The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-09-07
How The Socialist Admins Il
tratiOn Handles !, Strike.

tTittloh Itsi1tlltS II HtElkt.
(By Carl ID. Thompson.)
In contrast to the methods employ
ed in cities where the administration
is under the control of the old cap.
italistic parties it is interesting to
know low the Socialist administra-
ton behaves itself in case of Il strike.
There have been no very serious
labor roubles in Milwaukee for the
last ten years. On two occasions,
however, there have been strikes of
considerable Importance. One of these
occurred in 1906 while the Socialist
had only Il small minority in the city
council. The other occurred last whit
err 1910) when the Socialists We're in
control of the administration. On
both these occasions the representa-
tivos of the working class in the city
council took n very active part in
behalf of the strikers.
In 1906 there We're 1906 moldcrs
out on strike. On June 18th of tina
year, Aid. Helms, one of the twelve
Socialist members of the city council.
introduced the following resolutions.
WHEREAS, more than 1.2OO
moldcrs in the city of Milwaukee vert
forced 10 lay down their work May
list, 1906, in order to secure 4 living
wage and
"WHEREAS. About 100 men have
been imported from all over the coun-
try by h Milwaukee members of the
Foundrymen's Association for the pur-
pose of breaking said strike and to
crush the molders' union. and
WHEREAS, Said strike-breakcrs
arc Il dangerous class of people and
are likely to become Il serious menace
to the city if their numbers are in
creased: therefore. be it
"RESOLNED. That the Common
Council of the city of Milwaukee
hereby extends it's sympathy to said
striking molders II respectfully
recommends shat the F~oundrymen's
Association grant their demands with
out unnecessary delay.
"FERTTIER RESOLVED. That the
City Clerk is hereby directed to mail
forthwith a copy of this resolution to
each Milwaukee, emb of said
Foundrymen's Association
In spite of the fact tina this was {
pretty strong proposition for he Re.
publicans and Democrats in the city
council to support. the resolution was
adopted unanimously. only two votins
against it. EENTw1
1t is probably the first time in thu
history of this country that a cit,
council of any city of c~onsiderabl,
size had taken sides with the striker.
officially.
1t is needless to say that this actio,
had 4 very decided influence on tn,
side of organized labor in thci
struggle.
Another instance of 4 strike IN Mil
yankee came last winter when tn
garment workers were out. Their
had been strikes of the worl
ers in nearly all of the large elite
OF the country. In some cases Their
was violence and disorder.
The socialists were then in powc
in Milwaukee. Two or three thinc
happened that had Il very decided il
iluence in settling the strike.
In the first place when the polio
arrested some of the girls OIL III
ground of diSorderly conduct. it wa
found that the only charge again:
1hem was that they had called IL
strike-hreaking girls. "scabs''. tt
City Attorney held that this did n,
constitute a miSdemeanor under II
law of the state. and on that grour
refused to prosecute them. This W;
a new situation for the employers
face and they felt their strClgth wes
ching.
About the same time Emil Seid
Mayor of the city. sent Il letter
the chief of police warning him tn
no unnecessary violence or roughne
va: to be practiced against the stri
els. and that all their legal RICH
wcr" TO be protected rs fully as tho
on the other side. Al the same tir
IN" sympathy of the working ella
administration of the city was know
10 be on the side of the strikers.
decidedly was this influence felt th