The sun., 1903-12-23
FINISH FIGHT WITH THE UNION
MIR. DAVIS SAYS HE'LL GO BROKE
BEFORE HE'LL SURRENDER.
Thirty Years OF Petty Labor tyranny
Has Made the Worm Turn In His Case
and He'll Put His Last Dollar on the
Issile--TO Employ Girls as Capn,akers.

finish If it takes every dollar I've got
That is what Mark Davis, head of the
big cap manufacturing concern which IL
about to open its new factory in Jerse
City as an open shop said yesterday OF
the Cap Makers Union.
"I'm going to have il out with them
this time" Mr. Davis went on "Therel
be no caving in I've suffered enough
tally as well a. financially, and don
propose TO stand labor union dominatlor
any longer.
As was told in The Sun yesterday Davis
Sons K Co. have had many and varied
troubles with the union for the last thirty
years An experience which the firm hao
last summer cost it many thousands OF dol
lars and the loss of many orders, 80 now the
firm has declared it's independence.
Last summer" said Mr.. Davis in telling
about it Yesterday. "the Blockers' local
one of the branches of the Cap Makers
Union. made rule that all hydraulic press
men employed in a cap factory must be
cap bockers. Hydraulic pressing and cap
blocking had been distinct trades,
"A cap blocker knew nothing Of pressing
with hydraulic machines. and hydraulic
pressmen had no knowledge of cap blocking
This law was enacted just as the trade was
beginning work on duck hats, one OF our
largest lines, and we we're short Of hydraulic
hands. The union had none to be EN-
ploved and though there were any number
of hydraulic men in the market, and fine
mechanics at that, we couldn't put single
one of them to work because they were
not cap bockers in the union sense.
we did everythin Wa could to make
a. in, ilt ipl n
position, but they couldn't be made TO listen
to reason, and the result was that we
were comp relled TO take cap blockers and
teach them hydraulic pressing. BY the
time hey were able to handle ordinary work
and after they had ruined numberess hats
he season was over and we had practically
lost the entire year s business. Our shops
were blocked with caps hat needed ny
draullc pressing. and orders for thousands
OF cases OF goods were contaminated o r
the goods were re ieCted.
THAT was the last straw 80 FAR as | was
concerned. | resolved that the time had
come for the worm to turn. and now the
worm has turned, and he's going to stay
turned"
Mr.. Davis doesn't blame the workmen.
They would be all right il let alone, he
said, but they are completely dominated
by S. Tipograph, their organizer.
This fellow Tipogragh, said the cap
manufacturer, is sort Of sam PARIS.
Why, he's worse than Parks. No operator
can go to work without first getting per-
init from him. | know of many instances
where men have gone to him and begged
that he al How them to work in my shop and
he has refused.
not al ALI he SAYS: and that is all the salts
faction they get. To the manufacturers
who ,oady to him and grant him favors
he gives he pick of The workmen in the
union. Because we wouldn't toady to
him we've had all sorts of trouble getting
the men we want, and have had TO pay
more for the same grades of work than
other makers.
once, Mr.. Davis said. his son had found
a drunken employee asleep on the factory
roof. He surnnaTily ordered n" man
discharged, but had to conn'ermand the
order because the other workmen put on
their coats TO leave.
"Why," he continued. some months ago
I had occasion to call at the union head
quarters. While there picked up
pamphlet which their secretary had pre-
meeting. | read this paragraph from one
of the speeches: Well never rest until
we ve got every dollar these bloodsuckers'-
meaning the manufacturers have got,
That's the spirit that is ac'uating these
fellows"
The capmakers are now on strike against
Davis Sons Il Co., because Mr.. Davis says.
the firm has refused 10 put up $lOOU bond
TO keep the union rules in its new shop.
In talk with Tipograph an hour before he
union declared the rike, according to the
cap manufacturer, he asked the organizer
whether, if he gave the bond the union would
supply him with all the men he wanted.
Tipograph replied that he would if the
men were to he had Mr.. Davis says he
then asked if he would be allowed in such
ann,n to N
enable him to keep up with his orders.
ripograph replied
Absolutely no. The rules of the union
forbid such a thing"
Mr. Davis says he then declared that he
was through with the union and the strike
was ordered Immediately. Since then
the firms New York plant and also that in
Jersey City have been picketed constantly.
Mr. Davis says that the strikers have the
aid of some of his rivals in trade.
Why said he, zone concern close by
here keeps keg of whiskey in its hallway
so that the strikers may go in and refresh
themselves
Until yesterday, he said, the strikers in
Manhattan had contented themselves with
patroling the neighborhood of his factory,
but Yesterday afternoon three pickets went
into the shop of \. Blatnikof, a small con-
tractor at AZ West Fourth street, who
makes caps for the Davis firm and de-
manded that he quit working for the firm.
out following them to The 8 rect, ;" said the
manufacture "One OF the men then
declared hat if he didn't stop working for
our firm he would break his arms so he
couldn't work"
A warrant for these men is to be asked
for to-day
It is the intention of the firm when they
start up their Jersey City plant early in the
year to hire girls to take the places of some
of the union men. Mr.. Davis and his sons
believe that girls will make as good cap
workers as men. and in that fact he believes
he holds a winning card in his fight with
the union.
They wanted to restrict the number of
workers" said he. "Ill increase their
number"
Organizer Tipograph and Maurice Mikol.
national secretary OF the Cap Makers
Union, denied last night that they had
demanded a $40, 600 bond from Davis, Sons
4 Co. O insure union labor in the new plant.
"We did ask Mr., Davis to give bond.
said Tipograph "but no amount was men
toned Mr. Davis then demanded what
bond we would give thai the union would
keep its agreement. To show our goo d
faith. we said $1,000. Mr. Davis said we
couldn't get that amount. Why, we could
get 100000"
The two delegates scofred a. the idea
thot ba Arm could defeat the union NV