The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-08-12

STRIKE.
A Fight Won and the DirefuI After
Effect Upon the Men Who
Won it.-By Will. Rohr.


both parties claimed victory. If the
fellows who had been fighting for a
union shop, for union conditions and rec
ognitIon of the union label, could be be-
lieved, they had scored notable vic
tory.
Some months prior to the staging of
this last act practically every industry
OF thriving Ohio city had declared in
no uncertain terms for wide-open, free
and independent shop. Every trades
unionist would have to forswear his al
legiance to his organization if he wanted
to work in that city.
Those union fellows were nifty lot
OF lighters. For six months had they
proven thorn in the side of the open
shoppers. 1t was a battle royal. The
cry of the union label had done its work.
And now the fateful moment was at
hand.
strange as it may seem, this final ring
ing down of the curtain announced that
every manufacturer, who held partner
ship and those who didn t, in the Manu-
facturers' Association, had given it out
that they would sign up contracts for five
years with their old employees, and that
hcnceforth their places would be all that
a union shop called for-and possibly
they would go the workers one better
Great was the rejoicing! Banzais,
huzzahs and songs arose upon the sui.
phuric atmosphere-smoke from the re-
cent battle What grand and glorious
victory!
Word was passed all along the line
that upon certain morning the doors
would be thrown OPEN Also that it would
be useless for any man to apply for work
who did not carry paid-up union card
IN the organization which represented his
craft
''Therc will be no strikers in union
ism from now on,'' stated one of the
bitterest fighters of former wars. "We
have decided to run strictly union places,
and we are going to do it,
Bright and early on that glorious and
never-to-b e-forgotten morning hundreds
of workmcn could be seen vending their
way toward the mills and factories.
AS We continued our peregrinations,
drinking in bountiful supply of the
spirit of enthusiasm that was being ex-
udcd by the blithe-acting men, we noted
that there was quite crowd before the
open door of one of the largest factories
Was there some hitch in the proceedings?
We drew near, and, believe me, if you
will, there had been discovered the eighth
wonder of the world!
The questioning and answering that
was being INDUCED in between the men
of l,n
person upon this suspicious morning, was
so incongruous that we pinched our ears
to discover whether all sense of hearing
or feeling had forsaken us.
Men, spoke he in the doorway,
you are no doubt aware of the fact
that hereafter absolute union conditions
will prevail in this factory. We are 60
ing to live up to that contract, just so
long as we can find union men who will
we recognize your organization and your
label. This we have done, and now it is
up to You.
AT a meeting of all the associated
manufacturers it was decided that, mas
much as we have consented to recognize
your organization and your label, it is
quite as fitting that YOU also recognize
and demand the same condition of your
fellows. 1t is our ultimatum that no man
can enter our shops and factories unless
he is a true-blue union man. We won I
have any near-union people hanging
around. In other words, when n man
goes to work he will be compelled to have
the union label upon every article he
or E,,1 L..
with these union regulations will pre-
vent employment until such time as they
are lived up to. Any man who purchases
non-union tobacco, clothing, or anything
upon which the label of Organized Labor
is not attached stamped will forfeit
his position
Holy, suffering Moses, Jumping wild
eats!
If one could have gathered up the sun
dry and divers looks of blank amazement
that overspread the countenances of those
within hearing, they would have a large
supply of blanks. This was too much,
Locked out, by gosh,'' said one.
- Serves Won right replied another. as
he made ready to show the labels upon
his apparel and belongings.
The same procedure was gone through
at every mill and factory with more or
less similarity Not one shop had a de-