The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-27
Antitrust Millionaire Assists Lock-
cd Out Engravere.

The efghty-nve Philadelphia Watch Case
engravers, who were locked out. are tubil-
ant over a letter received by George T..
Nicholson. president of the Watch Case
Engravers' Association Of America, from
John G. Dueber, of Canton. Ohio. presi-
dent OF the largest watch case factory in
the world.
The letter was as follows; II am in re-
ceipt OF your favor OF 3d. and in reply
would say the fight you are waging Is the
same I fought with the Watch Trust for
over Twelve years
II want my competitors. when give
dollar for labor or gold. to do the same
thing. but | cannot compete against Arms
whose employees work on the INFINITE sys-
tenn" and like those In the combination
against you, who put twenty pennyweig1ts
Of lead In q so-called solid gold forty PEN
nyweight case They wanted to drive US
out Of the business with low prices, but
failed. This scnseless oppression OF en-
ployes cutting OF prices and debasing OF
tho goods has got to stop some time. and
we would like TO have II terminate AT once.
We are glad that you have taken the
stand you have, and this company VIII
assist YOU In every possible way. II YOU
have any engravers who are in need OF
work let us know their names, and We win
do our best to keep them employed IL
they need rs to ASSIST them in getting here.
please let US know.
THE same argument now advanced by
the trust was used against US In the
fght twelve years ago. when we won
single handed and alone. Then our enc
mics said We VIII bust pueber up in
thirty days They felt quite sure OF Il.
because with one stroke OF the pen. the
combination took away all our custom
ers. Had we not been supplied with suf-
,icient money 10 send our travellers Ia
the retail trade. this factory would have
been closed
,signed> JOHN c puEpER.
At request twenty Of the local engrav-
ers will leave today for Canton. Ohio.
IL necessary second installment OF men
Will SO To the Buckeye state in a few
days The Dueher factory, the largest In
tho world. employs a3o hands, including
10 engravprs Arrangements have been
made since tho lockout by Mr. pueher
whereby ~ OF 100 more engravers may 30
put 10 work
The minute system. by way OF explain
alton provides that ease must be on
graved every ~ minutes The men are
employed on the basis OF 500 minutes
the day Whenever more than 80 min
utes are taken BY an cngraver 90 nrish
a case Il means that II u taken ON his
time, Poor workmanship Is the natural
result ~ the only object Is 20 get as
many cases completed IN a given time IS
possible x Is also worse than what is
" - SWEATING SYSTEM
about witch so much So heard. There 49,,
very few enxraverS who can accomplish
the demands OF the minute system. snG
as q consequence they suffer IN losln'
much time that Is really employed most
The watch case manufacturers held a
meeting In New York and combined 20
combat the union movement % he In
dependent Watch Case Engravers ~
America Mr.. puehcr was requested -
foln the manufacturers combination 80
break the backbone 81 the encrAverS' as
Socistion but unfortunately fer them he
declined
Mr. pueber says 10 all eagravers; we
Win not fctn. We need no protection.
We will not assist TO enslAVe them
viii furnish work for all good men who
meet work. and assist you in any way
possible"
As Mr. Dueher has recognized the union
in his factory the Canton branch
their meeting SUNDAY instructed THEIR
secretary 20 write Mr. Dueher thanking
him Tor his stand In their behalf Had he
Joined them. pressed cases would have
been put on the market by every tactery
sn the country as substitutes Tor en-
graved ones. But since Mr. Dueber has
refused 90 ioin the combine ne Will -
able 10 supply the market with fine nand-
engraved watch cases which the other
shops must finally come % II they DO
sire 10 hold their trade. The l0cked-out
engraver> have now the support 81 Hll the
engraverS in the United States. morally
aud financially. as well as the Amcr'
Federation ~ Labor and the recognition
OF Mr. puebcr
$50 - n