United labor bulletin., 1910-11-24

tion shortly after Huntington had dis
charged his men. The letter was couched
in language that was honorable and man
ly, but determined. They asked the mer-
chants and manufacturers of that town
to grant a conference through which
they might adjust their wages They
stated that their wages had been insuffl-
cient to take care of their families. On
the following morning they received
letter, replying to all the labor organiza-
tions, in which this language was used:
I'VE take pleasure in notifying you that
your communication has been consigned
to the waste basket On the night that
letter was dictated by Zehandelar. Mr.
Huntington, who has been the arch rob
ber OF the people of Los Angeles, wrote
his check for 100000 to aid in prevent
ing the working men from raising wages
or bettering their conditions Then the
battle was on and the trades unions Of
Los Angeles. eight or nine thousand
strong at that time, called strike on
June J. Fifteen hundred men walked
out.
In power in the county was our good
staunch Republican friend. and in power
in the city was the Good Government
League. l will show You in a minute
what good government means in Los An
geles. We continued that strike 70. q
month: the boys walked up and down
| the streets and paraded. they picketed
before their stores and factories. They
maintained the picket for four weeks.
and in that time there were only two
disturbances. One disturbance was
caused by two boys OF about IS years of
age, one of whom was working and scab-
hing while the other one was on strike.
Both had gone out. but one had returned
to work. and the fellow who had stayed
out was talking to him and advising
him TO come out with the boys and be a
man. They got into little alteration.
hut there were no black eyes OF bruises.
There were four or Eve witnesses on
each side. when the case was brought
before the court ten witnesses were
heard. the court scratched his head and
said. Yes. true enough. the evidence is
conflicting. and it is dificult to say who
is at fault. but this man has a right to
work where he pleases. / will let him
go. | will fine the other man $50 or so
days.
policeman assaulted picket with
out cause. Here there was no conflict
of testimony. He had no right to assault
him. He was convicted and fine $1.oo
Fifty dollars for a man who was fighting
for his bread, $l00 for n man who was
endeavoring TO coerce the man fighting
for his bread, That is the temper OF
the courts in the city OF Los Angeles.
Everything was peaceable and quiet. but
the boys were succeeding. They were
catching all the men who came into
town. and they were pulling the men out
of the shop Money was being sent from
San Francisco to feed the men. Since
the first day OF June San Francisco has
sent the men OF Los Angeles 100000.
We have millionaires in Los Angeles
and we have churches galor-. They have
prayed for morality, but not one dollar
has found its way from the Golfers OF
the rich nor from the churches to help
these men in their struggle for bread.
Every dollar that has come has come
from men who dig 1t out by the day and
in giving it they have deprived their
families of food and clothing they need.
At the end OF month they secured an
injunction. l have copy oi-it here--it
covers everything. No man could picket
in front of or in the vicinity OF factory
or store--and vicinity" In that case
meant anywhere in the city. They were
enjoined from following the men or rid
ing on the cars with them to their
homes. from going to their homes to
speak to them concerning labor troubles
in the city. In that four weeks not a
man was arrested. not man used force
but they got at the men. How they
did 1t I don't know.
Then an ordinance was passed pre-
venting peaceable picketing in the city
OF Los Angeles or in the vicinity. or lott
ering anywhere or speaking to the men
on strike. 1t was drafted by the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers association.
We went to the city council to argue the
law Of that ordinance. We thought we
had shown the city fathers that 1t was
unfair, but after 1t had been argued they
adjourned, argued It over again, then
came forward and cast It unanimously.
The day following 200 trades union men
we're thrown In Jail. These we're Good
Government Fathers. with old Father
Alexandria at the head. He dresses up
to look like Uncle Sam. combs his hair
and trims his whiskers to look like the
popular whiskers OF Uncle Sam. He was
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