The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-12-19
Relating to the above card, we
wish to Submit the following

To the fair-mnded citizens of Wheeling and vicinity:
We, the Locke Shoe Company having been placed on
the Socaled Unfair List of the Ohio Valley Trades ana
Labor Assembly, publish the following statement to show
the public that not unfair anagonstc to organized
labor.
Here are the facts in the case In the early summer If
1912 representatives, of the clerks union sought permission
OF MI w. H. Pfarr the manager of Lockes Retail Stores
to interview the clerks employed hv the Locke Shoe Com
pany for the purpose of inducing them Join the Retail
Clerks Union. This privilege was granted They inter
viewed the clerks during business hours on several o-
oaSonS, to which the Locke Shoe Company Offered no Oh
lection Not meeting with success they took up the matter
with Nh Parr, and requested him his clerks into
Joining the union This he refused to do for the rea
son that he would refuse coerce them into Joining any
raternal order or religious organization.
On December 9th, 1912, addressed letter to the
Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly, requesting that
hOdy to show why were placed on the socalej
Unfair List and urging early reply.
No reply was received to our communication, hut. on
December th The President and Secretary of the Ohio
Valley Trades and Labor Assembly called Nh Pfarr at
our Market Street Store for the purpose of making verbal
reply to our communication.
Feeling that conversation with the first committee
had heen mSconSrued requested the President and Sec
fetary of the Union to permit have a SenoTapher
present FOR the purpose OF recording conversation type
written copies Of to he given to the Locke Shoe Com
pany and to the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly
This request with refusal the part of the repre-
enatves of the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly
Whereupon Nh Pfa declined to discuss the matter fearing
that the conversation might again he miSconstried
The Locke Shoe Company has not inerfered in anv
way with any of its clerks joining the union Every clerk
privilege granted TO every citizen under the Constitution Of
the United Stateand is free to join any organization he or
She may choose, he that Social Political Business or Re-
ligOuS
We cannot believe that the action taken ny the Ohio
Valley Trades and Labor Assembly voices the sentiments of
members of the various Local Unions they may represent
we believe that the majority Of organized labor are fair
minded and believe in absolute justice TO all
We call upon all flir-mnded citizens whether mem
hers OF labor unions not to witness that we have done
nothing to oppose union labor in any way hut on the CON
ary have extended every courtesy To all representa-
veS of the labor organization when visiting our store for
the purpose Of organizing our clerks
The gist Of the whole matter is this: We have offered
no objection % clerks Joining the union hut we refuse
o cocrce them into doing and appea IN every
1rminded citizen of this community to Judge whether or
not he Locke Shoe Company is unfair To- labor
Very respectfully submitted
LOCKE SHOE CO.
BY w n. Pfau Manager Retail Stores,