The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-03-30
THE LABOR TROUBLE AT HIGH
POINT.


ture and glass factories Of High Point
next Monday unless the men abandon
the union by that time Saturday
night a staff correspondent of The In
|dustrial News interviewed some Of the
employers and obtained their state
Iment of the case. He then attended a
meeting of the union and was given a
statement of the men drawn up by a
committee appointed by the meeting
for that purpose. The manufacturers
state that not more than twenty-five
|per cent of their employees belong TO
the union and they say they can. con-
ltrol the situation and that they ex-
Ipect no trouble or that their business
will be interfered with. The establish
Iments involved in the controversy COM
lpose about one half of High Points
total manufacturing plants.
The outcome of this contest will be
awaited with great interest by all per-
lsons in the state interested in any way
lin her manufacturing industries.
The manufacturers who have given
lnOtice to the union men make the fol-
flowing statement of their side of the
lease:
This action was made necessary by
the fact that the majority of our en-
ployees do not belong to the unions,
land do not wish to join them, but We're
Ibeing intimidated by those who belong
Ito the union. Many of the working
men themselves approve of this course
land have SO expressed themselves.
There has always existed the best
Iof feeling between the workmen and
1.-THE manufacturers in High Point and
lit is we'll known fact that more
Iworkingmen in High Point own their
Ihomes than any other town Of its size
lin the south; and there is no place in
1.-THE south where they get better pay
flor the same class of work, better
Ischool facilities or cheaper living than
they do in High Point.
The manufacturers regret that con-
IditiOns made such a step necessary for
Ithey have always had the kindliest
feelings towards their employees in the
lpast and sincerely hope that such feel
ling will continue to exist in the future.
For years the labor of High Point
Twas done almost exclusively by local
lWorkmen and as long as this condition
continued there was no trouble But
IWorkmen began to come in from a
ldistance and to organize the men into
lunion and stir UP ill-feeling. These
men are. however, few in numbers and
we confidently believe that when the
men appreciate the true situation they
will continue at work. We want no
trouble and are expecting none.
We do not wish the workmen to un-
lderStand that we are boasting of what
we have done Or to think that we are
tactuated by any feeling of malice or
lill-will. It was simply a matter Of
business and as business men we took
a step which we felt was necessary
flor the protection of the interest of
our stockholders and which we con-
lfdently believe will rebound to the ad-
Vantage of the laboring men no less
THAN to the advantage of the manu-
ifacturers.
The statement of their case as drawn
up by the committee of the union men
lis as follows:
The majority of the union men of
High Point were notified by their en-
iployers this evening that unless they
cut loose from the union by next Sat
iurday they would not be needed any
!longer.
| They were told of freedom, sweet
freedom" and the wives and children
Ithey had to care for. but the men
lknew that their love for their wives
land children was stronger than the
manufacturers and at a we'll attended
meeting tonight it was decided that
lon next Saturday they would all take
1.-THE "lock OUT which had been forced
lon them.
| Order will be maintained and High
Point union men will show to the
Iworld that they are gentlemen.
| The manufacturers first tried to
force the men to go on a strike, by
ldischarging men who were officers of
ithe union and who had done them
faithful service for years. In this
Ithey failed, and other methods were
resorted to. but they were also failures
and as a result today the men were
given notice that they would be clock
ed OUT next Saturday unless they cast
their principles to the four winds.
Conditions for the laboring men
here are terrible: long hours and small
wages prevailing on every hand.
] The manufacturers are sending out
notices to the trade that the price of
labor having increased they are COM
peeled as a result to increase the cost
tOI the manufactured pTOUuct TO Ine
merchant This is an untruth, for
1.-THE wages of the High Point workman
| have not been increased
There are workmen here with chill
idren who cannot attend church or
lSunday school for the want of cloth
ing. They are men who are Christians
land close livers.
The union men are not the aggriev-
Iors. but they will stand firm. believing
THAT they have the sympathy of every
lcitiZens of North Carolina who loves
home and country. To man they
will stand firm and the 'sinews of war
will not be lacking. Not only did the
manufacturers hand out this ultima
tum in the furniture factories. but in
Iother small enterprises in town where
card men were employed. They were
also given their walking papers.
The union men here have had to
have recommendation cards, from the
last factory where they worked be-
fore they could obtain employmenr in