The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-20
FRENCH UNABLE TO OPEN SHOPS Manufacturers Find They Can not Hire Union Cigarmak- CTS to Take Locals
 Places.
  REFERENDUM VOTE FIRST -----y------ Association at Sunday Meeting Votes to stand by Mir Kilfcathcr--- Property Need Not he
 Moved.
REFERENDUM VOTE FIRST

Tho local cigar manufacturers have received intelligence which means that their shops will be closed month longer until the Cigarmakers' unions throughout the United States and Cam ada have had time to vote on the re- port of G. k. French and Charles Pre- ble tho arblters sent here by the Inter national organization to settle the trou- bes between the men here and their employers This news is to the effect that Mir, Prehle and Mr French had no right when they rendered their deci- sion to declare the shops af the local manufacturers open to union man should the former employees refuse to return to work under the conditions imposed by the manufacturers.
 The manufacturers heard of this first last Saturday afternoon when National Organizer G. K. French finally admit ted, when asked to send union men here that he could not do so pending the referendum vote. From statements of Mir French and Mir prehlo all along the manufacturers have understood that the shops were open to all union men and that Mir. French himself would bring enough union men here to All the shops at any time the manufacturers wished them. He urged the manufac- turers to give the former employees ev- cry show to get back to wait a few days before hiring other men. The manufacturers held off until their stock of cigars had diminished consid- erably and then asked Mir French to bring some union men here to work. His reply greatly disconcertcd the man ufacturers.
 The Cigarmakers union then decided that its members should go back to work pending the referendum vote. All were ordered back except those who had formerly been employed at John r, Kilfeather's, but who left on strike about month ago. These were or dered to stay out. When the manu- lecturers committee head the exception to tho general order they declined to take back any of the men unless the employees at Kllfeathers' returned to work. This was refused
 This morning members of the Cigar makers union will return to the shops preparatory to taking up work again, but will be refused by tho manufac- turers After that neither side hopes for a settlement until the matter has been decided upon by referendum vote Of tho entire international organlza- ton
 Last week the manufacturers drew up a letter, published in this paper which ordered the men to return 10 the shops for work Monday or remove their clothes and their tools to make room for ntw men, After this letter had been sent the manufacturers found that they could not hire union men until the trou- ble Is settled, and so to-day if the men do not cofne and take their tools away tho former plan of putting the prop crty of the employees on the sidewalk will not he followed,
 The manufacturers held a meeting yesterday morning in John P. Kllfeath- CTS office and unanimously decided to stand back of everything the assocla- tion's committee has done. The man. ufacturcrs votel not to open one of the shops to union men until the union de- clares the strike at the Kilfeather fac- tory off.