The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-01
CITY N E||:!'WS.
APPEAL TO UNIONS
Organized Labor in Minnesota Asked
to Help Striking Mill
Employees.
A Circular Issued by Federation
Committee Makes an Exhaust
i've Statement. u

There was sent out last night by the
federation council, which is the executive
committee Of the State Federation Of
Labor, circular letter, addressed to the
union men Of the state which bears upon
the present mill employees strike and is
empha tic in it's criticism Of the mill mana
gers.
The letter is the committees formal ap-
peal for financial aid for the strikers and
recites at some length the history Of the
troubles between The -four leaders and q
millers which eliminated in the strike de-
Clared a week ago.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Sept 3d. 19O3-To Organ
lied Labor Of the State of M!nnesota-G Greeting:
The federation council having made thoro and
impartial investigation Of the differences be-
tween the flour mill employees and the Minneapo-
lis mill owners, find the following to be a" fair
ana impartial statement of the facts:
Until june 1903, the relations between the
f flrl and the unions had been most pleasant
When committee from the unions called on the
managers they met with civil reception. If the
managers could not grant their request they
would explain the reason which prompted their
| refusal -. -. ssT.@
| When the flour leaders decided to request an
| cight, hour workday, they expected that the firms
| would be willing to meet with their committee
and discuss the situation. They felt that their
request was most reasonable All the
other mill employees were working but eight
|
| worked men in the mills, be asked to work ten
hours?
When the committee did call on the firms,
| however they found that the attitude of the mill
! owners had wonderfully changed. In answer to
their request they received fiat and positive
| no No reason was advanced for the refusal
Later second committee appointed in
hopes that the managers might be found in a
more reasonable frame Of mind. This commit
tee met with the same reception The matter
was then dropped for month in order to give
RI idorf hojr Aroi
a committee called upon them. only to be met
with fiat refusal and notice that another
visit would Won, not be welcomed by the managers
The milling firms had joined the National Manu-
4 facturers association and the influence of Par
ryism becoming apparent.
The flour leaders, feeling that they could not
bring about e peaceable. settlement OF. the con-
troversy, turned their over to their inter
national union. The international executive
board interviewed the firms, and they received
| the same treatment accorded the -four leaders,
| Before the strike ordered an offer was
made to the firms to arbitrate the case, men to
remain at work pending the decision Of the
board. This offer was met with the stereotyped
reply, ''nothing to arbitrate." One of the man
ayers stated that he would shut his plants down
| indefinitely before he would enter into a discus
sion of the wage scale paid his employees.
| When the strike was finally ordered. prac-
ticnlly every in the mills obeyed the call
and 1.SOO ,1ren quit work. The mills were left
in clean condition and iremen and watchmen
were left to guard the property. ~. -s1 -
The day following the unions addressed a pub
lie letter to the mayor Of Minneapolis asking him
to name a committee of representative business
men to arbitrate the issue. The mayor did every
thing he could to induce the mill owners to ac-
cept the proposition. His appeals were ignored
and the managers even refused to meet him to
discuss the situation. > .a-
The strikers have maintained strict picket
line about the mills. The best Of order has been
maintained Not one case Of disorderly con
duct has been reported. vi. ...>-
The three locals concerned are affiliated with
the International Union of Flour and Cereal Mill
| Tha International
the Minneapolis locals on Sept. %, 1902 It has
been very successful in the short time it has
existed. Seventy five locals are now affiliated
The fact thut the Minneapolis locals have spent
large in organizing the rest of the country
, is the chief reason for their present lack OF
funds. --.--.....-.. ...,
Thru the public press the mill owners have
stated that there was understanding with the
unions that no further increase for any class OF
employees to be asked for until mill en-
ployes in all other parts Of the country secured
the eight hour day. This is not true. The unions
did promise, however to use their best en-
, beavers to organize their fellow workmen, ant
they have we'll kept their promise. ~ ..#-,r
The additional cost which the request of the
! -four leaders would entail on the firms is very
small. In several of the mills it would not BIZ
necessary to add single man. Men experienced
in the loading of flour agree that 500 per day il
a very liberal estimate for the additional cos
!, to the three milling firms combined. =.
! In their efforts to break the strike they have
already spent many times what the increased
, cost Of the eight hour day would amount to II
the next year. The firms have unlimited none,
I and they are spending 1t with lavish hand
Men have been brought in from all sections o
:, university students are being used to break tn
: strike. The firms claimed that they could no
aford to pay the -four leaders 81 for eight hours
n yet they are paying university student
r 1925 per day for six hours 49, : ','~ -
V AL that the men asked was opportunity t
y prove the Justice and fairness of their posftio,
before an impartial tribunal. The mill owner
: were afraid to give the unions chance to prov
Y their case. z.--- - -
We believe that this is a contest which mus
l. enlist the gsympathes Of every member Of OF
# ganized labor in the state Of Minnesota an
! that we must realize that 1t is not merely cor
test between the mill owners of Minneapolis an
, their employ es but is deliberate attempt upo
n the part Of the mill owners, backed up by th
National Manufacturers,l association. to disrur
the labor movement Of this state. The counc
feels that the very fact that the employers r.
IL fused absolutely to meet their employees in the
many EFFORTS to bring about peaceable solut1o
+ of this trouble indica tes that they did not d,
- sire a peaceable settlement, but rather the
were determined to force the issue and STAN
uEion1sm out of their mills for all time
/, come. We feel confident that should they
h successful in their efforts that we may reason
Il ably expect that this viii not be the end, b,
h TINT other unions in nths state may look for
a attack OF this nature and feel confident tn,
- every member of organized labor in the sta
n will realize the necessity Of making the CO.
l. test Of the flour mill employees their contest ar
put forth every effort to assist in bringing abo
le victory for the -four mill employee, We fe
~ confident that the -four mill employees occupy
=, very strong position. having conducted the
- contest ir manner which cannot help b
l. command the sympathy of the public. And '
)r believe that with the ncIaI and financial assis
d. nnce Of the unioh men Of the state an early vi
/ tory is in sight VIXEN we realize. howeve
that the mill owners have control of unlimit
finances and that they have the backing of II
National Manufacturers' association, we mu
also realize that it will be necessary to raise
e large fund to win this contest and realizing TIL
h every member Of organized labor in the state
| eUual1y Interested in winning contest q