The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-07
Restaurant Men Refuse Demands
Of Employees Union.
HELP IN ELK CAFE WALKS OUT.
Proprietor Claim That Cooks,
Walters and Dishwashers' Assoc
citation Failed to supply Help
Necessary to Conduct Their Es-
tabItshments-Union Men Said to
Deny Accusation of Proprietors.

Unless all signs fail, there win shortly
be a strike involving the help employed
by practically every restaurant In Seattle.
The crisis was reached last evening. when
the employees OF the Elk cafe, located at
the corner Of First avenue and Marion
street, walked out on the alleged ground
that it's proprietor had violated the spirit
OF the recent agreement entered into be-
tween tho Restaurant and Hotel Keepers
Protective Union and the union OF cooks,
walters and dishwashers.
No sooner had the experience OF the
proprietor Of the Elk cafe become known
among his business associates than the
proprietors' union called a meeting which
convened at O'Clock last evening. and
passed a resolution formally refusing to
in any manner recognize the cooks and
walters union. assigning az a reason for
the action the lntters failure TO live up
10 the terms OF the agreement recently en-
tered into. whereby the latter union Is
said 10 have agreed to supply the union
help necessary to the operation Of the
establishments conducted by the employ
ers. M
The trouble which was precipitated last
night arose out OF the fact that Louis
Engei, proprietor Of the. ELK cafe employ
ed several Japanese dishwashers to supply
the places of the white help which he
claims deserted him at a time that made
the substitution OF the foreigners impera-
tive. Engei claims that he has at all
times stood ready to abide by the spirit
OF the agreement which he entered into as
. member OF tho employers association,
but that the cooks and walters union has
failed utterly to provide white help, and
that he was driven TO the expedient OF
substituting nonunion men to prevent
complete collapse OF his business.
Shortly after O'clock yesterday after
noon he was waited upon by representa-
tfves OF the cooks and walters union, who
are said to have demanded the discharge
OF the Japanese. Engel says he expressed
a willingness to comply with the demand.
but made 1t conditional upon the assur-
ance from the union that the places OF the
men discharged would be filled by white
This condition. Engel alleges. the COM
mittee lid not signify It's Willingness to
meet and his help left the restaurant.
Following Is the substance OF the reso-
luton passed by the Restaurant and Hotel
Keepers Protective Union at Its meeting
From this day all members OF this as
ISOLATION positively and absolutely refuse
10 In any way recognize the Wait
ers, Cooks and Dishwashers' Union.
ewing 20 ,,d the ,no entire =, ,, snd absolute
and promises In supplying help 20 the
restaurants and hotels. BY reason OF this
failure ON the part of the union great
prietors OF all restaurants and hot lis.
Moreover the wages and hours demanded
by the said union are decidedly unreason-
able and unjust"
Though Secretary Schmidt. OF the EN-
pioyes' union. could not be seen last cNen-
Ing 1t was ascertained from unofficial
sources that the Cooks and Walters
Union denies the assertion Of the employ.
ers that II has failed In the discharge OF
its part OF the agreement. The action
of the union In ordering a strike upoa the
Elk cafe. II IL claimed was justified under
the circumstances The union men al
lcge that a failure 10 force rigid adhsr-
snce 10 the terms OF the agreement with
tho proprictors association would result
In GENERALIZATION aud imperil the life OF
the union.
Though individual members of the unior
would not venture predictions upon the
result of the resolution passed by the en-
ployers association limitations OF a gen
erel strike were freely given.
Several proprietors. who we're questioned
with reference 20 the situation, expressed
perfect satisfaction with the step which
they had taken and one wellknown res
Saurantenr stated that the action would