The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-03
A LAUNDRY WAR.
Employees and Employers Dis
agree Over a Union.

The laundry workers and their en-
ployers have threatened war on each
other, and unless they can agree it Is
likely that there may be a general boy
cot of the employers who refuse to
recognize a union or else a general
strike of laundry workers.
AS was stated in the State Journal
the laundry workers commenced the or
ganization of a union. Some of the
employers opposed it, and the employees
claim that they were threatened with
dismissal if they participated in any
meetings. Saturday Z. NJ. Cockrell, pro-
prietor of the White Star laundry, dis
charged Edith Torren. She claimed that
it was because she had participated in
a meeting for the purpose of organic
ing a union. and she consulted with
Labor Commissioner johnson, and uu-
der the law requiring that employers
state in writing the reasons for dis
charging help she secured warrant IN
the city court for CockrelPs arrest.
The laundry employees claim that the
employers have an organization, and
that one of their rules is that laundry
employee who quits one laundry will not
be employed at another in less than six
months. The laundry employees will
have a meeting Tuesday night and COM
plete the arrangements for the forming
of a union. They say that at present
they will not demand any more wages
and that they are willing to agree with
their employees that the same wages
shall be paid during this year as are in
force now.
The administrative committee of the
Topeka Trades and Labor council sent
the following letter to E. NJ COckrel
this morning:
1.-THE undersigned administrative
committee of the Trades and Labor
Council of Topeka, a central delegate
body representing about forty unions
and $500 union men in this city, has
been advised that you and your col
leagues as members of the Topeka
Laundrymen's association have united
in a a.
ton of the laundry employees of this
city. This we understand has been at
tempted by intimidation and threats to
discharge, and discharges based upon
technical and trivial excuses by you
and your colleagues.
1.-The right of a laboring man or wo-
man who earns their bread by the sweat
of their brow to belong to a labor or
ganization is the exercise of a right as
an American citizen, a prerogative
founded upon the civil liberty guaran-
teed by the constitution and statutes
of our state The Trades and Labor
Council of Topeka and all of its affili-
ated unions and members unanimously
protest against this unfair and Slavish
attempt to coerce the underpaid wage
earners of yourself and colleagues into
a submission which means the giving
up of human liberty guaranteed them
by law.
1--WE appeal to the citizens of Topeka
who love fair play and who believe in
fair wages and reasonable rights and
US in this resolve for this exercise of
freedom and civil liberty by these
working women and girls Labor or
CARNATIONS are not only legal and law
full, but are conducting their affairs
upon a business basis the same as any
other set of men or women in an Or
ganiZed capacity.
1--WE believe the position of the men,
bers of the laundrymen's association in
asserting this uncalled-for abuse of the
rights and privileges of their employees
is not only ill-timed but ill-advised from
a business standpoint
Organizations of labor are proving
every day in every trade and vocation
their ability to mutually determine
upon fair and reasona Bile conditions OF
employment with their employers. The
mutual and harmonious relations are an
advantage both to employees and en-
pleyer The wave of organ zation
spreading over this country. and espe-
cially in this state, demonstrates that
the principle of organization VIII not
down. Organization offers no excuses
for its existence and demands only fair
play and justice between man and mar.
The labor movement of this city well
as the many friends among our citi-
zenS vOuehSafe their support of this
principle most emphatically in their re-
lations with labor every day, and we
appeal to yOu sir, and your colleagues
to reconsider the determined and hos
tile attitude taken in this matter and
permit your employees TO exercise and
enjoy their rights and privileges as
American citizens By doing this You
can rest assured of the hearty cooper
alton and mutual assistance whereye.
possible on the part of the united labor
movement of this city. Hoping you
and your colleagues will give this mat
ter an early and favorable considera-
ton. we beg to remain etc.
The letter was signed by ]. p John
son, president; o. f. Olns stead, secre-
tary; c. J. Mercer, r. I. Palmer, S B.
Weaver.
Cheap Excursions to California
only $500 during March and April via