The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-03-05
DULUTH UNlUN'S:WIIb
Vote ON M0IDgRS CASE
TRADES ASSEMBLY REFERS MAT.
TER OF NATIONAL IRON
COMPANY BOYCOTT.
Committee Reports That Firm Has No
Desire to Settle With Union. 1t
Will Be Fight to Finish. Parry
Organization and Trade Unions. to
Cross Swords. Struggle Between
Money and Moral Suasion.-

Shall organized labor in general put
the National Iron company on the un-
fair list? That is. the question that is
attracting the attention of all union
men at this moment. At a special meet
ing of the Trades Assembly held We'd
nesday evening for the purpose of re-
ceiving the report of the special conf
lnittee, appointed at the regular meet
ting to meet with the officers of the
National Iron company to induce them
to make peace with the Molders union,
it was voted after hearing the report to
lay the matter over until the next reg
ular meeting.
The committee reported that there
was no possibility of settlement. The
National Iron company would listen to
nothing, but the ten hour day and the
open shop. Following the report Of the
committee it was learned that a con-
ference had been held with the molders,
and the firm had form Of agreement
ready to be signed by each of the indi-
vlduals. Its purpose was to ignore the
molders union entirely. OF course the
men very naturally refused to enter in
to any such agreement.
During the conference with the Trades
Assembly committee Mr. Everett of
the National Iron company stated that
he was forced to reduce wages, on ac-
count of business conditions. One of the
members of the committee then asked
if this was true, why was it that the
firm were. paying higher wages to strike
breakers than the union asked for? The
only reply that could be given was that
it was necessary to have men. The firm
acknowledged that. it was a member Of
Parry's National Manufa cturers Asso-
citation. which no doubt explains it's at
titude in this controversy.
Considerable debate followed the
report of the committee. Some of the
delegates advised the immediate en-
dorsement. Of the request of the Mol
ders. Others advised caution. It was
commended that a mere endorsement by
the Trades Assembly alone would not
have the desired affect. It was then
resolved to appoint q committee to lay
the matter before the several unions
1t is expected that the action of the
unions will be favorable to the molders.
When they do decide it will mean a
determined fight against the unfair
up in some cases, for it is probable that
the building trade unions will not work
on buildings where material from the
National Iron company is used
The National company expects con-
siderable support in this from the Ma
tional Manufacturers Association. It
will be supplied with strike breakers
and financial aid, but this will not suf-
flee. This will not create a. market for
the products OF the firm. Then again
the Parry organization will have con-
siderable trouble elsewhere thisssyear.
50 that its :"1lmitles treasury win BE
taxed to.it utmost: The National Iron
company may hope for support that; it
will not get from this Zee If this
should prove true, ar -, its fight
againts the molders the company should
60 to the wall, it is to be presumed
that all opponents to, union labor will
attribute it to- the "domineering atti-
tude' of organized labor, when the fact
will be that the failure will be on &C.
count of the short sighted stubborness
of the firm.