The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-26
LOOMS ARE SILENT.
Nine Weavers at Topeka Wooden
Mills on Strike.


the Topeka wooden mills are idle today as
q. result of a strike inaugurated by nine
men in the weaving department. The
strike begun at about Il o'clock Tuesday,
when the weavers. who were asking for
an increase of pay of 51k cents to ga
mill owners at cents.
The wages which the weavers earn
now is approximately 81, and by the
terms of their demands they want the
about $3.50 The mill owners at first Of
fered to compromise upon a rate OF one
agreed to raise she wages one-half cent
per yard. The ckser was refused by the
fourths of cent increase.
A satisfactory agreement could not be
hands walked out. The mill has been
shut down and the employees are all idle
The situation has not changed mater
tally today. The nine Weavers are conf
be forced to accede 10 their demands in
asnnuch as they claim that it is almost
The striking weavers claim that they
are receiving less pay than they were
lower than the wages paid the employees
in eastern mills
business has been good all year; the
company has been making lots of money
raised, conseq they claim that they
should come in for their share of the
The strike has been brewing for about
two weeks Secretary J. G.. F1eishman
had been expecting trouble of this kind
for some little time, but that they did not
anticipate any considerable Inconvenience
The nine. men who went out on the
strike, said Mr. Fleishman, were get
ting on an average of 81 per day. The
highest pa ying mills give about $3.50 per
81 Is That of course would not be the ex-
act amount; but approximately the sum;
work they do We are paving a higher
price to our weavers than most mills
manufa curing the same class of goods
George Neil, president of the Mil COM
pany, said this morning that unless the
men came to the terms offered by the
mill by tomorrow morning the mill would
be started up without them
I'VE have other weavers in the mill
he said. And for that matter Will
have no difficulty in engaging enough
I'VE of course would like to have the
men return to work, but We can not pay
son, and unless they can content them
selves with the sum offered, which is
larger than that paid at most mills, We
will have to continue without them
The weavers who have gone out on
patrick. J. H. Canine, Arthur Green, EIo-
mer Severance, A. D Gollinss Lee Mar
WEAvERS' SIDE OF THE TROUBLE.
The weavers of the Topeka Wooden
Mills have prepared letter setting
forth their side of the controversy at
the IHAllS. ES4dttNG u (44C N06E 4ACc-
ton. 1t is:
To the Editor of the State Journal:
In an interview this morning Mr..
Freshman, one of the proprietors of the
Topeka wooden mills, is quoted as say
ing that the weavers refused wages at
S2.25 Der day.
LAS a matter of fact the weavers have
been averaging about $1-45 per day since
the 1st of March. at which time this
seasons work began. 1t is but a short
time ago that the boss weaver received
only 81 per day and he was raised to
81 80 which he received for about two
years At the time Mr.. McAfee severed
his connection with the mill, Mr.. Will
sons wages were advanced to $2.75 per
day which he receives at present. Does
it look reasonable for Mr.. Freshman to
assert that the weavers are refusing
s.. 25 per day when only a short time
ago he was only paying his overseers 81
per day? If the wooden mill conn any
viii pay US at the rate of g or even
81 rs per day we win gladly accept it
but we will never go back for 81 As. The
81. so or $2.25 per day. We can show our
books to any one who wishes to see
them They will show the average
above stated.
1.-The point we are contending for is
that a price per yard be paid that viii
enable us to make 81. rs per day instead
of S1.45 which we have been making
since we began work four months ago.
ssVVeavers of the Topeka Wooden Mills,
Per Oscar Williams. Oakland"