The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-11-21
Proposition of Former Badger
Men to Return to Work Not
Accepted by Company
WANT LOYAL MEN DISCHARGED
Body Under the Same Conditions
That They Had Been Working
Before Trouble Occurred

| The effort of the former workers at
the Badger Brass company to settle
the labor troubles at the plant failed
as the company has declined to accept
the proposition which was sent to
them by the various unions interested
in the fight. The proposition was de-
livered to the factory manager just
after noon on Friday and it was at
once considered. After the meeting
of the officials of the company it was
declared that it would be positively
| impossible for them to accept any
basis of settlement proposed by the
men in the communication.
| The proposition as made by the men
and the response of the factory man
ayers is as follows:
To The Badger Brass Manufacture
ing Company.
Grafton we agree to the following
counter proposition. Owing to the
unsettled conditions of business and
with desire to create and maintain
harmonious relations withsour employ
ers, we withdraw all demands in
agreement which we formerly SUBJ
mitted TO the managers Of the Badger
Brass Manufacturing company and
agree to resume work at wages and
conditions which prevailed during
the past season.
That all our members who we're
mployed during the month of Sep
TENDER, 1907, and who are at present
in this city resume work in body
and when the working force is to be
increased that preferencelbe.g iven to
former employees.
Considering the fact that our men,
bers were all former employees of the
Badger Brass Manufacturing COM
pany we do not see the justice or ne
cessity of requiring them to file ap-
LEGATIONS, but we agree that after
work isresumed the postoffice address
will be supplied to the foreman Of the
different departments on request.
That all new men employed during
the present difficulty and all former
departments affected be removed be-
fore we resume work.
We are willing to meet the Badger
Brass Manufacturing company in
conference to explain above counter
proposition at any time suitable to
them.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN BURNS, Chairman,
Seal. w. T. DIME, Sec-Treas.,
Joint Executive Board.
The reply of the company, which
was submitted to the men this morn
ing, is as follows:
JOINT EXECUTIVE BOARD:
Gentlemen-We have your PROPOSE
ton of Nov. Is, 1907, and your de-
mands appear plain and self
explanatory. Since resuming work,
after having taken inventory, our
factory has been open to both union
and non-union men alike at the same
wages paid by us last year. There is
not now nor has there been any SEM
blance of lockout, but it is our pur-
pose to treat ali men alike. Your last
demands are not only unreasonable
and unjust but they are impossible
because we could not use call our
mem bers who were employed IN the
month of September, 1907, and who
are at present in this city" if we de-
sired to. Business conditions at the
present time preclude the posi-
| bility of such action on our
part. The business is not to
be had. Besides being impossible
your demands are absolutely illegal.
You demand the discharge of all new
aud of all former employees who re-
| turned to work. These men are
certainly as much entitled to,a 1ive1i-
hood as your members, andlfor us to
discharge them and replace them with
your mem bers would be positively
unlawful under Sections 4466a and
4466c of the Revised Statutes of Wis
cousin.
Every man both old aud new now
in our employ is secure in his position
so long as his work is satisfactory
and we need his services and this
same rule shall apply to every man
who is put to work by us.
We should be pleased to have your
members avail themselves of our
proposition as presented and assure
YOU that as in Article of our prin-
ciples mo discrimination will be
made against any man because OF his
membership in any society or organ
ization'.
The conditions under which you
worked last year were satisfactory
neither to you nor to us and we know
that if you accepted the conditions we
have offered that they would prove to
our mutual satisfaction.
Respectfully yours,
THE BADGER BRASS Co.
The Badger plant is now practically
shut down and it may be some time
before there is a demand for re-
/ opening of the plant. Business in
all parts of the country is being hard
hit by the present financial troubles
and the automobile business is suffer
fa;1Y1roc 20