The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-18
TROUBLE IN A LAUNDRY.
PROPRIETOR DISCHARGES HIS I'M
PLoYEs WHO ARE IN UNION.
boycott on the Estabitshmens s"ia
to Have Deen started by Carpen-
ters-Conference Committee Wet
with an order to Quit Work.

The proprietor OF the Model steam laun-
dry, located at the corner Of Wesuake
avenue ard Mercer street. yesterday as
charged all his union help, rs result OF
a disagreement between them ana him-
self, having nothing TO do with wages
According TO the discharged employees
the trouble has been brewing for some
time. About FIVE weeks ago. they say
w. A. McCutchin. the proprietor, en-
ployed several nonunion carpenters 10
make repairs to the building. The car
penters' union took exception 70 TINS ac-
ton and asked McCutchin 10 employ
union men. This 1t is said he refused TO
do. whereupon the carpenters fnanguratea
a boycott. A number of union restau-
rants and barber shors were induced 70
transfer their patronage elsewhere. and
the business OF the Model laundry was
otherwise crippled 20 as large an extent
az possible
The force at the laundry at that time,
n is alleged consisted OF about twenty
union employees and about thirty VINO
were not connected with any union. The
union workers say that they We're ~,
preached bv members of the carpenters
union and urged to join the boycott. but
that they refused TO indorse It.
1t Is said that there has long been fric-
ton between the proprietor and the
union employees Last Friday night. 1t is
said. he discharged ]. w. Smiley. an old
employee and union man. Tuesday he
discharged starcher and Wednesday a
seamstress giving as HIS reason that they
were making trouble and instigatirg a
strike among the help.
The remaining employees began TO fear
for their own positions. and Thursday
evening held a meeting and appointed
committee to ascertain from McCutchin
whether he intended to discharge all
union help.
When the members of the committee
arrived at the laundry yesterday morn
ing they claim that they were met by
McCutchin at the door and told that their
services were no longer required. Other
employees soon appeared. expecting to go
to work. but all who were connected with
the union were ordered away as fast as
they arrived. They claim that McCutch-
in told them that he 'ididn't intend TO
allow any union men about the place"
The teamsters and drivers who are
also union members, as soon as they
heard Of the lockout, struck and are now
yesterday. it Is said, only the thirty nom
union employees left in the laundry.
An account given by one OF the men
remaining in the employ Of the laundry.
and who Is a partisan of McCutchin. DIFF
fers somewhat from that Of the strikers.
According 10 him, the union employees oh
jected to working with those who were
not members of a union. McCutchin
would net discharge the nonunion help.
as they were some OF his best workmen.
Then, II Ia alleged. the union workmen
began to talk of a strike. The arrange
ments for this were completed and II
was scheduled to come OF today.
MoCutchin. however, got wind Of the
matter and Tn order TO maintain the
upper hand himself, decided. II Is al
legged. TO take the initiative and foressali
!, charging the union help OF the estab-
lishment.