Evening star., 1903-07-01
w. B. r1OSES & SONS, # St., Cor. 1 1th.

emily because of pressure brought to bear
upon them by men who are at the head,
politically. in the state OF Vermont. The
case has been appealed to the supreme
court of the state and will come up for a
hearing this fall
"Our members in Rutland have spent
considerable money they say. 'fn defend
ing the rights Of organized workingmen in
connection with this damage suit, and we
propose to fight the case to the bitter end.
for 1t would be detrimental to organized
labor and to the best interests of the trade
union movement If a decision Of the above
character was allowed to stand, thereby
establishing a precedent that union men
who went on strike might be judged guilty
and compelled to pay damages to the ex-
tent. possibly. of losing the little homes
that they may have acquired"
President James O'Connell Of the Inter-
national Association Of Machinists. left for
Pittsburg, Monday. to attend a conference
with the officials of the Manufacturers AS
sociation of Pittsburg representing the ma
jority of firms In that city. for the purpose
Of framing new agreement. First Vice
President p. J. Conlon is acting president
during Mr.. O'Connells absence from the
city.
Under the new agreement between the
Rio Grande and Western Railroad COM
pany and the International Association OF
Machinists. the union machfnists OF that
system will receive from "a to 36 cents per
hour for a ten-hour work day.
Discussing the textile workers strike in
Philadelphia. Pa, President Gompers. In an
editorial Of the current number Of the Of
ficial organ of the American Federation or
Labor writes, in part, as follows:
quite significant is the strike Of $4,000
textile operatives of Philadelphia. Despite
any Inconvenience which it may occasion,
it will result in great good. The strike is
not for immediate higher wages, but for
| the reduction of the hours of daily labor,
that is, the introduction Of the fifty-five-
hour work week.
This movement will greatly improve the
material condition and the physical and
mental opportunities of not only the strikv
ing textile operatives of Philadelphia, but
of the entire industry.
Besides this, the strike In itself is a
lesson which will have its influence upon
the employers in the textile as wen as
other Industries. The mill owners, II they
did not openly proclaim the idea of divine
trusteeshp and benevolent CD considera-
ton of their employees. yet acted the policy
without Mr.. Baer's blind courage to pub
licly proclaim it.
For nearly fifteen years the Philadelphia
mill owners reduced wages in season and
out of season. Any attempt at organiza-
ton was frowned down. Men and women
suspected of being in any way connected
with an effort to organize the workers were
victimized and the unions were crushed
out of existence.
Flushed with their supposed security
from any Inconvenience and safety FROM
any protest on the part of their operatives,
the mill owners continued the process OF
wage reduction and terrorism, but they
went too far.
Quite a number of the operatives began
quietly to organize, realizing that the time
would shortly come when the textile work
ers in sheer desperation would revolt
against the tyranny and bad conditions i'm
posed upon them. Though they did not
have a union of very great strength, the
feeling of discomfort was deep seated.
There were no other means open to
them and they struck for the redress OF
their grievances and for the reduction OF
! the hours e daily labor and improvement
in their conditions In other ways.
"The mill owners and employers general
ly must realize that while they may have
power to crush out organization In its In
ception among the workers, yet this very
antagonism often gives the movement its
greatest impetus. Even II they success
| fully crush organization, they cannot es-
cape the resulting reaction.
The working people cannot and will
| not permit their conditions to constantly
deteriorate without making protest at some
| time or other.
IF the conciliatory policy of recognizing
| and treating with organized labor be pur
sued by employees, the best resulte will be
| accomplish In the interests Of the in
| dustry and the people generally.
| "If the plan OF crushing and anita gon ii ne