Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-02-24

the plant of the Toledo Machine &
Cool Company, of Toledo, Ohio,
strike breakers were sent from Phil.
adelphia, Cincinnati, Cleveland. Chi
cago, very few of them being mem
bers of the National Metal Trades
Employees Association. At the sta
ton they were met by special guards
or detectives. In the Philadelphia
bunch of strike breakers, numbering
over 35. there were several standard
members of the Hinkydink Bri~ade.
The rest were those who wanted to
make stake and perfect their me-
chanical skill, all ex-helpers and
handymen. At the depot they were
met by the striking machinists, who.
followed them in autos furnished by
the company for the strike breakers
use. All! to have seen those brave
boys, the Union men shivering with
cold, unmindful of the bitter Cana
dian wind that swept from the lakes,
awaiting, outside their railroad sta
ton, Ntrying ITO appeal to the strike
breakers saying, Boys, don't go to
work, a strike is on" while others be-
seeched them, "Have manhood, boys;
don't scab." Have honor, fellows,
don't take our bread away; we have
wives and children to support. ..
But all in vain; they might just as
well have appealed to stump as to
these fellows. Manhood, they had
none. Honor? They lost that long
ago, and why not? They were grad
Fuates of the present system, trying
to protect the rights Of the open
shoppers. Wasn't that enough?
Four autos swiftly carried the strike
| breakers to the shop. A paint shop
was transformed into dormatory,
with over 80 cots; the commissary
departments instituted down stairs;
also lounging room with tables
around, the dining room near the
machine shop. 1t so happened that
the Secretary Of the National Metal
! Trades branch in Toledo was a, min
lister of the gospel. He came down
the next day shook hands with all
| the strike breakers and called them
brothers. The same night q big
game of poker was on; professional
! card sharps dealing, while bottles
of beer and whiskey made the
rounds, changing from player to
player. One of the card sharks told
me he was no mechanic. but followed
strikes for the purpose OF playing
cards; he also showed me several
tricks, how to mark the cards with
the explanation that in the Packing
House strike, he cleared over 81
| 900 cash by crooked gambling.
About how the work turned out:
Well, if the scrap pile could only
talk it would make an interesting
page. The strike breakers were
| paid from 20 cents to 80 cents peh
hour, only two in the die room get
4 ting 81 cents, as they were mem
| bers of the National Metal trade.
Not a word against gambling or
drinking did our reverend gentleman
say. OF course. it was different
when he preached in his church.
Before the machinist strike in
1907 a letter was conidentially sent
out from the National Metal Trades
:, headquarters in Cincinnati to some
of the prospective members, called
the monthly letter, known as Circu-
lar C-37. It was as follows:
ssAcAing commissioners Office.
Robert Wuest.
| fOuCLu NdL1OudA ooAA 0u44OAh61
Cincinnati. 0.
ITO the Members of the National
Metal Trades Association:
Gentlemen - Some months ago
one of the high officials of one of
the International (Union) Labor or
carnations made the boast that 1t
was the intention that his organiza-
ton call a number of strikes in the
territory embraced by our asocia-
ton, with the view Of demonstrating
the efficiency of. his organization.
"That this labor organization has
done it's best is evidenced by the
fact that we have recently combatted
eighty-three $3.50 strikes. but the
"efficiency" of the organization hoped
for by our adversaries has developed
only in an inverse ratio to their ex-
pectations.
Our organization has proven
eual to all emergencies without any
particular effort. and the satisfac-
tory result so obtained in the eighty
three shops proves that membership
in the National Metal Trades Asso-
I ication is valuable asset in time
of trouble.
4 ING SApCEICuCO VI LAO AOAAOOA 3
above referred to has demonstrated
to them, as it surely should to other
manufacturers eligible to member
ship; but not affiliated with US, that
as an association we stand for all
that is best for both employer and
employee by creatin the open shop
and should therefore command the
special consideration of every broad
minded manufacturer.
I'm view of the fact that practically
all of the strikes called in, the shops
of our members have failed in their
/ purpose, and in view Of the further
fact that these strikes were called, in
all probability, for the sole purpose
of impressing the rank. and file OF
workmen with the supposed power
of union labor organization. The
failure of these strikes should con-
vince the duped followers of the
/ ~. of