The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-04-10

BY Union Label Trades Depart
ment of the American Fede-
ration Of Labor.
TO Assure Hatters Victory All
Unions and Friends Are
Urged to Contribute.


The Executive Council of tht
American Federation of Labor has
done and proposes to do all in its
power to help the thousands of men
and women engaged in the great
defensive contest in the Hatters
trade to Victory. Owing to the
hostile action of the Hat Manufac-
turers' association, there are less
than 1000 men and women employ
ed under union conditions. They
nave assessed themselves twenty
five per cent Of their earnings, but
1t can not be expected chat they
can support fully forty thousand
men. women and children. The
hosts OF labor and our friends must
come to the rescue and help defeat
the attemrt of rapacious and tyran-
meal employers to subjugate and
break the spirit of the workers and
force them down into a condition
OF serfdom.
Declaration and Appeal.
The Union Label Trades Depart
ment OF the American Federation
OF Labor has just been. formed in
washington. It unanimously adopt
ed the following declaration and
appeal:
Ten thousand matters and five
thousand hat trimmers have been
on strike the past twelve weeks.
There are, therefore, forty Thousand
men, women and children involved.
The matters have been and are made
the target of the concentrated at
tack not only Of the Hat Manufac-
turers but of the Van Cleve Ma
tlonal Association of Manufacturers.
In the first instance the suits at
law brought against the United Hat
ters OF North America for $780,
10000, and now The conspiracy and
attack upon their union label. The
plain purpose of the attack Of the
Hat Manufacturers upon he Hat
ters' union label is of greater sienifi-
canoe than appears upon the surface.
1t not only aims to destroy the union
LABEL to. establish the open shop, but
the non-union shop with reduced
wages, longer hours, and the inposi-
mon of tntolerable conditions In it's
wake. IT,
Significance Of Contest.
We, the representa- Of interna-
e1onal unions Issuing labels, in con-
'Vertion assembled, recognize the at
tack of the Hat Manufa cturers' Or
ganization as not only an attack upon
the organized effort Of the Hatters,
but as a blow ahmed at the very heart
OF the organized labor movement of
Our country. The Hafters are there
fore engaged in bitter contest
against a conspiracy Of conscienceless.
rapacious employers. II =
We recognize the struggling Hat
ters In this contest as the vanguard
in the battle waged against the rights
and interests, not, only of themselves
but Of all the toiling masses There
fore, quite apart Arom our natural and
fraternal sympathy with the Hatters
On their great contest their cause.
their success, must of necessity be
the cause, the success, the impulse,
the purpose, and the aspirations for
an American standard OF life for the
workers of our country, and that it
IS the ybounden duty of every worker,
organized or unorgarized, the duty of
all hberty-loving people who hope to
maintain the Standard of character,
the independence, and self-respeot of
the toalers of OUT country, to render
every possible assistance that greed,
chicanery and tyranny may be thwart-
ed, and the sturdy character of
Americas yoemanry maintained. We
therefore urgently request:
Plan susgssted.
First. That every wage Garner, or
ganized and 1msorsantzed, contribute
the sum OF 10 cents on Saturday,
April II; :. ..
Second. That # an honorable ad-
justment Is not reached on or before
Saturday, May is, another voluntary
contribution OF 10 cents be made, and
that a similar contribution of TO cents
be made on the Saturday nearest the.
middle OF each succeeding month so
long as the contest shall continues:
Third. That we urge upon synnpa-
thet1c and Hberty-loving Americans
the contribution OF food products;
Fourth. That the organized work
ers pay these voluntary 10-cent con-
tribUtions, to the secretaries Of their
respective local organizations;
Fifth. That the secretaries In turn
- e@AAo4AAI '1uC cU1lOuutS ~ LIE secretary
OF the United Hatters Of North Amer
lea, Martin Lawlor, II 'Waverly Place,
New York, N. Y;
Sixth. That we urge all interna-
ttonal unions who can do So, to con-
tribute Immediately from their funds
to the support Of the Efatteths in an
4tcdpatton OF the contributions of their
respective memberships, and I'm that
event local unions Of such interna-
tionals are urged to send their con-
trdb1stions to their respective interna-
ttona1 unions;
Seventh. That the officers Of In
ternational a11adons be urged to issue
special appeals to their respective To-
Gals with view OF enllsting the SYM
pathetic and prompt co-operation In
carrying out the purpose OF this ap-
peal; ~ 80 <s, -s=15 ~. ..~*.
Hfgd1ti1. That all friends and sym
pathtzers contributing moneys or food