The sun., 1910-01-02

Charles J. Barrett at that time demanded
that Loewe should unionize his factory.
They told him that IL he did 90 he would
have the right to use the union label in
his hats, which would increase his busi-
ness. Mr.. Mofitt said
we have made up our minds that your
factory must be unioni zed. We.hope that
we can accomplish this in a peaceful
way; IL not we shall have to do so by our
usual means
do you mean.' said Mr.. Loewe. "that
you will use forcel'
yes. your business interests will force
you to use the union label" was the
answer.
Mr.. Loewe had lockout in 1894 which
ruined his hat business. and ne pre-
terred to be independent. He sent a
letter TO the men who called upon him
in which he said that he thought that il
was for the best interest of the firm and
for the best interest OF Danbury that he
keep his factory an open shop, and he
said that IL attacked he would use all
lawful means to protect his business
interests.
The attack came unexpectedly on
July IS. 1902. II. II. Roelofs a Co. had
surrendered on July rs, and now the
united forces Of the United Hatters OF
North America were bent upon the union
izing of Loewe's chop. Treasurer James
P. Maher. who was the president OF a
local union, telephoned Mr.. Loewe on
the afternoon before that the officers
Of tho United Hstters wished to see him.
He was busy and could not see them.
On the morning of July rs the union
men in the factory left work. On the
next day all hut a handful OF the nom
union men left work. The men told
Mr.. Loewe OF the meetings which were
held and OF the addresses which Mr..
Maher made He told the men that
Roclofss factory had been unionized
and that now IL was ISoewe's turn.
The men objected TO quitting work
at once and he finally gave them his
consent TO go to the shop and finish the
work which was unfinished. He said:
at will take only few days. IL Loewe
tries to get non-union men it will do no
good. Men could go on the road and ruin
his business. II you do not do as we say
we will treat you as we did the men in the
Roelofs factory who refused to strike
We took a lead pencil and crossed of
ing do as we say"
To the non-union men a similar talk
was made. They were told that the fight
could have but one conclusion and that
only those would be provided for who
were with the strikers.
MIR. Loewe asked the men IL they wore
dissatisfied and they said that they were
not dissatisfied. He told them not 10 do
anything against the law.
@You needn't he afraid. said the men;
you have treated us well; We wont do
anything against the law.
aWhaC can I do1" said John Prokoby.
one Of the non-union men. There is
nothing left TO me-
On July 30 MIR Maher had an interview
with Mr.. Loewe. few days later Presi-
dent MofSitt had an interview with him.
why do yo,k disturb a peaceful fact tory, '
said Mr.. Loewe. The men are satisfied
II you find the payroll Of any factory AS
good as ours I won't have word TO say
I'VE want your factory" said President
Mofhtt. ."PaTmlee Of Newark Is your
chief competitor and yon will he on en-
equality with him. Your conditions are
all right and IL won't be m,lch for you to
make the change. We have never lost a
case aud we are not going TO lose this.
II cost us $23 900 to get Roelofs and we
will spend that TO get YOU"
1T will cost more than that TO get
me-" said Mr.. Loeve. You don't know
these people, continued Loewe. 1T
takes a bigger man than you to prove
any grievance among the men"
Il have affidavits OF grievances, said
MIR. Moffitt.
Then produce them said Loewe. Il
have made hat making my lifework and
know NV duty =" u .cif md Danbury
- C. - 1ut, by tIese meal. Mr.. Moffitt.
to let them go to work. II have to suffer
business death | prefer TO die my own
way"
The story Of the upbuiIding Of the hat
industry after the strike was one of an
uphill fight. The process of hat manu-
facture was gone. into and the difficulty
of teaching green men the complicated
processes was shown. Mr.. Loewe's son
was one who learned his trade at that
time. Fred Frede, one OF the less than
by Treasurer Maher in an effort to get
him away from the shop.
"You are not fit to live in free country
you d scab, said Maher.
~This would be free country il you
would only let IL be- was Frede's reply.
Many of the hate which were made were
unsatisfactory and were sent back 90 the
factory IL took at least n year for the
shop to get back into good condition
President Mofitt established his head
quarters in Danbury and personally super
intended the boycott from there.
ployed by Ioewe was one Of the star wit
nessee. His name was William j. Brady,
and he went out on strike with the rest
of them. IL was ne who furnished Presi-
dent Mofhtt with the inside information
az TO the destination Of the cases OF hats
which Loewe shipped.
His knowledge OF the business and the
methods used by the firm in shipping its
goods made him a valuable man for
Mofitt He walked the streets of Dan
bury and watched for the carman who
carried the cases OF hats to the railroad
station. When the carman came along
he would jump on the seat beside him
and inspect the goods. The information
which President Moffitt obtained in this
way he was able to wire to San Francisco
or wherever the hats might be sent and
he was able to get the local unions busy
before the hats arrived.
BOYCOTT IN SAN FRANCISCO.
The way in which the local unions
pushed the boycott was best shown by the
depositions which were read OF testimony
taken in California. The two walking
delegates Of the United Hatters OF North
America were William Z. Hennelly and
Daniel p. Kelley. Their sole business was
to push the boycotts OF the United Hatters
and thew worked Very Nffectiyalv asna-