The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-17
Union WATERS ARE OUT
WHITE MEN AT MERCHANTS HO-
TEL SUPPLANTED BY COL
ORED EMPLOYEES
SERIOUS TROUBLE IS FEARED
Difficulty Arose Over Scale of Wages
Adopted by Union Prior TO
the W0Odmen Con-
VentiOn

When the guests at the Merchants
hotel went to the dining room yesterday
morning for breakfast they found, in
stead Of the white male walters who
had served them previously, a full crew
of colored men under the direction of a
colored head waiter. This change in con-
ditionS which have existed at the Mer-
chants for some years past is the out
come of negotiations between Manager
Kibbe and the Walters alliance during
the past two weeks, and was not entirely
q surprise to those who were acquainted
with the circumstances
Two weeks or more ago the VIII te
walters of the city organized under the
above mentioned name and adopted a
union scale of wages which they pre-
scented TO their several employers for
approval. Whether they chose that time
with the feeling that in view of the large
conventions in prospect the employers
could not afford to refuse any demand
that they might elect to make, is, of
course, an open question, but Manager
Kibbe and others WHO were similarly
situated regarded their course as an
unfair act of coercion. AS was stated
in the Clio b e at the time, Mr. Kibbe
and nearly all Of the other employers OF
white male walters were constrained,
| under the circumstances, TO agree to the
union scale of wages. This scale WIS
at the Merchants hotel before, except
as to a slight advance for services at
banquets, but Mr. zibbe resented the
fact that his walters, whom he felt ne
had treated fairly, should dictate terms
to him, when he was practically In
helpless position, and from the more re-
cent developments it is apparent that
he resolved to retalIate at the earliest
favorable opportunity. Yesterday the
white walters at the hotel were informed
that they were about to be discharged
and anticipated that action by quitting
but Mr. Rlbbe had already made all ar
rangements for putting the cotored men
to work, and was therefore not 1ncon-
yenienced.
1t was expected that a meeting of the
Walters alliance would be held yester-
dav to take action upon this occurrence.
but owing to the fact that most of the
members were busy al their places or en-
ployment none was held.
Mr.. KTbbe. when seen at the hotel yes
ter1ay afternoon, said:
Eyes. they are gone, and they have
themselves to thank for it. They took
an unfair advantage of me by coming
down upon me when L could not help
myself and / have simply acted for the
best interests of my business. That union
cost me a great deal OF money last week
that was unnecessarily spent, and did
not propose to have anything more OF
the kind There are some of the men
who were discharged that I really felt
very sorry to see go, for they have been
at the house for years and L had become
attached to them. But they were poor
" advised. and now they must take the
consequences with the others. The trouble
was all stirred up by a few that were
dissatisfied, and would be dissatisfied no
matter where they might be. L Thought
that everything had been satisfactorily
arranged, for I had voluntarily offered
the men extra pay for the week of the
Woodmen's convention. but I suppose the
few who conducted that movement
thought they could do much better and
that they would be losing an opportunity
by not doing SO when they mad me en-
tfrely at their mercy. There were about
twenty of the men in all and most Of
them were old employees"
James Tracey, president of local
Walters Alliance No 43, made the fol-
lowing statement of the Merchants hotel
case to the $ o e yesterday afternoon:
ION Monday morning last our COM
mittee on wage scale called on Mr.. Kibbe
and presented the official scale as ap-
proved by this local alliance asking him
when we should call for an answer We
were told by Mr.. Kibbe to call at
o'clock that afternoon. The committee
called at the appointed time, but Mr.
Kibbe was not in. On Tuesday morning
the committee called again, and the con-
tract was returned to them by Mr. Kibbe
duly signed and dated. In answer to an
inquiry as to whether everything in the
scale was satisfactory Mr.. Kibbe gave
an affirmative answer. There was no
change made in the wages or working
hours Of the men in Mr. Kibbe's en-
ploy. The only concession asked was
that steady employees, working at ban
quets, receive the same pay as the extra
men, instead Of rs cents, as had been
the custom. The reason for that was
that the regular employees were expected
to stay and clear the dining room and
rearrange the tables for breakfast on
the following morning, which often kept
them until or 3 o'clock. When that
matter was brought before the alliance
it was decided that the men were GER
tainly entitled to 81 for banquets, in
stead Of rs cents. We also asked that
the men be paid S. extra for the week
of the Weodmen's convention. 1t is the
aim of the alliance to be fair with the
employers, and we feel that we have
asked no concessions that were not alb
solutely fair
It is feared that the situation al pres
ent does not warrant a peaceful con-
tinuance of relations between the man
ayers and walters of other local hotels
where union men are employed. The
union had a meeting called for last
night, but it did not materialize.