The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-07
LONG silence IS
FINALLY BROKEN
Statement Issued by J. c. Week
worth, President of Cigar
makers Union.
CLAIMS THE DEMANDS
ARE VERY REASONABLE
Otherwise There Are No New
Developments in Strike
Situation.

After prolonged silence concerning
the controversy between the cigar man
ufacturers and their employees the lat
ter decided Wednesday to change the
tactics that have hitherto been pur-
sued and to bring the matter before
the public. Accordingly, President j.
G.. Weckworth, president of Cigarmak
ers Union 224 of Salt Lake, prepared
the following statement, which Is self
explanatory and with the exception of
which there were no new developments
in the situation Wednesday.
The cigar anufacturers at the beginning
OF our trouble asked a special favor
that the cigar makers make no statement
TO the press regarding our demands, The
cigar makers up TO date kept their part of
the agreement so did the manufacturers
far as the press Is concerned. But
some OF them in selling their goods are
telling their customers that they don /
know what we want. and greatly misrep-
resenting our side OF the question, maxi
Ing our demands appear unreasonable and
even ridiculous. So In justice 20 our,
selves and TO every lover of truth and
fair play, we make the following stale
ment.
The cigar makers OF Salt Lake City pre-
sented their demands for an increase in
wages 10 the manufacturers. commit
tee of the cigar makers had TWO confer
ences with the manufacturers committee,
ana at npIU meetings lllG manufacturers
fatty refused to consider any demands for
an increase I'm wages from the cigar MAX
ers So, on June 3. every cigar maker In
Sal, Lake City. numbering about 30.
walked out The cigar makers in your
city are not unjust or unreasonable In
their demands but, on the contrary, they
are the most fair. the most just and
their demands the most reasonable OF any
demands made by any organization In
This or any other city In the country. We
are demanding an increase of 81 per thou
sand on the most popular brands. S2 per
| thousand on a certain brand that only
! furnishes work for four cigar makers In
| Salt Lake City. and on the clear Havana
work no increase has been asked for.
While rents and the cost OF living have
| manufacturers have increased their bust
| ness 80 to 100 per cent. the cigar makers
remained stationary without any advance
! whatever. but working under the same
! scale of prices for nineteen years. And
| now after working that many years under
| the old bill. We demand slight increase,
| which will amount TO "A raise in wages OF
! from SIPS 10 81 50 per week. or about
! a per cent increase Nearly all wage
| earnerS throughout the country had their
| wages raised voluntarily or on demand
| from 10 10 10 per cent In the last three
/ years That is why We say. and are
! justified in saying so by the above facts.
! that our demands are the most just. most
easonable of any demands that have been
presented by any organization to Its en-
| ploNcrs. So in order for the cigar makers
| OF salt Lake City TO put themselves right
| before their friends and the union made
| cigar smoking public, we are compelled
| 10 issue this statement