The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-20
But Press Statement Says Bucks Company Will Withdraw from Pros
 ecution
Organized Labor Believes It Has Won Greatest Victory
 In All It's History


 In All It's History
 Washington, July 2O.-Declaring that the settlement effected by Samuel Gompers last night at Cincinnati with the Bucks Stove & Range Company of St. Louis is one of the greatest victories in the history of organized labor officials at the headquarters of the American Federation of Labor here today are .jubilant at the pros- pect of the Bucks concern, which has been the unions greatest foe, becom- ing a straight union shop"
 While the agreement will not put an end to the contempt proceedings against President Gompers, Secreta ry Morrison and John Mitchell, which now are pending in the supreme court of the United States, it will remove the prosecution heretofore conducted by the company and leave the whole matter simply in the hands of the court to decide. Lawyer Davenport, who as counsel for the Bucks Com pany has urged the case, will with draw entirely.
 The American Federation of Labor, however, looks upon the unionizing of
  strides ever taken by organized labor in this country. The late James W. Van Cleave, president of the Bucks Concern was the most prominent fig ure in this country in the anti-union ranks.
 It is believed here that Van Cleave's death had much to do with the chang ed attitude of the St. Louis firm. Sec retary Morrison said today:
 '"The agreement in no way affects the cases now pending in the supreme court
 "The agreement, however can only bring about the very best results for all the parties concerned. It is a manifestation of the steady growth of sentiment among employers in favor of the principles for which the Amer ican labor movement stands and indi- cates that in the near future there will be few employers who will not favor collective bargaining.
 "Such agreements are satisfactory to employers promote peace of mind among employees and are conducive which employers. are beginning to see cannot prevail among employees who have nothing whatever to say in re- gard to wages and conditions under which they work
 The fight between the American
 
 Stove & Range Co. of St. Louis, Mo. was one of the most sensational feuds in the history of labor. The trouble started with the refusal of the Bucks Company to continue the eight hour day for metal polishers and it's alleg- ed discrimination against and dis charge of employees because of their labor organizations placed the product of the Bucks Company upon the ''We Don't Patronize" list.
 Application was made to the Amer ican Federation of Labor at it's con vention in Minneapolis in 1906 to en- dorse the action of the workers and place the name of the company up on the we Don't Patronize'' list of the American Federation of Labor.
 Under instructions from the execu- tive council of the American Fedora tion of Labor an attempt was made by Vice-President Sherman to affect a reconciliation with the late James Van Cleave, president of the Bucks Stove & Range Company. Van Cleave refused to entertain any proposition in behalf of union labor. The goods of the company were thereupon boy cotted by the notional organization.
 On December Is, 1907, Van Cleave, who also was president of the Ma tional Association of Manufacturers, ODCdlneQ IrOI1 JuSllC6 GOulu, OI ll6 Supreme Court of the District of Co., lumbia, an injunction against the American Federation of Labor, it's of. ficers and members, sympathizers or counsel, forbidding them in any way to publish, print, write or verbally or orally communicate the fact that the Buck Stove & Range Company was unfair to or had any dispute with or ganized labor or that it was boycotted by union labor.
 Van Cleave later petitioned the court to adjudge President Gompers, Vice-President John Mitchell and Secretary Morrison of the American Federation of Labor in contempt of court in violating the injunction. They were sentenced and appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States Hearings are set for November Il, next.
 St. Louis, July 20-The settlement of the long standing fight between or ganized labor and the Bucks Stove & Range Company of St. Louis at Cin- cinnati is regarded here as one of the most notable victories for unionism in years.
 In business circles the belief is that the death of James w. Van Cleave president of the company, two months ago, was one of the leading causes ot the peace agreement. He had devoted most of his time in the closing years of his life to fighting the labor unions He was also president of the National Association of Manufacturers.
 Under the agreement the Bucks plant becomes a union shop.