The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-23

MEN ARE IMPORTED.
Master Painters Claim They
Have Plenty of Men.
Possible That Some Sort Of
Compromise May Be Made.

The union painters and paperhange1s
of Topeka went out on strike at eight
O'Clock this morning.
The refusal of the shops to pay an
increase of from 35 to 40 cents an hour
together with the refusal 10 employ
none but union men was the occasion
for the strike About 40 men are IN
volved.
The shops in Topeka. have been mere
or less open and there has probably
been but one firm which has maintained
q strictly closed shop, employing none
but union men. The strike has 1fe
anticipated and as a consequence W0l +
men were brought into the city from
outside points to I'LL the gaps made in
the ranks of the employees by tae strike
this morning
The Increase would have been paid is
the claim set up by the employers aut
they baked at running business With
union men exclusively.
The men went out this morning ct s
o'clock" said c. NJ. Hill of Hill & Co.
"They demanded a signed agreement
from US asking for a closed shop and an
increase of from 80 to 40 cents an hour.
Sixteen men walked out in my shop
but ] had advertised last week in the
State Journal for workmen and got a
good reply about II men showing up
this morning. I am not Handicapped
and win easily get all the men | need
to handle my contracts. The union ask
ed too much. The probabilities are that
some concessions would have been
granted by the firms but they wanted
not only an increase but they wanted
to hold US down to employing union
men only There is no question but
what we viii be able to hold our own
against the union. There are plenty of
men to be hired
AE..,-
of their employees refuse to go out on
the contracts this morning. I'VE had
more men. than we could take care OF
this morning." said a member of The
firm. The weather was unfavorabie
windy, and for that reason we couldn't
use so many men this morning. We
had to lay off four or five men on this
account. We had enough new men come
in to handle all the work that we ha5
on hands We are nov employing about
Is men, We have tried to tkeeD a unfor
shop right along up until now where Y
got to point where We couldn't posi-
bly, DO it any longer. We ceuldn's sf-
ford to stand for this new increase II
the schedule. The union is asking some
thing now that We can't give I dom
think there win be any difficulty ut 81
in getting all the good workmen VIZ
may need"
This is something which has beei
brewing for some time. said n c
Lang Il have been expecting it,
WASH affected by it because since m
trouble with the union last Novembe
nave maintained an open shop. Whel
I refused 10 stand for what the unfol
demanded the men quit me and ven
to the other shops. I think there is n
doubt but what we will be able to hoL
our own We viii help each other cut
] don't think the union went at
right I believe if they had gone AT
in the right manner they would hav
got most Of the things they wished
last tuesday they came to US an
made their demand for an increase #
the scale and for a closed shop. W
held meeting later in the week an
then told them we proposed to run on
business ourselves. They didn't as
for compromise. They simply aslxe
US what we expected to do and we toll
them Then this morning they wake
out"
81 had four men go out. said W. x
eFillespie The union demanded
signed agreement for an increase i
the scale. closed shop and a whole lc
OF other things. We can get along a
right; there are plenty of men to b
got"
G. A. Wood conducts an omen sbo
and was not affected. 81 don't trno,
much about this because I have bee
otit of town. A meeting Of the naeste
painters has been called for this afte,
noon. I understand to discuss this
don't know what win be done or " hs
e planned"