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

understanding Wit tho unions that no
further increase for. any class Of em-
ployes was to be- asked for until mill
employees in all other. parts of the
country secured the eight hour day.
This is not true: The union did promise
however, to use their best endeavors
to organize their fellow workmen and
they have kept their promise.
The additional cost which the re-
quest Of the flour leaders would en-
tail on the firms is very small. In sew
eral of the mills it; would not be nee
essary to add a single man. Men ex-
perienced in the loading Of flour agree
that $1.O0 day is a very liberal es-
innate for the additional cost 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 in the next
year. The firms have unlimited money
and they are spending it with lavish
hand Men have been brought from all
sections of the country. Buns, no.
boes, Greeks, negroes and university
students are being ued to break the
could not afford to pay the flour load
ers $500 for eight hours, yet they are
now paying university students 1925
per day for six hours.
All that the men asked was an i'm
partial opportunity to prove the JUS
tice and fairness Of their position be-
fore an impartial tribunal. The mill
owners were afraid to give the unions
a chance to prove their case.
We believe that this is a contest
which must enlist the sympathies Of
every member of organized labor in the
state of Minnesota and that we must
realize that it is not merely a contest
between the mill owners of Minneapo-
lis and their employees but it is delib-
crate attempt upon the part of the mill
owners backed up by the National Man.
ufacturers' association to disrupt the
labor movement of this state. The
council feels that the very fact, that
the employers refused absolutely to
meet their employees in their many eff
forts to bring about a peaceable So
luton of this trouble indicates that
they did not desire a peaceable set
tlement, but rather they were deter
mined to force the issue and stamp
unionism out of their mills for all time
to come. We feel confident that should
they be successful in their efforts that
we may reasonably expect that this
will not be the end, but other unions
in this state may look for an attack
of this nature and we feel confident
in the state will realize the necessity
m q n acf 1f MI
Mill Employees their contest and put
forty every effort to assist in bringing
about victory for the Flour Mill EN-
ployee. We feel confident that the flour
mill employees occupy very strong
position having conducted their con-
test in manner which cannot help
but command the sympathy of the pub
lie. And be believe that with the moral
and financial assistance of the union
men of the state an early victory is in
sight. When we realize, however, that
the mill owners have control of un-
limited finances and that they have
the backing of the National Employers
association we must also realize that
1t Will be necessary to raise a large
fund to win this contest and realizing
that every member of organized labor
in the state is equally Interested in
winning this contest we have no hesi-
fancy in making an: urgent appeal to-
tafaeiaI------SssIsta sc: We
would request that each organization
contribute literally toward this fund
and that in addition to such contri-
buttons it is recommended that every
member be requested to donate one
days pay toward winning this contest.
We feel confident that you will real
ize the necessity of winning this strug-
gle and that we will have a hearty re-
spouse to this call LOT financial as
sistance.
Fraternal1y yours,
M. e. NEARY. President.
W. E. M'EWEN, Secretary.
State Federation Council-C. r
James, Chairman; John Bohan, Sec
rotary; Thomas Hamlin, Patrick Jor-
dan. J. W. Strom William Temp1eton
j. o. Va]iancourt
Kindly send all contributions tn Viii.
liam Templeton, 272 Carol street. ST
Paul, Mimi