The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-04-06

Union Thanks Labor TlrOuG hOut
the Country For Financial Assist
ance-What United LIN bor Can Do.
Hours Of Labor Reduced: Z: -
About ten months ago one depart
ment of spinners at Hall & CO.'S worst
ed mills in this city, claimed to be
working much harder than the rest of
the employees doing similar work and
asked for an advance in wages of five
cents per day. The superintendent
seeing that such was the case, granted
their request. The remaining spinners
and several other departments at the
same mill were then dissatisfied, and
made demand for the same increase
in wages: but this was refused and
they went out on strike April 10, 1909,
The Weaver's union No. 164, declared
a sympathy strike about two weeks
later and went out also. A meeting
| Of the textile workers was called, and
Textile Workers union No. 200 was
then organized. The Central Labor
council and the local union of this
city, together with the International
Union of Textile Workers of America,
endorsed the strikes. Then the fight
between capital and labor began. The
executive board of the strikers sent
an appeal to organized labor, asking
for financial assistance in order to car
ry out the great struggle to success
| full issue; the same was sent to every
| state and principal city in the coun-
| try; no strike was ever better adver-
| tised than the Hall & CO. strike; tens
Of thousands of these appeals have
been sent out to the local unions of all
| trades throughout the country, and or
ganized labor responded literally to
aid us in the grand cause of unionism.
Had it not been for their. noble and
constant support throughout our strug-
gle. the strikers would. never have won
this great victory. Much credit is due
| to our brothers in unionism all over
the land. 1t goes to show that lin
union there is strength" Omitted we
stand; divided we faIl.">'1
Delegate Charles Feather Of the Cen
trail Labor Council, now president of
| the same, was appointed to receive all
donations and hand same over to the
| board. I wish to state that this broth
er has been one of our principal ad-
visers during the trouble; and many
| thanks are extended to him for the
same.
| It is very encouraging to know that,
while we may be thousands of miles
apart, yet we can share each others
burdens, and thereby aid humanity in:
gaining their rights. This have learns
ed by receiving the vast number %of
letters from our brothers iIl,s unionisrl,
apa ths
lll( H. 1lJl ~ lls -
ters III a
tried sseveFal times to sasbout
= ettIement with the firm, but 81 aifed
Finally the Central Labor Council ana
the local unions of the city, together
with the International Union of Tex
tile Workers of America and the Amer
ican Federation Of Labor placed Hall
& Co. on the Unfair List" and both
sides put up stubborn fight which
lasted many months. No developments
IOf special interest occurred until De-
|cember, 1900, when the firm made an
offer of one-half hour less per day
Throughout the entire mill with no re-
lduction in wages; but the firm would
not sign an agreement to take back
the strikers, and no settlement was
preached at this time. The board, see
ing the firm was willing to concede
something, made great effort to obtain
"a visit from our International presi-
ldent, Peter Oulmann, and at last suc-
ceeded. On Thursday, February 21
Mr. Oulmann arrived from North
Adams, Mass. On the following Mon
day the strikers held grand reception
In honor of our president, and the next
day, committee composed of Presi-
dent Oulmann, Mayor Johnson, Alder
man Collins and Charles Lawson of the
fIWoodworkers' Union, visited the firm
ISeveral hours were spent in discussing
the situation, but no settlement was
made at that time. A meeting of the
strikers was then called and Mr. Oul-
mann stated all that had transpired al
the meeting Of the firm and the com.
mfttee, and that the firm woud not
sign any agreement at ALL Just before
Mr.. Oulmann was about to leave the
city, we talked over the situation again
and thought best to make one more eff.
fort to bring about compromise. A
committee composed of NJ. OMlmann
alderman Collins, o. c. Carpenter, and
III: S. Whiteman, visited the firm, and
am happy to state met with success
The following proposition was signed
by the firm: That the working hours
be reduced from ten hours to nine an6
one-half hours per day or from go tc
81 hours per week. throughout the en-.
tire mill, with no reduction in wages
and all strikers to be taken back tt
work: : T.: -
The strikers held another meeting
at which President Oulmann, Alder.
man Collins, President Charles Feath
er of the Central Labor Council, anl
many other representatives Of the cen:
tral body spoke favoring Hall & CO..
proposition, as it would have greater
results that any advance in wages.
tletter written by Samuel Gompers
president of the American Federation
of Labor to III. s. Whiteman, was read
which had great influence on: tn,
lstrikers. At last vote was taken an,
JAIL the strikers voted to accept Hall &
ECo.'s proposition, excepting two, VIII,
were against the same. Thus ended
the great textile, strike. Everyon,
seemed to have gone home feeling hap
~ !, "