The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-10-03

0NE;DAY'S WAGEG
FROM EVERY man.
MINNESOTA STATE FEDERATION
OF LABOR ASKS UNION MEMS
SUPPORT.
FOR MILL WORKERS
EIGHT HOUR STRIKE.
Issues Fair and Conservative State
ment of Conditions at Minneapolis.
1t Is Fight Against Parryism.

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Oct. 1.-The
executive council of the Minnesota
Federation Of Labor has issued the fol-
lowing circular to the workingmen of
Minnesota:
To Organized Labor Of the State Of
Minnesota:
The Federation Council having made
thorough and impartial investigation
of the differences existing between the
flour mill employees and the Minneapo-
lis mill owners, find the following to
be a fair and impartial statement of
the facts
Until June, 1903, the relations be-
tween the firms and the unions had
been most pleasant. When committees
from the unions called on the man.
ayers they met with civil reception.
If the managers could not grant their
request they would explain the rea-
son which prompted their refusal.
When the flour leaders decided to
request an eight hour work day, they
expected that the firms would be will
ing to meet with their committee and
discuss the situation. They felt that
their request was a most reasonable
one. All the other mill employees were
working burt eight hours per day. Why
should they. the hardest worked men
in the mills be asked to work ten
hours?
When the committee did call on the
firms, however,, they found that the
dcrfully changed. In answer to their
request they received a flat and posi-
tive no" No reason was advanced for
ho init foo
was appointed in hopes that the man.
ayers might be found in a more rea-
sonable frame of mind. This committee
met with the same reception. The mat
ter was then dropped for a month in
order to give the firms time to recon-
slider their position. Again commit
tee called upon them. only to be met
with a flat refusal and notice that
another visit would not be welcomed
by the managers. The milling firms
had joined the National Manufacturers
association and the influence of Par
ryism was becoming apparent.
The flour leaders, feeling that they
could not bring about a peaceable set
tlement OF the controversy, turned their
case over to their International union.
The International Executive board in
teriewed the firms. and they received
the same treatment accorded the flour
leaders.
Before the strike was ordered an Of
fer was made to the firms to arbitrate
the case the men to remain at work
pending the decision of the board. This
offer was met with the stereotyped re-
ply nothing to arbitrate." One Of the
managers stated he would shut his
plants down indefinitely before he
would enter into a discussion of the
wage scale paid his -emp1oyees----------
When the strike was finally or
dered, practically every man in the
mills obeyed the call and 1900 men quit
work. The mills were left in clean
condition and firemen and watchmen
were left to guard the property.
The day following the unions ad-
dressed public letter to the mayor
of Minneapolis asking him to name a
committee of representative business
men to arbitrate the issue The mayor
did everything he could to induce the
mill owners to accept the proposition.
Ills appeals were ignored and the man.
ayers even refused to meet him to dis
cuss the situation
The strikers have maintained a strict
picket line about the mills. The best
OF order has been maintained Not one
case Of disorderly conduct has been re-
ported.
The three locals concerned are at.
flllated with the international Unior
or Flour and Cereal Mill EMPLOYEES
The International was organized by
the Minneapolis locals on Sept %, 1902
1t has been very successful in the shor
time it has existed. Seventy five 10
calls are now affiliated The fact tina
the Minneapolis locals have spent
large sums in organizing the rest O
the country is the chief reason TO,
their present lack of funds.
Through the public press the mil
owners have stated that there was q,