The San Francisco call., 1903-12-16
JOHNSON WILL
FIGHT UNIONS
Resigns From the Restaurant
Keepers Association and
VIII Not Sign Agreement
EATING HOUSES OPEN UP
Committees From Both Sides
to Meet and Make Effort TO
Bring About a Settlement

As was stated in the Cali yesterday.
the lockout brought about by the
Restaurant Keepers Association is no
longer in effect. As quickly as the eat
ing houses that have been closed can
open their places for business. they Will
DO so. The meeting OF committees
from the association and the unions
Monday night aided materially in part
ly bringing about a settlement Of the
differences between the proprietors and
their help.
, The following letter was sent TO the
association yesterday and is self
explanatory;
To the Restaurant Keepers Associstion-Dear
Sirs' We agree that we viii replace as far as
possi be the crews ~ The Central restaurant and
The L1vol cafe. provided that all Restaurant
keepers Association houses VIII open Up as
union houses Any restaurant opening up as a
ncn-union or an open-shop house will net be
ton.
Further. that the Restaurant Keepers Asso-
citation shall take up the consideration Of the
rev agreement with the unions for the year
1904 not later than December 16 1905. We
have appointed our committee and await your
OLBI6N T. X. LEDwITH. President.
MEETING Is CALLED.
Immediately upon receipt Of the let
ter a special meeting Of the associa-
ton was called and the agreement al
luded 10 was taken uD and discussed.
A committee consisting Of Max Wiesen-
hutter. J. Cuenin. f. Hesse and J.. J.
Olson was appointed by the association
to meet with committees from the
Waters and Cooks unions.
The first objection the members Of
into an agreement with Cooks
Union. No. 11O- The second objection
was 10 the walking delegate" The
association is opposed 10 the walking
delegate" coming into the places Of its
members and creating trouble Prob
bly, the most serious objection is TO
that portion OF the agreement which
relates 10 closed houses"
This specifies that the restaurants
must employ union men and women
and provides for their wages and hours
of work Various members argued
that the restaurants Of this city were
entitled 10 an open house" agreement.
This entities them 10 employ union and
non-union help. such places as Zin-
kand s. Techaus the Louvre and the
Grotto are permitted to employ union
and non-union help. There seemed to
be a willingness on the part Of some Of
the members TO accede TO the demands
u the unions and have closed houses"
JOHNSON RESIGNS.
H. Johnson. who had been chairman
of the executive committee Of the as
sociation. and who bore the brunt Of
the attack during The present struggle.
favored the open house" and declared
he would not sign the agreement un-
less he and his fellow members were
granted that privilege. The majority
Of the association was opposed to Mr.
Johnson and he Immediately resigned
from the association. He appealed to
the members 10 accept his resignation.
otherwise they might have 10 expel
him for not abiding by the viii Of
the majority. A vote was taken and
!, ne members refused 10 accept the res
ignation. Upon reconsideration. how
ever. il was accepted and Mr.. Johnson
retired.
In an interview last evening he
stated that he intended TO open his
business as quickly as he could. He
would employ union and non-union
help and pay union wages. He further
stated that he would offer employment
70 the men and women who have al
ready worked for him. He says he
does not court a boycott but if there
is 10 be one. he viii stand it,
Herman Hermensen Of the Goodfel-
lows Grotto also resigned from the
association because he could not agree
10 certain demands made by that body.