The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-07
Laborers' Organization Now in
Fair Way to Win.
Victory inVinewoOd Controversy
Gives Much Encouragement.
MEN ARE IN. DEMAND.
Union Scale May Be More Easily
Enforced. ]
Work by Union Men ON VinewO0d
Commenced Today.

At the last meeting of the Laborers
Union, composed OF the common labor
ers of the city, Henry Weddington was
elected president, and M. E Younkin
secretary, and it was decided to make
an aggressive campaign beginning at
once, for the complete control of the
labor situation in Topeka by union
men.
1t is believed by the union men that
they can first force the Vinewood Park
railway to employ union men exclusive
ly for its work. This Will bring SO
many additional men into the union
that it will create shortage of nom
union labor for other public and pri-
vate works contemplated and under
way. Contractors will then be forced
to employ union labor in the same way
that the Vinewood, hallway company
was brought to terms.
The union will gain strength. in pro-
portion to it's increase in membership.
Each member is required to pay 81. so
initiation fee, and 25 cents month
dues. The rule of the union is that It's
$3.50 for an 8-hour day. This is the un-
ion scale. There are now about 200 men
in the union, the officers say.
AS the entering wedge for the union
ization of the cityS common laborers,
the union will use the agreement which
it has secured from the Vinewood Park
railway. This agreement provides that
the railway will employ union men at
the union scale and organize them as a
material gang. This gang started in to
work this morning, unloading steel
rails in the Santa Fe yards. Out at the
eastern end of the line another gang of
men is at work, which Is composed of
nonunion laborers. These men get 81. SO
day, and have to work 10 hours for 1t.
The union men believe that this ar
rangement will not continue very long.
They think that most of the nonunion
men will come into the union, and that
before long the Vinewood road will be
obliged to abandon the attempt to build
men.
After forcing the vinewood company
int line, the union laborers believe that
their grip ON the situation will be strong
enough to force the other Topeka con-
tractors to employ union men, There
is going to be an extraordinary demand
for labor'ers in Topeka this summer and
fall. About 25 blocks of pavement are
| to be laid a $25, 900 sewer is to be built
to Washburn college, another smaller
sewer contract will be let by the city
| council this evening. An immense lot OF
| work is being done at the Santa Fe
! shops and an unusual number of big
| buildings are to be put up in the city.
| If the union can largely increase its
membership, the officers believe that il
| can force the employment of union
! men on most, if not all, Of this work.
| M. E. Younkin, the secretary of the
! union, said this morning: I'VE are GER
| talnly going TO make a nard nght to gel
| new members for the la bOrers' union
! We believe that now is the time to make
| our union strong enough to control thu
| situation here We now have about 20t
| members, and if we can increase this
| sufficiently we will be able to make the
contractors in the city pay the union
scale. It will be the best thing for To-
| peka 1aboring men that ever happened
| The Vinewood people have treated us
| all right so far, and we are gratefu
| to the company for giving union labor
| ers the pay and hours required by the
union. It means the beginning of a new
day for the laboring men in Topeka
! Hundreds Of men who have been afraid
| to come into the union for fear We
would be barred out. will now come
running to get in so that they can have
| the advantage of the two extra hours
which the union allows