The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-08-23

Since John T. Armstead has become
a candidate for sheriff of this county
| there has been more or less discussion
| of his attitude towards organized labor.
1t will be remembered that some time
ago he was involved in a difficulty
I with the Laundry Workers union over
the discharge of an employe. The en-
ploye stated that she was discharged
because of some remarks she had made
in the union meeting. Mr.. Armstead
denied the charge and said that he dis
charged her for other reasons which
he gave at the time.
1t resolved itself into a question of
veracity between Mr.. Armstead and
the member of the union in question.
The union believed that the member
told the truth and levied boycott
against the Acme Laundry, which was
carried on for some time.
There was a disposition on the part
of Mr.. Armstead to settle the difficulty
prior to entering politics, but for some
reason it fell through. Not long ago
this paper took occasion to refer to
Mr.. Armstead's candidacy and his re-
lations with organized labor, to which
he has replied, and which we in fair
ness to Mr. Armstead give space in
this issue as follows:
Duluth, Minn., Aug. 10, 1902.
Dear Sir:
Since I became candidate for
the republican nomination for
sheriff I have been often asked what
effect the old labor trouble would have
upon my candidacy, and I have been
unable to answer the question except
by expressing my own opinion, which
may or may not be correct as to the
feeling of organized labor towards me.
My opinion is that the old trouble is
ancient history, that mans like or
dislike for labor, organized or unor-
ganized, is shown more by his treat
ment of his own employees than by
what people may say in regard to him.
Now as to my treatment of those in
my employ I desire to say that one Of
them has been with me. for eleven
years, several of them for periods
ranging from three to seven years. The
lowest priced man in my employ gets
$3.50 per week, wages running from
that to $4,000 per week. The girls get
from one to two dollars per day. Com
pare those wages with the wages paid
in any other line of business or paid
| in -ganXsother laundry In Duluth and #
/, YOU tind tth sm beaten anywhere Will
raise mine to correspond.
Another thing that should have some
weight with working men is a state
ment set forth in a circular which I
have had printed for distribution
among the wage workers of this city
and county, and which is as follows:
Zone good reason why labor, or
ganized and unorganized, should vote
for John T. Armstead for sheriff is
the fact that he is a believer in a
shorter working day. This statement
is proven by the fact that on the first
day of January last, months before he
ever thought of running for sheriff, he
put his plant on q nine-hour basis, and
has continued to pay his employees the
same wages as his competitors pay
who are running ten hours per day.
| Mr.. Armstead's laundry is the only
one, not only in Duluth, but in the
state of Minnesota, working less than
ten hours per day. And his action In
reducing the hours of labor was en-
tirely voluntary: the. employees them
selves did not know he had any such
action in contemplation until notified
that on and after Jan. list the plant
would shut down at p. m. instead of
p. m. as formerly.
How many employers did you ever
hear of who, without any coercion from
organized labor, ever, Of their own
volition reduced the hours Of labor
of their employees? Then why should
you not vote for him for sheriff at
the primaries Sept. 1922
If l ever did anything that was purely
and entirely disinterested it was my
action in reducing the hours of labor
in my plant. I had no more thought Of
becoming a candidate> for office at
that time than I now have of jumping
into the lake, but having become can
didate I am frank enough to say that
I hope my action in that matter will
have some effect in influencing wage
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