The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-02-09
The Kelly Axe
Mfg. Company
IA Slave Pen---Locked Out His Men
Because They Belonged to
a Union.

Under the present management Is
the Kelly Axe Factory a benefit t,
our city? Let us look into the condi
lions that exist at this plant and see
for ourselves. When the Kelly Axe
Nfg Co. came to this town the citi
Iens and business men gave them the
bcatiOn and thousands of dollars be.
sides and our banks loaned him MANY
thousand dollars more and We wern
tod that they employed thousand
men and worked regularly. All OF
this sounded very good at that time
md "" had rosy dreams of Charleston
eco'Hing great manufacturing cen.
ter. We mad pipe dreams of a large
army Of wcI paid employees with
money 10 spend and an Increase in
business. We were told that Mr.. Ke.
ly would only bring his skilled men
With him and that our unemployed
would be given work at good wages
but We awake to find we had been
dOped and We're only dreaming day
ireams :.
Thr facts are just opposite to what
We were led to believe they would be.
Before Kelly came you could rent
aholsc across Elk for just one third
what YOU can now. Land has advanc-
ed III price and every thing else in
proportion, the rich were benefited
aud not the poor.
TIE working people owned no land,
neither did they have any houses TO
rent, DR. P"ichard owned most Of the
building lots near the Axe plant and
as soon as the factory was located
here built hoses that cost him about
$500 each on these lots and rented
them for $1,000 a month but had some
trouble in collecting his rent, so made
arrangements with Mr.. Kelly to col
lect through the office, but instead of
1000 4 month the workers were force
10 pay $3.50 month this $3.50 going
TO Mr.. kclv for holding the rent out
Of the employees pay. 1t strikes US
that % per cent. for collecting money
borders on uSury, but we are informed
that Dr.. Prichard and Mr.. Kelly fell
oat over the division of the spoils
some time age and this method of col
FctinG has been discontinued. Now,
instead Of Mr.. Kelly paying good
wages as was stated we find that a
large per cont. Of his men are work
ing for $l25 and S1.5O a day while
Inc Skilled mechanics are only making
On an aroragc from $3.50 to $500
nay Instead Of working full time the
nelly AN" Mss. Co. have not aged
'ouF davs week for the last two
Years and sine" January 1st 1911, hav
"ot WORKED three days a week. Now
~'e 'Ae men who only makes S1.35
and $l5r day and only works three
Ways week. Is re an advantage to
Wi CITY suppose we average the
wages a. 3 90 4 day and with only
I4'ee days F"ck. Can that man pay
"'"s "N."H Is. At $500 a cay three
'ayS wr.r ne receives $500 for
.'S "'eA work Now suppose ne
aSS an @..r,gn family of five, his
"0lSe rem is $40 4 week. water AMI
..e' ''oi>. "aat ana groceries $3.50
s"nllore auj clothing s1.Oo and We
..''e tot1. - ;'.15 week expenses.
0"F "o.NlHs man only lacks 1915
week OF m king a living while the
''E Az" 90. arc making millions
=" q tb't. labor. Did we treat Mr..
'''' 50 T""".-E 70 come here so that
AZ V'aIdd .." aud exploit his workers.
.0 We 2. lin that beautiful sign,
Ms factory to lockout his men
s11 try to -'t.gs them to submit to
''I7s brow 1.trn. exploited and rob
D! a!l' Dit We offer him these
,-'"'"'a"t '1 come here and work
-'4 at =.7r-a-i,n wages, that he
! 2.sat gov --rae
a. '-'n men lockedout at
'-s k"i.v fa-rer~ now? Simply be-
'A". "na.' submit to conditions
act ""l.a '.ce them absolutely at
The nes.s ae Mr.. ely.