Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-13
A STATEMENT
From Striking Papermak-
ers at livermore.
Place the Burden Of Present
Strike Upon the Company.
Another Machine Started...Turner
Another Machine Started...Turner
Falls, Mass, Mills to Open.

I.ivermore Falls. Nc. Oct. ia third
paper making machine was started in the
mill Of the International Paper 60. today
and another was being made ready to
start. More papelmakers are expected
from out of town this week. The union
still stood ont. One of the union officials
stated that contrary to reports, the men
had not voted by majority of two not
to return. Superintendent Edwin Riley
stated today that the International Pa
per Co now has 90 machines in operation
and that these are making a sufficient
amount of paper to supply the present
orders.
A statement explaining in detail the
attitude of the Papermakers Union OH
the strike of the papermakers in the
International Paper Cos. mills here
and throughout New England and New
York state which has been in force
since Aug. l, was tonight received by
the local union The statement is
signed by J. j.. O'Connor, secretary and
treasurer Of the International Brother
hood of Papermakers. Pulp, Sulphite
and Paper Mill Workers of WATERFOWL,
n. Y, and is in answer to commune
cation recently sent to the headquar-
tiers of the union by the local branch.
This is the first official statement of
the unions stand since the trouble
originated. The statement follows:
'rhe statement issued by the Inter
national Paper Co. and published
broadcast in the daily papers to the
effect that the present strike in the
mills of the International Paper Co.
was brought about by jealous unions
is false in every particular. The Paper
Trust would try to make the public
believe that they are the victims of
irresponsible labor organizations and
that unreasonable and unjustifiable de-
mands had been made upon them by
the International Brotherhood of Pa
permakers. Pulp, Sulphite and Paper
Mill Workers, while the real facts of
the case are that no demands of any
importance were made upon the COM
pany at the time this strike was
brought about and the only question
OF jurisdiction involved was forced up
on the organization by the company it.
self
"A resume of the situation will con-
vince an impartial public that the
whole trouble was brought about by
the management of the International
Paper Co. and the facts Of the case
herein set forth can be substantiated.
For number of years past it has
been the custom of the International
PdDer Co. and the International Broth
erhood to enter into an agreement Gov.
erlng wages, etc, from year to year
The agreement covering the wage
schedule expired on July 81, 1908. and
at conference held between the COM
pany and the employees who We're
members Of this organization on July
%, 1908. the company proposed a new
schedule of wages for the coming year.
which was approximately 10 per
cent reduction from the schedule then
in operation The employees refused to
accept this reduction and the company
insisted the reduction would have to
be accepted and positively refused to
make any agreement for the coming
year unless such reduction was accept
ed by the employees. This attitude and
that alone brought about the strike,
which was inaugurated on Aug l. 1905
When the strike had been on for
month. the company. in its efforts to
subterfuged agreement with man
who is at the head of a strike breaking
aggregation and who has no connection
with legitimate trades union of wage
earners. which would force all mem
bers of our organization to withdraw
therefrom or leave the employ of the
company This action and it alone is
responsible for any question Of juris-
diction which enters into the present
strike situation and the fight for two
vital principles which are dear to the
heart of every wage Garner and in
fact. to every American citizen.
The whole case summed up in nut
shell is that this strike is now being
fought against an unreasonable. greedy
and unjustifiable demand of the COM
pany for our old schedule of wages and
our right to be members of the legiti-
mate organization Of our craft
(S'gned) - J. O'CONNOR."