The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-06-06
COOKS UNION COMES
BACK At HERALD
Non Union Cook Biames Union For
Being Unable to Pay His House
Rent.
Union Unearths the Facts. Another
Woman in the Case. Cooks Wages.
Can't Support Two Families.


Can't Support Two Families.
The evening paper, which is devot-
ing considerable of it's space roasting
union labor men who hold political pos
itions, shows it's fairness for organized
labor in the following item in its Tues
day edition:
"A distressing case of misfortune was
revealed in the current unlawful de-
tainer calendar Of the municipal court
yesterday.
In serving writ of ejcctment court
officer discovered a man he was about
to eject nursing an invalid wife and
caring for three small children, without
money and unable to secure work
The officers heart was touched and
.he sought to offer All apology saying
hat he did not believe the landlord
would have ordered him out had he
been aware Of the unfortunate circum-
stances.
The man replied that he was not look
ing for charity, and that while he
would have paid the rent If he possibly
could, he had not paid it and that he
gave the owner of the property an alb
solute right to put him out.
He then told something of his recent
family history. He was a cook en-
ployed in Chicago. He had been a cook
all his life, was capable of making good
wages at it, but could do nothing else
in the way Of work.
His wife was in poor health and
friends urged him to try Duluth's eli
mate assuring him that he was locat-
ing in a city that was rapidly forging
to the front and where good cooks
would be in demand.
He brought his family here and ap-
piled for a position as cook in one of
the large Superior Street restaurants
The proprietor wanted him but told him
he would have to become a member of
the local union before securing the
place.
The cook agreed and subsequently
Joined the union. Shortly afterward
the restaurant strike went in effect and
he went out with the other union cooks
and walters. The next day, doctors
bills, rent and other bills were press
ing him rather hard and he went back
to work while the strike was still on.
The union imposed a fine of $500 and
the next day when the strike was set
tied, it was required that cooks and
walters. either union or non-union in
bad standing should be discharged. The
cook was discharged and has been out
OF work ever since. He says he cannot
pay the 500 fine nor even his rent and
in the meantime has a sick family on
his hands without means. home or
friends"
The Herald has published several edi-
toralS on the Incorporation of trade
unions. 1t is lucky for the Herald that
the Cooks and Walters Union is not
Incorporated or it would have a dam
age suit oil its hands. A member says
that the statement of the Herald is I'M
true in every particular. During the
recent strike but one male member of
the union was fined for working
during the strike. This member voted
and supported the proposition to go on
strike in the union, and was the onlv
man to go to work during the strike.
whether or not this is the man re-
ferred to in the above article we are
unable to determine; but from the fact
that only one man was fined it would
appear likely that he is the one.
The facts in the case Of the man who
was fined are as follows:
First Immediately after the strike
which lasted but three or four DAYS.
this man secured good work in Super
lot where he has worked ut good wages
continuously since. If he has lost a
single days work since the strike it is
his own fault.
Second: There is but one reason we
can see why this cooks family should
be in the condition SO graphically pic
tured in the Herald. Investigation has
revealed an unwholesome state of af
falrs. This cook came to Duluth some
months ago. Almost Immediately upon
MS arrival he began to be seen in the
company OF a certain waitress, the two
working at the same place. The two
We're together almost constantly and we
refrain from publishing his own state
ments about their relations, out of con-
sideration for his wife and children
who were in Duluth all the time. The
two went to Superior together, secured
employment in the same place, and
thef relations apparently continued as
before. The public can draw it's own
lnterences as to the cause of restitution
i'll the mans family. It looks to us
that 1t he neglected his family here it
was because he was trying to support
more than one family on 4 cooks
wages.
1he COOKS Union is responsible for
this statement. It is a very hard thing
to say about man, but in order that
bad atmosphere may be cleared it
must let the public know the facts.
The cook in question was very ready to
blame the union for bad predicament
and who can blame the union if It
tries to clear itself?