more fully advised in
the matter | will endeavor to make more
complete statement OF the alleged differences.
In the first place we have no difference what
ever with any one. There has been no strike,
there are no grievances in our esta blishment,
and matters are moving along as smoothly and
quietly as could be wished as far as our rela-
tons with our employees are concerned.
The matter which has given rise to all this
talk is simply this: Last season we were under
heavy contract to fl certain orders. Our fore
man of the shoproom, Albert Burns, discharged
two men because their work was not satisfac-
tory. He claimed that they were not compe-
tent men, and of course we took his judgment
on that matter, as 1t comes directly under his
line of duty.
The men took umbrage at this and at once
began finding fault with the foreman, claiming
that he it was who should be blamed, and that
he was not competent to judge as to what was
good work. The men virtually claimed the
right to run the factory and dictate as to who
should or should not be placed in charge of the
work as foreman.
We were then practically at the mercy of the
men, and we permitted Burns to retire from
his position as foreman in order that the work
of the season, which we had contracted to do
could be completed. The two men whom we
placed to work in the places of the two men
discharged were also removed, and the work of
the season was closed up by the old forces
On the first OF July We closed our factory,
giving to each of the men letter, in which we
stated that when we again wanted him we
would let him know. When We opened our
factory again we saw. fit to employ new men,
and of this the old force complain. This we
claim we have perfect right to do.
We have now nearly all the men we want
and think that in very short time we win be
fully supplied.
make all the trouble they can for us by stand
ing about at the corners of the streets leading
to our place of business and dissuading new
men from going to work for US.
You may state it as a certain fact that no one
of this old force OF men will ever be employed
by us again. We will close down our factory
and quit the business before acceding to their
demands in this matter.
The trouble has been heretofore that the
men in factories here have always succeeded in
their claims. | understand that some of them
have not succeeded in securing it. OF course
they will hang out and persist in this matter,
as they realize that it is their only hope Now
we are working our force entirely on piece
work.
A few doors west from the factory
group of idle men was found, and it was at
once learned that they were a portion of
the forty men who formerly worked for
Siebe & Granville. On the subject matter
of the above interview being preached to
them, it was found that they, as one, de-
mittee, representing their views of the
difficulty, said:
You will readily understand that it would be
ruin to any one or rs to make public state
ment, however just it might be in this matter.
The manufacturers are powerful and are
leagued together, and we can do but little
save to plead the justice of our cause.
The difficulty all arose over the incompetency
of this man Burns in his position as foreman.
He in that position was used by the firm as
shield or excuse for cutting down wages in the
manner in which they have done in order to
avoid making a cut directly to us as men,
many of whom had been long in their employ.
Certainly it cannot be assumed that each one
of the forty men was personally Objectionable
to the firm or to Burns. No such claim is
made.
The letter which they gave to each one of us
acts virtually as q blacklist, and not only are
we shut out of the factory run by Siebe & Clan
VILE but some of US have applied for work
elsewhere and could have succeeded in obtain
ing it but for that fatal letter. One mans case
will suffice to illustrate. He applied in another
factory for work. The foreman was disposed to
employ him, but he asked for this letter, and
on receiving it he said he would have to see
the head of the house. He came back in few