The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-26
FULL STORY OF THE
STRIKE At DURHAM
Its Immediate Cause a Mis-
understanding,
SAYS SECRETARY ALLEN
Word Sent Employees to Remain at
Word Sent Employees to Remain at
Work Not Delivered.
NO EFFORT TO SECURE NEW MEN YET
None Probable Until Necessity Drives the Strik-
ers From Durham. Though Defeated
Now Il Is Thought the Union
Must Win Eventually,
Must Win Eventually.
Especial to News and Observer

Durham, N. c.. August 25.-The trouble
in the Erwin cotton mill, West Durham,
which was brought about by the opera
tives organizing a union, remains prac-
ideally unchanged, with the exception that
tho striking operatives are moving out
and going to work in other mills through
out the State. All those who Joined the
union remain firm and Mr.. Erwin still
refuses to recognize the union in any way
or to employ any one who belongs to
union.
People who are in position to know
say that this trouble between capital and
labor, which has caused SO much talk
throughout the State and been the sub
ject of several kilograms to the northern
press, is but the beginning, and say that
in the near future the cotton mill en-
ployees throughout the State will organ
ize for their own protection. The trouble
here was not that the men had a griev
ance of any kind, at least that was not
the prime object in organizing, but that
they decided union was the best thing
for any future trouble that might arise
and that now was the time to organize.
No one can doubt their sincerity for a
moment, when every one who Joined the
union, without a single exception so far
as can learn, accepted discharges rather
than turn their backs on the organiZa-
ton.
The movement to organize labor began
here more than a month ago. 1t was dur
ing the heat of the campaign that the
State Organizer, Mr.. Davis, quietly came
among the people of the three mills here
and began to talk organization In
short while he hal small following and
meetings were held out in old fields near
the mills. The membership gradually en-
1arged and as the numbers increased the
men became more and more bold until
finally meeting was held in a hall down
the street.
Then it was that Mr.. Erwin learned
that there was movement on foot to
organize union. He took steps at once
to suppress the movement. On the very
day that he learned of the movement he
sent for some of his foremen and told
them to tell the parents in the mill that
he would make talk to them that night.
He then sent a messenger around who
visited every house in the village invit-
ing the parents to come out to the hall
and hear what he had to say. They came
mitted-the doors were closed against
the young men, who were the leaders in
the labor organization. In his speech he
said that he had learned of the movement
and advised all to stay out of such a
union. He said that there was no good
to come out of an organization and
tina it was the cause of frequent trouble
in mills north. Sooner or later, he said,
it would be the cause of trouble in the
Erwin mill unless it was stopped at once.
He wound up by saying that they could
join what they pleased, but that he would
not employ men or women who were the
members of a union and that the places
of those who joined would be filled by nom
union operatives.
Mr.. Erwin then went to East Dur
ham and Pearl mills, (all three being
under his management and made talks
in substance the same as the one he had
made in West Durham. From this time
on 1t became an open fight which ter
minated in the premature and for the
operatives, unfortunate strike more than
week ago. The strike brought the mat
ter to head at once and placed the
members of the union at disadvantage.
The strike was uncalled for anG was
not intended by the leaders of the Union.
In walking out the men broke rule in
the contract that they had signed on go
ing to work which stipulated that
notice of two weeks would be given by
either side before the men could either
quit or be discharged, unless there was
cause for a discharge. Up to this time
the sympathy of the people of Durham
had been with the men who were strug
CLING for an organization but this caused
"a N no limitn0
extent at least. There was no one, out
side of those interested in the mill, who
censured the men for organizing, even
at this time, but it was contended that
they should have worked out the two
weeks notice as agreed upon.
Secretary Allen, of the union, on whose
account the walkout occurred, Git can
hardly be called strike) says himself
that it was all caused by a misunder-
standing He asked to get off to come
down street in order that he might see
the State organizer. The request was
refused and he came any way. When he
went back he was refused admission to
the mill and was told to go to the office
and get his time. This he did without
raising any fuss about the matter, but
here was where the confusion came in.
Mr.. Allen says that when he left the
mill he asked Assistant Boss Harris if
he would not go to the men and tell
them, for him, that they must remain at
their posts and not come out regardless
of what happened This was not done,
he says, and if Harris had done what he
said he would do there would have been
no strike or anything that resembled a
strike. When the men saw that he was
locked out of the mill they thought at
once that he was singled out and taken
from the mill because he was one of the
leaders in the union. This enraged them
and the stampede, in which about one
hundred and fifty Joined. began. In few
minutes this number of the men were
on the outside of the mill. They then
learned of the cause of the treatment
given Allen but it was too late. They
could do nothing but go to their homes.