The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-15
HAT MANUFACTURERS
 VOTE TO ABOLISH THE
 USE OF UNION LABEL.
Bith Sides Determined to Fight to a Finish--New- ark, ,Norwalk and Danbury Men Already Out-Dis-
 pute Involves Guyer Hat Co.-About 25,0O0 Men Are Expected to Go Out.
Are Expected to Go O.
fspecial from United Press. )

V New York. Jan. 15.-seventy-five hat
 factories employing from 10000 to 25.00(
 persons will be affected by the decision
 of the United Hat Manufacturers to discontinue the use of the union label. The action of the manufacturers is the result according to a staten<nt made
 to-day by President Mundheian, of the
 union men failing to keep their agree ment with the Guyer Hat Company of Philadelphia, where it is said. the men walked out while certain questions were still pending settlement.
 Strikes are expected at all or nearly all of the factories involved. Four thousand workers in the factories ill Newark, N. J.. quit work this morning. Arnold Turner. treasurer of the Ma tional organization of the associated Hat Manufacturers gave out the fol- lowing statement at Stamford, Conn. to-day:
 '"rhe action of the manufa cturers in deciding to abandon the union label was unanimous. Every concession was represented personally or by proxy. One clause of our agreement with the union specifically provides that there shall be no strike while questions are pending settlement and that the union snail not WlLHuEaW tHe idpei EToiu duy factory without giving due notice. We will fight to the dnish.''
 Five hundred men employed by the, Samuel Mundhein Company of Brook lyn, declared a strike to-day when they heard of the action of the manufac- turers.
 Charles A. KeeteH vice pEesident pf said this afternoon: ttOur concern ern- ploys between 5000 and 7,O00 people. We are a union concern and we do not expect any strike. The Dunlap firm belongs to the Manufacturers Associa- tion but we have not acted with them in this matter. We will continue the use of the label on our spring pro- ducts.''
 South Norwalk. Jan. 15.-A matters strike that threatens to effect every union natter in the country started here to day when about 1000 men en- ployed in the Norwalk district walked out. on receipt of orders from the United Hatters of North America call ing out all union men. This order is a 5irect result of the action taken at a of the National Hat Manufac- turers Association in the Hotel Knick- New York, last night at which it was decided to discontinue the use Of the union label.
 It-iis said that there were about 70 prominent manufacturers representing the big hat making districts in Boston, Norwalk, and Danbury at last nights meeting and that the vote was strongly in favor of barring the union label as the matter has long been 
 Both sides here say they are in the fight to finish.
 Danbury, Jan. 15.-The strike order reached here shortly before noon to- ra6i fO11v o1 mi in the National Manufacturers esta blish- ments quit work tieing up all but a few small independent shops. The total number affected here is estimated 1t about $500 for the whole Danbury ind New, Milford.
 The 1.400 union makers and 1900 fin- shers had gone out by noon and HOO women trimmers will have no work within a few days. Their sympathies | Ire with the men and their union af- iliated with the matters.