Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-02

Recently a petition was clrcu-
lated among the merchants OF Troy
favoring settlement of the starohers'
strike by arbitration.
The petition read as follows;
We, the undersigned citizens OF Troy,
concerned in the welfare of the city
and innocent victims of the Disagree
ments between starchers and the MEM
bers of the Collar and Shirt Manu-
facturers' Association, which nave
continued with damaging results 70
the great industry of our city, ana
with much hardship to the WORKING
people and tradesmen in our midst
desiring to terminate the evil condi-
tions resulting from those Disagree
ments respectfully remind the mem
bers of the Collar and Shirt Manufac-
turers' Association and of the Collar
Starchers Union No. Of the rights
of the public in the matter and we ear
nestly solicit that they express their
consideration of the city's best inter-
est by suggesting a basis upon which
the members of their respective asso-
Citations will consent to arbitrate DIFF
ferences before an impartial board OF
arbitration.
The Mnnufacturcrs' Answer
Inc 1OllOWlHB dh5Wei was SSHN ~
the petition:
We acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of the 18th inst, and
OF the petition accompanying 1t, which
is dated September 26. The sugges-
tions emanating from a considerable
number of citizens and merchants con-
cerning the unfortunate trouble Which
has prevailed in the chief industry OF
this city for several months past are
entitled to respectful consideration,
even though they may not be assented
to. In order that you and they may
fully appreciate our position and the
reasons for our inability to accept the
suggestions made, we deem 1t proper
to recall to your attention some OF
the facts connected with the existing
strike.
The strike began on April 27, when
the hand starchers in the collar laun-
dry department of Cluett, Peabody &
CO. left their plaoes without assign
ing any reason.
Since the strike various reasons have
been given for 1t, as follows:
1. Objections to starching machines.
2. Unsatisfactory work of the ma
chimes
8. Unsatisfactory prices paid for
starching after the machines.
4. Reduction in prices paid for
starching.
S. Oppressive rules applied to starch
ers.
6. Starchers unable to obtain hear
ing on the part of Cluett, Peabody &
Co., and
7. That no strike exists, but that
there Is q lockout.
Concerning the above, we state as
follows:
1. Starching machines have been in
use in the Troy laundries for more
than fifteen years, though they We're
not introduced by Cluett, Peabody &
Co. until the spring of 1904
2. The work of the machines has
been entirely satisfactory. as Indicated
by their general adoption by the manu-
facturers.
8. Earnings-The earnings of the
starchers, whether by hand or after the
machine, depend largely on the abil-
ity and experience of the operator, an
inferior starcher being able to earn SO
a week, while an experienced one will
earn as much as $1S week.
4. No reduction in prices for starch
ing was contemplated, and the claim
that changing from hand starching at
cents to starching after the machines
at Q cents reduced the earnings Of the
starchers Is shown to be false.
8. Rues-Starchers were not sub
jected to oppressive rules.
6. AS to the hand starchers of Cluett,
Peabody & Co. being unable to obtain
a hearing, it should be said that the
starchers stopped work without as
signing u reason, and that director
of that company informed them If
they would go on with their work he
would, within a half hour, listen to any
grievance they might wish to present.
When work was offered them 1t was
refused and they left the premises,
the superintendent informing them that
they were not dismissed, but were leay-
ing of their own accord.
AS for hours of labor they range
from s to 10 daily and rarely exceed 80
hours per week.
Not only do the starchers in Troy re-
ceive larger compensation than Is paid
in other cities of the country, but the
work rooms are generally light and
airy and the sanitary conditions ex-
cellent.
No Discrimination Against Unions
AS to the attitude of the collar and
shirt manufacturers toward organized
labor 1t has been the same for nearly
twenty years, the manufacturers con-
ceding the right of their employees TO
belong to labor organizations or to re-
frain from so doing, as they might pre-
fer the only requirements being that
the employees should do their work
and conduct themselves
In other words, 1t has been
the rule of the manufacturers not to
for or against labor or
To discriminate in favor
of unions would be an injustice to the
employees who do not belong to labor
and in the collar and
shirt industry of Troy not more than
10 per cent. are identified with such or
ganizations.
or Compromise Impossible