Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-21

: L E
ers do not deny our statement, and as
was stated in the newspapers Have
nothing to say"
Below, however, are published state
ments from two prominent manufac-
turers.
Interview with Julius Fecht and T. A.
Pailisier,
The Courier this morning interviewed
Julius Fecht and I. A. Pallister, two
of the most prominent cigar manufac-
turer (non-union) in the city, in regard
10 the strike situation. These gentle
men said: THE statement that there
are six union and eight non-union
factories in Ottumwa is misleading, be-
cause Of the so-called union factories,
one employs only one man and two ems
--iloy only three men, and they employ
no travelling salesmen. The girls who
receive. SO to IS per week who have
gone on the strike are not cigarmakers.
When competent they are paid In our
shops 81 per, week, and in some shops
the packers are paid SO per week. In
other shops. where the proprietors ov-
ersee the packing cheaper help is em-
ployed in that department. The wages
10 men cigarmakers in non-union shops
run from 50 to SIS per week, so that
the published statement that the av-
erage is from 81 to $40 in untrue.
These wages are paid through good
ard bad times, including the months
when cigar manufacturers usually lose
money. The public should realize that
the statement made that the wages in
1.-The non-union shops are one-half less
than those paid in the union shops, is
untrue. The fact is that the union
shops employ. so few persons that they
really cut no figure. Furthermore
they do not and can not employ Irav-
Leling men on the present margin Of
| profit"
Mr.. Pallister said that those who
had left his shop were mostly young
beginners. some not having been a,
work over a few weeks, and are no,
cigarmakers at all. His best men did
not 90 out and are all at work. There
were not sevemty-five cigarmakers
among the strikers as stated in the re
port OF Tuesday, and the. Statement
made Wednesday that 1877 cigarmaker:
4 are out is untrue. The strikers art
largely strippers and apprentices ant
many of them are young girls.
The appointment labor leader" who il
quoted in Yesterdays Courier as saying
i hat women and girls are eligible to thu
\ ciearmakers' union, failed to specif,
/ what all union cigarmakers know. viz
! hat they must first be able to maxi
Il eioars, and a majority OF the striker
4 do not belong to this class. They woult
i ind difficulty in getting a job abroat
Under the union scale and require
rnents, The strike, if persisted in, will
is we fully believe, result in THROWN:
!. many women and girls out OF JOB 10
The winter.
No demand has been made on u
and no grievance presented. we hay
never refused to consider any reques
rom. our employees and we are Away
ready 10 hear them. As manufacturer
we simply state that the union seal
can not be paid in 0ttumwa and tray
ing statesmen employed at the sam
line.
II the strike is persisted in it will re
l4llt in closing the larger factories an
hrowipg all travelling men and othe
EMPLOYEES out of work At the sam
,l.ime the territory now occupied by o
sunwa dealers will be taken possessio
!, Of by non-union competitors elsewhere
i and if this is done it will require year
!, o recover the business for Ottumw'
I This is really serious phase of the 81
1ation. and should be well considere
rs bearing on the future growth an
welfare of Ottumwa.
With this the interview closed, e.
: cent that Mr.. Fecht stated that he e
! Inmates the probable injury to ottun
= wa interests as manufacturing tow
! by this strike at fully $4,000.
THE NIANUFAcTURER's SIDE.
d Statement TO the Public by the Wapel
Y Cigar Company.
e I To the Public-It may not be untim