Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-05-29
is THIS A FREE COUNTRY
La CROSSE FIRM INSTRUCTED HOW TO
CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS.
viroqua Inventors Cause Strike Among Broom
Makers -workmen Opposed to Labor Saving Ma
chimes Would Not Permit Them 70 be Used In
Factory Where They,are Employed.
[Lc Crosse Press Of Saturday Last.l

TI.. Crosse Press OF Saturday Last.1
An attempt yesterday TO introduce
labor saving machinery in the Ter
Broom factory, resulted In sfor ke.
The men, however, won their pc the
machinery went out, and this nng
they are all at work.
Recently August Miller, the g r OF
the factory, which gives emplo nj 90
16 men, contracted with the Nc Z room
and Supply company of Vlroqu place
machine for making brool MS
factory. The machine Is a iapos
saving device, about half the Der oi
men being required to operat as IN
making the same number OF 20 oms oy
hand. Yesterday T. H. Brown ana M
@ Nichols, representatives OF tne siro-
uua company, arrived mere Win ING
machine. 1t was taken 60 tne 'iacIoIy
and set up ready for operation in tno
morning. The men had got VINO Oh lIs
coming and as they watched l!s e'eC.ion
elowered and muttered q warning WniSn %
meant nat its presence was hoe hAeiy
to be tolerated. os;t;o,
and all ready TO run shortly before iuncn
and BROWN and Nichols returned to their
hotel Mr.. Brown hastened through ms
meal and went down to the factory
early to put few finishing touches on
the machine and see that everything
was in order for it's operation
A. he approached the factory ne no,
t;cad a eonmotion on the inside ana
upon opening the door was dumfoundeo
10 see the machine on the shoulders on
dozen s.aIwarts. who were carrying IL
toward the door Brown demonstrated
with the men, but it was useless. Iney
were in no mood to be interfered Win;
They carried it through the door anu
dumued it on the ground on the outsioe;
one Of the men picked up an axe anu
attempted to pound 1t to pieces pnt tne
machine was so strongly constructeo OIL
steel that little damage was done. =.
brown. surmising that Miller wouio
orasr tha machine returned, went mp
sta;ra 10 gat some corn which he in
tended to prepare for the machine. Inc
men follow ed him upstairs and just as
he was picking up bundle, orde- ed nlm
to drop IL and get out of the place. ahe
men were wrought up to hign p,scn
nv this time and Brown seeing that tney
meant business did as he was TOLL III
short order - "a.
When Miller returned be found his
men ut work up stairs and nis new Iap9i
saving device laying out on the srounu-
He asked the men the cause Oh tine
trouble. and they explained tnat tney
were opposed to the Sss s,. OF asnraa such ma ma
chine in the plant. Miller ordered sne
machine brought back which the men
did without word. Then they went
up stairs and held conference. In
few minutes they returned ana informed
| Miller that If the machine stayed they
| would 20. Miller refused to put out
the machine, so the men walked out.
Miller then conferred with the Viro-
qua company's representatives, and the
latter agreed to take the machine back
If the men could not be induced 10 use
lit. The men, however. We're firm and
not one of them would agree to 80 %
work until the machine was remoy %.
| Miller, having large advance orders .
fill. was forced to yield, and late in the
afternoon the machine was removed.
This morning every employe was in his
place and work was progressing a. II
nothing had happened