The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-22

AS sequel to their refusal Of yester-
day to grant the demand of the flour load
ersA union for an eight-hour day at ten
hours wages. the employing millers Of
the city issued a statement this morning
which explains their position and which
expresses their determination to stand by
their refusal of yesterday, even tho q
strike be the consequence.
The employees meet tonight and the
declaration of a strike, effective to-mor
row, is believed to be inevitable
The millers statement shows that no.
where in the country are mill employees
better treated than here, that the high
est wages are being paid that are possible,
while protecting the fair margin of profit,
and that the walking delegate has entered
into the situation here, much as he has
In New York.
In reply to this statement, John M
Finley, president of the Interna tional
Union of Flour and Cereal Mill Employees,
says that he is the only walking delegate
known to the union, that so far as he
knows the nlillers have had no opportunity
to make complaint of him, and that there
Is and has been no intimidation of en-
ployes and no attempt to promote strife
between foreman and employee.
Men VIII Act Tonight.
That general strike will take place in
the flour mills tomorrow morning there
can be little doubt. The three unions.
consolidated into the Flour and Cereal Mill
Employees union, will meet to-right and
unless they recede from their position TAX
en- Sunday night all will strike, as by
| their constitution all must strike If one
| does, and the one having a grievance in
| this particular instance is the flour load
ers. -
! 20 one claims that the flour leaders are
skilled laborers any more than were the
building slaborers who struck for higher
! wages Aug. 6 and held UP building opera
| lions. The strike is an attempt on the
part Of the unions to provide for uni
form eight hour day for all flour mill en-
ployes. AS a side issue the employees de-
snand that the girls employed as packers
and sewers at 81 and S1.25 a day be given
mems wages-s2.25 to s2.75.
| The statement issued by the millers this
| morning is severe in Its criticism OF the
employees methods and demands, and IN
Inmates that If these demands are pressed
hard enough they will close the mills al
together. In this connection it Is inter-
esting to note that several milling hrms
have already received many applications
| for positions from laboring men, aftho the
strike has not been actually declared.
Won't Seek Outside Aid.
| The rumors that the proposed strike OF
the flour mill employees Is the first step
toward general strike in the city ana
| is part of a general plan to tie up business
operations here do not appear to be we'll
founded President Finley of the mill
employees union declares that the mill
employees will stand on their own feet IN
this matter that they have no expecta-
ton of help from any other class OF work
men and no understanding with them and
that If there is to be any sympathetlc
strike he knows nothing about it.
The MIlIers' Statement.
Beginning with the three queries: is
the demand of the flour handlers reason
able? Are these flour handlers not al
ready we'll paid? Are their demands UNI
reas on able?'' the millers' statement con-
! tinues:
''The men employed by Minneapolis mill
ing companies have been hunting trouble
| for some time, and the organizers OF the
various unions have made themselves OBJ
noxious to the proprietors because OF their
continued interference. :,
walking delegates enter our mills
without permission during working hours,
| talk to our men and induce them to quar-
lrel with the foreman. If the foreman at
! tempts to assert his authority and cor
reefs his mon, or discharges one or more
! OF the crew for disobedience, we are
waited on by q committee or notified by
/ telephone that we must take the dis
! charged men back Immediately or the
| mills will not be permitted to run.