The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-04-26
One Hundred and Fifty Men Go
Out at Big Plant and Threaten
to Tie Up the Concern
LOCAL MANAGERS POWER ESS
G. w. Allen States That if Men Insist
on Demand for Increase in Pay
the Plant May be Shut
Down indefinitely
From Mondays Dai1Yl

The most serious labor trouble
known in Kenosha in several years
occurred just after 5 O'Clock this
morning, when $50 men employed in
the yards of the N. r. Aliens Sons
Co. tannery went on a strike for an
increase iRwages to the amount of SO
cents weekly. The men out include
all of the men employed in the yards,
and it is possible that the big plant
may be forced to shut down for an in.
definite period and the 1900 men en-
ployed be thrown out Of work.
For some time there have been NUT
terings OF discomfort among the men
employed in the yards to handle the
leather from vat to vat, and this morn
ing this trouble crystalized in the
lower yard and the men went on a
strike. The Office was at once notified
and asked the police department for
aid to prevent the men entering the
upper yards. The police arrived too
late, for the men marched in a body
from the lower yards and overpower-
ing the foreman a t the upper yards,
went in and called out the remainder
of the force of yard men. The fore
man was roughly handled by the
strikers, but it is stated that he was
not seriously injured.
When the police arrived on the
scene all of the men in the yards had
joined the ranks Of the strikers. It is
stated that overtures have been made
to other bodies of workmen to Join the
strikers, but up to noon all depart
ments of the tannery save the depart
ment IN which the yard men were en-
ployed were in operation.
Charles w. Allen and M. Werve,
two Of the directors of the local COM
pany, held several conferences with
the leaders of the strikers, but they
they we're not able to reach an agree
ment. The men striking have no
union, but it is claimed that they have
a pretty good understanding among
themselves and that they are prepared
to make a long fight. The men had
been receiving SO. so week and their
demand is for $40.
Charles w. Allen was seen after the
conference with the men and he made
the following statement: II am pow
erless to do anything in the matter, as
| am just workman like the men
striking and anything I could do
would have to be dictated by the Off
GERS of the company. AT the present
time the Kenosha plant is paying the
yard men so cents more In the week
than is being paid in the Milwaukee
tanneries and we are power1ess to
raise this wage. We are in pretty
good condition just at present and if
the men insist in their demands it will
result in the plant beingsc1osed down
for an indefnite9tim The Central
Leather Co. now has a large number
of tanneries in operation:and itwould
be an easy matter to shut down the
Kenosha plant and supply all orders
from the other plants. We are hope
full that the matter can be arranged in
such a way that the plant may be
kept open.
Few of the men striking are native
born and few of them talk English,
and for this reason the managers are
having a hard time treating with the
men.
It's stated that if the yard men re-
main out it will be impossible for the
| tannery to continue in operation, and
this would throw the entire force OF
more than 1900 men out Of employ
ment. s.
Officers have been sent to the tan.
merry, but there has been no need for
| their services, as the men have been
in good spirits and seem to have nc
! tendency to become violent. The
! strike has caused great deal of ex-
/ element among other men employed
/ in the big plant.