The Saint Paul globe., 1897-09-24
FORTY THREE EMPLOYEES OF
FOOT, sCHULZE & co UNEX-
PECTEDLY QUIT WORK.
THEIR GRIEVANCE IN DOUBT.
THE MEN THEMSELVES ABSOLUTE
LY REFUSE TO SAY ANYTHING
ABOUT 1T.
FIRM LIKEWISE IN THE DARK.
SiIns w. Foot Expected to Be Able
to Satisfactorily End the
Trouble Today.

Thirty-six journeymen and seven ap-
prentice boys, employed in the bottom
ing department of Foot, SchulZe & Co. s
boot and shoe factory, at 233-237 East
Third street, went on a strike yester-
day at noon The former are members
of the boot and shoe bottomers' union
and the apprentices are what are
known in labor organizations as two
thirders." Just what will be the re-
suit of the strike cannot be determined.
From all accounts the strike came
in the nature of complete surprise to
the firm and it's members CLAIM to be
completely in the dark as to the cause
of the trouble. 1t was declared on by
the executive committee of the loot
and shoe workers union, of which L.
N. Mitchell is chairman, the bottom
ers' organization being an auxiliary to
this body. The committee was at the
factory when the men quit work. They
represent, supposedly, all of the union
labor employed by the firm, which has
on it's pay roll about $50 men, boys ard
girls. This establishment is what is
say, factory where eitnfr Inion or
non-union labor is employed.
Silas B. Foot, the senior member of
the firm, resides at Red WIZ where
he operates factory and a .anrery on
his own account. He is the ul.lest coat
and shoe manufacturer in Minnesota.
and on account of his long experience,
the st. Paul firm has reposed in him
absolute direction of .all matters PER
tanning to labor and the direction Cf
It's factory. 1t is customary for Iim to
Vlslt the factory every day, but ne re-
NAMED in Red Wing yesterday to at
tend the funeral of his old partner and
friend, Mr.. Sterlin, which took r3ace in
the afternoon. 1t was, therefore, dur
ing his absence that the strikers Quit
work.
About II o'clock in the morning
CHAIRMAN MltchelPs committee called
at the office of the firm AMI wait a nn
Theodore A. Schulze, who told the iaen
that he knew nothing about the factory
matters and consequently could lot
discuss labor differences, if any existed
with them. Mr.. Mitchell told Mr..
Schulze that the union workmen in the
establishment had a grievance and that
the committee had called to present if
to the firm
Your committee had better call
again tomorrow" said Mr.. Schulze
MI. Foot is the one you should see
about that. He employees all the men,
ana ne controls that part of the bust
ness. He will not be here today, as he
mas remained in Red Wing to attend
of f,,i0
morrow, and he will give you an au-
dience."
Then the chairman asked to see Mi
chael j. Mcmahon, superintendent of
the factory, remarking that he would
do as we'll as Mr.. Foot. That gentle
man was communicated with by Mr..
Schulze, but he refused to receive the
committee, giving it as his reason that
Mr.. Foot only could adjust labor trou-
bles. Thus disappointed about pre-
senting the grievance, the committee
retired, and the next thing Mr.. Schulze
knew the men had quit work
meeting of the executive commit
tee was held last night in Assembly
halls, where a reporter for the G b e
saw Chairman Mitchell for information
about the strike. That gentleman pos
itively refused to discuss it other than
to say that superintendent McMahol
had against the firm. He said that the
committee meeting had nothing what
ever to do with the strike, and that the
men who had thrown up their jobs
were sworn to secrecy as to the cause
of the strike.
call was made on Superintendent
Mcmahon at his residence, 1861 Selby
avenue He said he did not know pos
itively what grievance the strikers
fIa Hrr,o oh l1.
had intimated to him after the call OF
Chairman Mitchell's committee that
the latter gentleman had said some
thing to him in the Office about the SUI
perintendent discharging union men,
and probably that may be the grieV-
ance.
'If such is the case" said Mr.. Nc
Mahon, ''the grievance is an imagin-
ary one I think that during the last
month l have laid off six men. dis
charged a cutter several days ago to
whom we were paying 81 a day, for
incompetency, and hired another man
in his place at an advance in wages
Of $3.50 a week Three lasters have
been laid off temporarily because work
in their department is slack and they
are not needed. These men all have
wages due them, and when work picks
UP again they can return to work.
they were not needed, and in none OF
these five cases have the places been
filed. AS for my singing out union
men in these instances, that is mis-
taken idea Our firm knows no pref
erence, and so far as [ am personally
concerned, don't know who are union
men and who are not If this is their
grievance I am afraid they will have
to accept our explanation, because that
is the best we can do for them"
.Have you ever heard that the en-
nloyes are dissatisfied about wages?"
"No." replied Mr.. Mcmahon. our
employees are human, of course, and
they want all the money they can pos
sibIv get for their work. Nobody can
blame them for that. The wages at
our factory range from So week for
boys and girls to $40 for skilled labor
I have no idea what other factories
are paying help, but l do know that
up to a month ago workmen were anx-
ions to get a Job in our factory. This
is conclusive proof to me that cur
scale averages up with those paid in
other local factories.
'I think when Mr.. Foot confers with
the men everything will be satisfac-
torily adjusted. When Mr.. Mitchells s
committee asked to see me this morn
ing I did not refuse the interview out
of any disrespect to the men; but l
knew that there was one person ahead
of me in authority on such matters
Mr.. Foot-and that it would have been
useless for me to confer with the COM
mittee, because I could not have ad-
iusted anything. Mr.. Foot is the only
person who has that authority.
Mr.. schulze was seen at his home 66
not the least idea what the strike was all
about. He thought that the men had made