Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-21
STRIKERS PARADE.
Cigar Makers Turn Out Tuesday
and Get More Recruits.
THEIR APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.
Claim to Have $4,000 with which to
Garry on the strike-What One
Man Says About the
Situation.
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
The situation in the cigar makers
strike remains practically the same
today, although the strikers have re-
eeived several additions to their ranks.
All the workmen in the Wapello Cigar
company's factory went out today, and
several in other factories left their
work. The strikers have issued an
appeal wherein they set forth the
cause of the strike in the different non
union cigar factories. They claim to
have $4,000 with which to contest the
strike, and say they propose to stay
with it to the end. They are confident
Of winning.
Out of the 1871 cigar makers in the
eight non-union shops of the city, be-
tween eighty and ninety are out This
afternoon the strikers held another
rally, paraded the streets headed by
band, and visited the various nom
union shops. The twelve cigar makers
employed by Emil Fecht went ut,and
six or eight are said to have gone out
from Pallister Bros. The other shops
were more or less affected. After the
rally the strikers went to Labor hall
where they are holding meeting at
the time of going to press. The eX-
| ecutive committee held meeting at
Labor hall this morning, which was
very enthusiastic. The rally last even
| ling, at which the strikers visited all
the unorganized shops, brought out
not a few men and girls. Nothing of
Importance was done at the evening
meeting.
What One Man Says.
eve have $4,000 with which to
win this strike" said a prominent labor
] leader this morning. "Ottumwa has
rton~ been considered the worst sweat
SHOP city in the cigar line of any town
in the state. and organized labor
throuShout Iowa has come to the sup
port on the strikers. There are 1000
union meg within a radius of fifty miles
of OttumNSa, and every one of them has
pledged hiAlself to donate 81 out of
his wages each week for the support
of the peopls who have gone out in
| this difficulty.S This fund does not in
lclude the contributions that will come
from the unions affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor through
out the United States, nor that contrib
uted by the International cigarmakers'
union. Besides thisNa. prominent bust
ness man OF the city, stopped ne on the
street this morning and told me that
if we needed money 10 carry OUT our
|cause he had $500 for us any time We
would call on him.
4 "!Another thing we want the people
of Ottumwa to understand and that is
that women and girls are eligible to
the cigarmakers union. Those who
have gone out in this strike are men,
bers of the union and will be protected
the same as men. Every person who
walked out yesterday has since join
the union. The accusation that has
been made by our enemies to the Ell
feet that this is movement to gel
the girls and women out of cigar fac.
tories is falsehood. We propose to
give the women the advantage in Sc
curing positions in case we succeed If
organizing any of the factories a
which the strike is now on. We will
stand by the women and girls who arr
associated with us in this movement
until the end.
! sWe make the statement and will
substantiate it that eastern sweat shoI
cigars cannot be sold in this territory
If the manufacturers believe to TIL,
contrary, let them try it. They will
. find every city and hamlet as thor
oughly organized as Ottumwa. Moth
, ing goes these days but the blue la
bel"
The Appeal.
To the Public: We appeal to you
sympathy and set forth the cause o
the strike in the different non-uniol
: cigar factories. We state the follow
, ing facts: That no man or woman cal
/. support him or herself on the starva
. ton wages paid in the non-union ciga
factories OF Ottumwa, which average il
total $5.75 per week. We are askin;
S for no sympathy except that which w
q deserve. and we went on a strike be
: cause we could not exist on the wage
! now paid. There are many girls anon
r us. and we are determined that the
shall be supported in this movemen
I until the end. There is no persons
: strife between those who employ u
e and ourselves, only in the matter G
h wages. and neither have we acted in
t pulsivelv in this matter, but honestl
e believe that we will bring to us man
!, sympathizers when we sincerely stat
! the average scale of wages paid in tn
!. non-union cigar shops is $5.75s pit
: week. The question is for you to al
: swer: Are the striking cigarmakei
in the right or wrong?
Striking Cigarmakers.
: From Thursdays Daily.
The situation in the cigar makers
strike remains practically the same
The strikers have issued another al
peal, and say they will declare boy
7e colt on next Monday.