The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-14
SI'OE CUTTERS
OUT ON STRIKE
Firm Refuses to Come to
Union Demands. !.
is QUESTION OF WAGES
Matter Has Been Considered
for Several Months.

Lynn. Mass, Jan. 13.-The cutters III
the shoe factory of W. H. futile went
out on strike this afternoon because the
firm refused TO grant a new list of prices
which raised the wages of the men.
While the refusal of the new price
list is one of the main reasons for the
strike. il is stated that this is the first
! gun TO be fired in the fight between the
cutters union of the X. of L. and the
boot and shoe workers union.
The firm has been for some time con-
sidering accepting the B. and s. work.
imposed for its use is that all employees
be members Of the union. Up to last
Tuesday nighS when the cutters repu-
dated the agreement between them and
the b. and S. Workers, the former were
nH compelled to loin the latter orga MIA
ton
The cutters claim that word was sent
to them that they would be expected to
join the 3. and S. workers if the firm
took the stamp. and they rebelled. They
allege that the firm was not paying
the union rate of wages in vogue in
other shops. and made a counter de-
mand for an increase.
The firm refused TO grant the request,
and today the cutters silently folded
their aprons and walked out of the shop.
If the stamp is given the concern,
crtff xx-ill
and it is rumored tonight that members
of the firm feel confident they will be
able to fill the strikers places.
In connection with the fight between
the X. Of l.. and the B. and g. workers
the following letter was today received
by Lynn manufacturers and the various
unions from President John F. Tobin
and Secretary BaiE of the E. and S.
union:
1T will be impossible for the manu-
facturer now using the union label 10
control his present trade if he discon-
tinues its use at the behest of the
knights of Labor. but there is not even
a remote possibility of any manufactur-
ar now using the union stamp and oper-
lting union factory throwing over our
"a bel
Inc manufacturers are engaged il. the
pursuit of business. They desire success.
Their greatest promise of success is in
he field where they obtain the most
trade. 1t is merely mathematical prop
1sition. The trade unionists humble,
nearly 100000. If the Knights of Labor
IAN count 5000 throughout the entire
y orld they viii surprise even some ot
! cir friends. It would seem that nearly
100000 men and those dependent upon
hem are better field for the manufac-
urer to cultivate than the possibly $1,000
men.
We look upon this affair down at
lynn as a tempest in a teapot At any
ime within the last I'VE years similar
trade could have been delivered by the
Knights of Labor against the trade
inions This is nothing new We are.
however. better prepared for the fray
oday than we have ever been before
We have reached 4 point where we can
look upon the futile efforts of
handful Of men to deplete our treas
Try and disrupt our organization
I'VE have behind us not only the
upeldid revenues of our own organiza-
ion, but we have the numerical and
moral support of any man connected
With any branch of the American Fedora
ion of Labor. 1t is because we have this
asst army demanding union label shoes
hat it will he impossible for the Knights
f Labor of Lynn to affect us more than
puff of wind
But this present outburst in Lynn
ill amount to no more than MANY a
imilar outburst in other sections of the
ountry.
Our numerical strength has increased
uring the past year approximately $50
er cent. and our membership in lynn
as increased in the same proportion. re- ,
ardless of the active opposition and per- .
stent misrepresentation of the X. of L.
utterc