The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-08-03

in abundance. The wires to every
point along the chain Of lakes were
kept hot, and before sundowr the ma
rine interests of the rGeat Lakes We're
appraised of the settlement at Du-
luth.
D. ]. Keefe. president of the Inter-
national Longshoremen's Marine and
Transportworker's association wired
from Detroit his congratulations, and
complimented the labor men here upon
the diplomatic and sensln.e manner in
which they handled the strike.
When the whistles blew Thursday
morning every man appeared at the
docks, and was reinstated without
prejudice After they had arrived the
superintendent asked if they were all
there, and seemed very anxious to
have every man returned. No more
pleased man appeared that Mr.. Ira
vanasse, and he took particular pains
to express himself in the most kindly
manner to many CT the men.
When the strike was inaugurated
the press and public were strongly
against the men. By their behaviour
and their courteous communications to
their employers they gradually won
the audets of the people. They re-
turn to work a much more understood
body of men than when they went out.
The last move Of the strikers was
an offer for arbitration. This was not
desired by the company, and some in
teresting correspondence followed. The
full text of the letters was as follows:
Hon. M. B. Cullum, Mayor,
"City Of Duluth.
Dear Strive are, in receipt Of
the communication addressed to you,
under date of the 20, instant, from a
committee Of ore dock employees Of
this company, and beg to say that
said communication has had our most
careful consideration.
1T is our desire to resume work at
the docks at once and we shall be
greatly pleased if the emp4.yes. after
careful consideration, shall finally de-
eide to go back. If they do, we as
sure you that there will be no dis
elimination against any Of them and
that no additional men will be en-
ployed until all of our old employees
are given an opportunity to return
I'VE desire to commend the dock
employees for the peaceable and law
abiding manner in which they have
conducted themselves during the past
two weeks and beg to assure you that
If and when the strike is ended, it
shall be our purpose to give the men,
through committees representing all
our employees, every opportunity of
taking up from time to time, with
the officials Of the company matters
of mutual interest or concern and to
treat with them in all matters with
the same degree of fairness that we
have always accorded
I'VE believe that the dock employees
will find it for their own best in
terests to resume work and without
delay. If, however, they decide other
wise, kindly say to them that we shall
feel at liberty to employ other men
permanently to take their places at
once, much as we shall regret the
necessity for so doing
so far as we know only two matters
of difference exist.
Il. The question of open shop.
"2 The rates Of wages:
you and the men well know our
position on this first question. For IA
years past we have consistently stood
upon the broad policy that we have
the inherent right to employ any man
seeking to enter our service irrespec-
tive of whether he Is affiliated or not
with any organization or associa tion
and without regard to nationalitv
We believe our position here is m.
assailable and, in fact, as you will re.
| call, the committee of our dock en-
ployes, in their communication to you
dated the 27th instant, expressly dis.
claimed that they were making any
demand upon us for the CLOSED shop
policy.
I'm regard to the rate of wages
permit us to say that the present
scale to be effective until October 31s,
1907, was the result Of a verbal agree.
ment between all the dock employees
represented by their own committee
and the company. This agreement
was made at conference at which
eight men representing the emplove.
were present and was Thoroughly un.
derstood and assented to by botl
parties at that time and work at the
docks was carried on for two months
under the same In our relations witt
our employees, as well as with the
public, we consider a verbal agree
ment as binding and effective as 6
written one.
I'VE think that the dock men should
show their good faith and intention
to carry out their agreement made In
| May by Immediately returning tc
work.
Whatever the conclusion of these
J negotiations may be, we desire to ex.
| press to you our sincere thanks 70,
your untiring, impartial and public
| spirited efforts in attempting to adjust
the difficulty and bring about a peace
| able and much to be desired solution