The San Francisco call., 1910-07-21
LABOR REJOICES
over VICTORY
Unionizing of Buck Stove and
Range Company Ends Long
Struggle

><(JEp PHIErS> Inc sole SUBJECT OF
SIaa1TslSG G.s,,e2ss so1EslIs conversation at Ia
zEEEMsEs Dor headquarters
yesterday was the unionizing of the
Buck stove and range company of
st. Louis. Probably the fight made by
this company was the most bitter ever
waged against organized labor in this
country. For six years the case has
been in the courts and Samuel Com
pers, Frank Morrison and John Mitch
ell now have prison sentences hanging
over their heads because of alleged
violations of court injunctions.
Russell /. Wisler. a prominent MEM
Der of the machinists lodge, in speak
Ing of this victory, said:
Il consider that If the published
statements about the Buck stove and
range company are true the vic
tory is the greatest organized labor
has gained in many years, and while it
does not affect materially the sentences
now hanging over Gompers, Morrison
and Mitchell, IL only proves the oft re-
peated assertion that no man or set OF
men have any rights or claims upon
mans labor or the disposition of any
mans funds or patronage, which is
purely a personal right and entirely
separate from property rights, while
the courts. through injunctions, damage
suits and other processes, have at
tempted to lay the foundation and
tablish point of law that employers,
In order to conduct their various bust
nesses at a profit, aref entitled TO a
sufficient amount of labor.
The labor movement for years has
contended and is now maintaining that
the right to work or not to work for a
given employer. the right to bestow
patronage or withhold patronage, is a
personal right absolutely guaranteed to
every citizen by the constitution OF the
United States and can not be taken
away unless this government proposes
to re-establish involuntary servitude
and the conditions prevailing prior TO
the issuance of the emancipation
proclamation"
John 1. Nolan of molders' union No.
164 was elated at the news and said;
The reported settlement of the Buck
stove and range company's difficulty
after such a long and bitter fight is the
greatest victory organized labor has
yet achieved. This is especially so In
view of the court decisions that have
been handed down in this case prohtb-
iting organized labor from declaring
the company unfair. The boycott In
this case must have been effective for
labor to be able to make a settlement
at this time. To my mind the pub
licity given to the Buck stove boycott
by the company taking the matter into
the courts has reacted i'm favor of or
ganized labor and should stand as a
warning to the manufacturer who
trusts to court decisions to help win
his fight against organized labor
Nolan gives the credit of the union
izing of the Buck stove company to
John F. Valentine, president of the in
ternational molders' union. Valentine
holds a card from the San Francisco
local.
In addition to the $4,000 raised by
individual assessments the marine
fireman's union has donated $4,000
to aid the strikers on the great lakes.
At Tuesday nights meeting Secretary
Patrick Flynn, who has recently re-
turned from the east, gave an account
of the situation as he viewed it. The
local also voted $50 per month to the
strikers in Los Angeles. This local has
no affiliations. national or local. Ten
candidates were obligated and 90 ap-
take a more active part in politics
than heretofore
President Hickey was in the chair
at the last meeting of united laborers
of San Francisco. The building trades
council recommended to the local that
a new election be held. and an election
will take place a week from next Tues
day night Fourteen candidates were
obligated and large number of applica-
tions received. The local paid its fifth
assessment of s175 to the striking
metal workers in Los Angeles. The
union decided to take up the election
of delegates to the state federation of
labor at a future meeting.
Secretary NJ. F. Decker Of the joint
council of teamsters has received a
report from David Roonan, who was
sent to Portland to look over the strike
situation. He writes: "You may not be
aware that we are not fighting the
bosses but the employers association.
At present it is not a question of ages
and hours, but the merchants refuse to
allow the draymen to recognize the
union. The strike is now in the sew
enth week, and we have lost but one
man.
Sheet metal workers union, No. 104.
at it's last meeting was presided over
by President Crane. The local sent
sf12.50 to the Los Angeles strikers. 1t
was decided to parade on Labor day
and decorate the unions automobile.
The secretary received telegram
from Jamestown, N. Y, that the sheet
metal workers employed by the Art
Metal construction company of that
city, had unionized its establishment.
The strike has been waged for about
two months for nine hour day. All
shop stewards are requested TO have
their reports ready Friday nights or
be subject to a fine of s5. Two candi-
dates were obligated and five admitted
by card.
Al Condrotte resigned last night as
president OF the bar tenders league to
accept the position of business agent.
Frank Plote was elected recently, but
neglected to qualify and the office was
declared vacant. At the next meeting
a president will be chosen. A commit
tee from the mattresses union ad-
dressed the meeting on matters OF in
terest to the Mattresses.
o. III. Wahl was in the chair al the
293 1t was voted to parade on Labor
day. After the routine business had
been disposed of the union indorsed the
candidacy of William H. Bemiss for
clerk of the supreme court.
Painters union No. 10 has appointed
the following committee to make the
necessary arrangements for parading
on Labor day: N. Smith, A. E. Smith. r.
c. Lynch. NJ. Norton and r. SarsheId.
w. III. Bemiss was indorsed for clerk