The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-10-06
the PRINTERS ON 4 sRTIkE
Eleven Printers Quit Their Cases at
The Republican and the Edu-
Gator Offices.

- AAAO AN0PO0AAACAAA IA JAG INN
Gator Offices.
The strike among the printers in
this city which has been under con-
sideration for a week OF ten days took
place in this city Monday morning at
10 $50 O'Clock. The whole question of
the strike hinged on the elght-hour-
a-day proposition. Eight men walked
out of The Republican and three out
OF the Educator Office. The Gazette
announced Saturday through its, pro-
prietor. ~. L. LaFollette, that he
would. after today, conduct an open
shop.
The typographical union had SUBJ
|mitted its contract for che signature
Of Manager Dean of the Mitchell
Printing Co., and d statement was
presented 10 the union by II. L.
Bras, in which the Mitchell Printing
Co., fully conuurred. This state
ment is given below and sets forth
fully the contention OF the employing
printers. The statement of the typo
graphical union is also given follow
ing it, This morning Chairman
Hutchinson asked Manager Dean for
an immediate answer il it was his
intention to sign the contract, and
he declined to attach his name to
such a contract.
Mr.. Hutchinson Immediately called
the men into session to either ratify
or reject the walkout. A secret ballot
was taken and the men decided to
stay by the walkout.
While the strike has crippled Tie
Republican and its job department.
for the time being a paper will be
issued each day just the same, and
within as short a time as possible the
job department will be in working
order. We ask the INDULGENCE OF the
business men of the city to bear with
US a short time and matters will be
running smoothly.
Below is given the statements OF
the employing printers and that OF
the Typographical union:
Statement of Employing Printers.
Sept. 30, 1905.
Mitchell Typographical Union,
No. Cos, Mitchell. SD.
Dear Sirs:- [ have before me
your contract for the coming year and
have examined it carfull Y. i note
that essence of the contract is the
reduction of a working day from nine
hours to eight hours, and as our con-
tract signed N year ago is out Sept.
goth ii is due to you ior me to give
NV reasons for not wishing TO Sign
the contracts submitted.
wish to say first. however, that
l have the utmost friendly feeling for
the members Of the union and my de-
cision in this matter is based purely
upon business reasons [ have been
perfectly satisfied with the contract
for tho past veai. After a careful
examination OF my business matters
| am satisfied that [ cannot afford
a reduction of nearly II per cent of
my working capital. This is equiva-
lent 10 a loss OF that much profit to
my business. | have found COMPETE
ton so sharp that we cannot afford
this loss.
After a careful analysis Of the
printing establishments over the
state | iino Sioux Falls and Mitchell
are the only two real union towns IN
the state. In the larger towrs like
Yankton, Aberdeen, Huron, Pierre
and Watertown they have no union
organization. In view of this | do
not deem it wise for US to sign an
eight hour agreement with these
other towns keeping an open shop.
THIS gives them an unusual advan-
taRe over US i'll many ways in our
business. Then again, 1T would be
unfair to expect us TO sign an eight
hour contract in view of the present
situations at Sioux Falls. There are
so many conflicting rumors as to the
situation that it would lie poor policy
for us TO accept this contract with
out first having the matter definitely
|setlled at Sioux Falls.
Therefore, [ would ask that the
present contract continue in operation
until January lst when by that time
we may know more definitely what
can be done. | respectfully return
the enclosed contracts, and trust that
this matter will be fully settled fair
to all parties.
Yours truly,
The Educator School Supply Co.,
Mitchell. S. ID.
Per III. T.. Bras.
Statement of Typographical Union.
Mitchell, S. ID. Sept. 80, 1905.
The Mitchell Printing Co.