Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-11-19
A PLAIN sTATEaaRNT on FACrs

regarding q matter Of private bust.
ness which concerns only the Press
and It's employees. that we feel justI-
Ned In making q statement to the
business men and citizens of Occur
d'Alene with which we would not be
justifled In burdening them under
ordinary circumstances. We shall
make that statement complete and
TO the point, for the reason that II
Is not our intention to refer to the
subject again.
For sixteen years the Press has
been published In Occur d'Alene,
boosting and printing columns of
matter showing our resources and
advantages. We have shared the
towns ups and downs with other
citizens and conducted our business
In accordance with our ideas and ex-
pcFience. az any American citizen
would do.
The printers OF the city. through
the influence OF the Spokane union,
organised a local here and demand
ed an eight hour day, stating that
they could accomplish In eight hours
what they were doing in nine. This
concession was granted them and re-
suited in increasing the expenses Of
the Press once several dollars a day
without corresponding return,
placing the business on so close
margin that the profit practically dis
appeared while competitors were
apparently satisfied. An inyestlga-
tion disclosed the fact. beyond a
question OF doubt. that the Press
was the only once IN the city COM
plying with the union rules. We
protested with members OF the union
IN our employ against this dIscrlml-
nation and they promised to remedy
u. They failed, or neglected. to do
20, and We continued to grant the
eight hour day ana price and one
half for overtime nhtll two printers
who had been working overtime In
another once acknowledged that
they had been doing 40 right along
without receiving any compensation
Whatsoever. Members and oflcers OF
the union violating les rules and dis
eFiminatinG Sgainst the Press in this
way proved to be che laying on OF
the last straw OF injustice. and while
We are not opposed 10 labor organ
iratioas. conducted along proper and
Just lines. We do not propose 10 sub
mlt 70 injustice and tyranny. such as
has been shown BY the printers OF
this city, and the Press viii heroaf-
tor belconduoted on the open shop ba-
Gle where any American eitizen may
md employment II his services are
needed and we can reach a mutual
agreement. We believe every man
has the lnalienable right to earn a
living and to be protected in that
right.
A. > result o. the unjust eondi-
lions which were being imposed on
the Press We discharged one man
Tor lneompotency aud gave all other
employees an opportunity to remain
with the once. stating that their SER
Vicea were satisfactory. Two print
eFs later preferred TO throw up their
Jobs rather than work the nine hours
and their places were promptly allied,
since which time the old reliable
Press has been swinging along as
though nothing had happened.
II there 10 n business man who
woald have done differently under
the circumstances We have failed to
aud him. The Press will continue
70 b pablinhed and our business
move along As usual with the APP
prevail % not only the people gsner-
ally but Of . number OF union men
who have personally expressed their
approval Of our course,
The two printers who quit cur
service had q perfect right to do so.
oaaai IN every respect to the right
We posseas to employ others TO all
Inc vacancy, and We did not at the
Time consider the matter important
enough to BE- given the dignity Of a
strike. because many men have been
Dmployed and Quit. or were dis.
'harKed from the once for cause. and
his incident would have passed on
h the same manner had Il not been
Tor the Interference Of = few aElta.
loFs from spokane who came over
here for the avowed purpose % max
ng a disturbance among the business
men ana creating m feeling and dis
latiafaetion IN q community that had
lust been eemented In the bonds Of
unity By q successful eounty seat
asht. The citizens Of Occur d'Alens
Ihould givs these strangers with I'M