The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-05-19
TANNERS ON STRIKE
ENTIRE FORCE QUITS WORK AT
THE ALIENS SONS TANNERY.
MANAGERS WILL NOT GIVE IN.
And the Tanneries May Not Move Again
Ior Several onshs-Strike is
Caused by Formation
of a Union.

A strike OF large proportions was in
augurated at the Aliens Sons tanner
les in this city this morning and at the
sounding Of the whistle over 800 men
laid aside their aprons and went out on
a strike, and from present indications
| 1t will be long while before the fac
tories will resume operations The
strike originated in the finishing de-
partment, in which the larger number
OF men are employed, but it is claimed
by the labOrers that the strike Will be-
come universal and within a few days
not man will DE at work in the tan
merry. The strike has been expected
for some time and the managers have
placed themselves in a position to meet
such trouble without any serious In
convenience to their business.
The present trouble has been brew
| ing for some time and short time ago
the tanners met and formed a onion
under the direction of the American
Federation of Trades and Labor
Unions. Since this time the men have
made perfect arrangements for going
out and claim that they are prepared
to hold out~until the demands made by
the Union are met by Mr.. Allen.
While the strike is general, many of
the men are not in sympathy with the
movement and did not know today why
they had left their work. They also
claim that there are other reasons be-
hind the strike beyond the mere de-
mands for wages and the men are de-
termined not to return to work until
some If the foremen in the tannery are
discharged.
In the strike an agitator has played
an important part and to his services
in great degree the work of the
laborers is attributed. The committee
of the striking men visited Mr.. Allen
this morning and mace a demand
for a large increase in wages, which
demand was fatty refused. No other
conferences have been held between
the men and the managers, and it is
said that long seige may Ue expected.
Mr.. Allen was seen this morning and
stated to the reporter that no attempt
would be made to compromise with
the men, and that if necessary the
entire plant wO be shut down. The
company have always paiC it's en-
ployes the same wages as were paid
men employed by the tanneres in Mil
waukee, which is the center of the tan
ming industry. The plant is in excel
lent condition to shut down. and under
the present circumstances it would not
be possible to meet any Of the de-
mands asked by the men.
Mr.. Allen said that the price OF
hides had advanced to such an extent
that it was almost impossible to con-
duct the immense plant proftably and
in fact it was a dangerous business
venture. The price Of hides has in
creased more than one third during the
past year, and the war scare promises
to make even greater advances.
Some of the men are very explosive
in their statements and say that it is
impossible for them to live on the
wages they are now receiving. 1t
cannot be definitely learned what
demands the strikers have made, but
the prevailing wage, according to the
strikers, is 81 week, and as many of
them have large families it is all too
small for their support. If the men
remain firm in the position they have
taken the strike will undoubtedly
result in a large amount of suffering,
and the city may be called upon to
look after the needs of their families
until they return to work,