The San Francisco call., 1896-04-26
Overtures of Peace to the Asso'
citation Were Entirely
Ignored.
IT Is A FIGHT TO THE END.
A Call to Be Made Upon the Building
Trades to Assist the Brewery
Workmen.

between the union workmen and the pro-
prietors of the breweries. This fight may
not extend to all the breweries. for there
are number in and outside the Brewers
Protective Association who are not unfav-
orable TO the union.
The present hostile attitude of the union
workmen is due to the fact that recently
overtures have been made to the bosses in
the association that the members did not
receive in the spirit in which the mani
festations of friendship were extended.
At the meeting of the brewery workmen
the attitude of the bosses was heartily con-
demned and it was decided if an amicab1e
settlement of existing difficulties could not
be made it should and would be war to the
bitter end.
In order that the situation may be I'M
derstood little history of the troubles be-
tween the employees and employers is not
amiss. Four years ago, when Alfred
Thurman was secretary of the union, a
demand was made upon the bosses for a
recognition of the union and other ad-
vantages tending to elevate the working
men.
Then the union was 900 strong and had
a well-filled treasury. The demands were
denied and strike on the Jackson frew-
cry was ordered. The association of bosses
decided to stand together, and in order to
force the men in line in accordance with
their notions, the members of the associa-
ton issued the following:
Notice-The following resolution was adopt
ed upon the unanimous vote of all the mem
bers at the meeting of the Brewers Protective
Association, held on Tuesday, March l. 1892,
10 wit:
Rescued. That in the event Of the boycott on the
Jackson brewery not being removed by Monday,
March z, 1892 then all persons In the employ of
the members of this association. atfiliating with
organizations boycottng the said Jackson brew
cry, be discharged.
w. A. FREDERICK, President.
R. Mohr, Secretary.
True to the edict, the brewers began to
discharge and blacklist all of their en-
pIOyes who belonged to the union and to
ill their places with non-union men, who
had to be instructed in the business. The
next brewery to fall under the ban of the
union was the National, and upon these
two institutions the boycott was main
tanned until December last. when it was
raised by the union in the hope of bring
ing about a reconciliation between the
union and the brewers of the association.
The attemp was failure. During these
four long years the union and the bosses
haXe been lat outs" and during that time
the union men suffered severely for stand
ing up TO their principles. The co-opera-
nearly exhausting its treasury was fail
ure. One of the principal reasons why
the strike and boycott on the associations S
breweries failed was because at that time
trades-unionism started on it's downhill
course, in consequence of the hard times,
and no concerted action could be brought
to bear upon the offenders.
Fuhrmann was succeeded by w. Zahn
as secretary and he failed to bring about a
settlement. Zahn, on January u last,
gave way to Joseph Walters, the present
secretary.
Since his election Walters has worked
night and day to bring about an amica BILE
settlement, and he believed that he would
succeed in having the union recognized, as
several of the brewers promised to union
iZe their breweries. Believing the time to
be ripe for an adjustment of present diff
ferences and a wiping out of old scores, he
wrote the following letter:
APRIL 20, 1896
BrelCerS' Protective sOcidttOn-GENTLEMEN
There is at present existing spirit of hostility
among the trades unions toward your associa-
ton, due largely, no doubt, to the estrange-
ment that has so long divided our unions and
your oody. In order, II possible, 10 bring
about better and more profitable understand
ing we would ask your body TO appoint COM
m1ttee to confer with similar committee ap-
pointed by u.s. Trusting that this will meet
with your favorable consideration, we remain,
yours truly,
BREWERY WoRKMEN's UNION OF SAN Francisco.
Per JOSEPH WALTERS, Sec'y.
Previous to sending the letter he ex.
planned the wishes of the union to several
brewers, saying: I'VE do not ask the
bosses to raise the wages of the men nor to
them recognize the union, so that union
men will not be obliged to work with
scabs." On Friday the association met.
and yesterday Walters called upon Secre-
taly Mohr to see what action had been
taken upon the letter. He was told that
the communication had simply been placed
upon the nle without comment and tina it
was not intended even to answer it.
This was what caused the brewery work.
men to hold an Indignation meeting.
That some preparation had been made
for fight is shown by their reception of
the news Of the manner in which their
overtures for peace had been treated. 1t
was decided that the fight that had been
at standstlll SO long should be renewed
with vigor. In the first place the treasury
is III better condition than for some time
past.
Notwithstanding the employers black
list OF union men many of the latter have
been able to get back to work in the local
breweries. and now two-thirds of the en-
ployes OF the same are union men. In
several only union men can find employ
ment. The union decided last evening to
appeal to all trades unions to assist them
in their present struggle for recognition.
Already several members of the Building
Traeds Council have promised their sup,
port In getting the unions affiliated with
the council to take up the fight.
When the council meets on next Thurs
day evening it will be in receipt of letter
from Secretary Walters asking for the
support of the building trades unions.
It already has the support cf the San
Francisco Labor Council, with thesbuild-
ing trades, which numbers several thou
sand memb bers, and the brewery workmen
hope to make matters interesting for the
bosses. Their confidence is increased by
the assurance of several of the bosses to
the effect that strong general trades
union support might induce them to make
their $500 forfeit to the association and
stand with the union.
That there has been discomfort in the
Brewers Association is very apparent
from the fact that several of the mem bers
have been heavily fined for breaking the
rules by cutting in on each others trade