Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1913-06-03
To the Knockers

49, atHN.'s = ~ fAAAti
l, !, not my intention IN ~ritin. th,, aftI,is
- make complaint against 81 t3 tflue1fe ahy
on, IN particular. but rather al 81 ihe.s aho
can be ola>,ed as the knockers AGAINST the sf-
loft, ol the men on strike "a the Illinois Ten
tfal and Hartman llnes
Since the stfike have received letters from
many friends throughout the country. ASKING
me iot strike new. aud ny opinion oi the
strike. 80 that they can my arguments m
the lodge room To defeat the agnatun that
IS gong on to take of the assessment. Which
~ many OF our good union ment no, card
mem, after hard fight, had put 10 help
out the brothers on the iiring lIne.
In most instances the men who are trying
to take the assessments off are men who came
ont ON strike themselves. and this Is what l
cannot understand. After voting to asses
themselves in a regular meeting. held Tor the
purpose Of devising means and ways 10 H.
nance the striket IN Memphis. ior instance.
where they voted to assess IN, mselses $500 .
month Tor those who would remain on the
firing line. a measure which carried unani-
mousy) il seemed no more than right 10 them
at that time that should they locate a job. a
small part OF their earnings should come back
home to those who would stay and look after
the interests OF the strike But il is q fact
that very few of them stuck to their pledge
and this vas done for only a few months
Now, il they are not in . position. or il they
are too damned selfish to give the small sum
OF SO cents or a dollar per month to their own
movement. Why should they interfere With
those who are willing to give to the cause Of
this great strike? Why should they criticize
the men who have stayed faithfully on picket
duty for tvedty months. The piekets have
stood all the abuse and the back biting Of The
kickers. receiving less for their services than
the kickers who are working. II they think
that the men on the picket line are not spesd-
ing the little money they are getting in the
them' Some Of our men would be more than
glad to swap jobs with them. and while they
might have to labor little harder. at least
they would not have to worry.
All those who are not satisfied should ask
themselves this question, What would do
if on picket du,yi o. yes. know you would
do a whole lot. Well. why in the he'll didn't
you do whole lot and stay on the job instead
OF going away and leaving those on the job
to hold the sacki Why should you expect
Others to do more than you would do your
self, l have never been a believer in assess
ments. grand lodge or local. ! believe in high
dues Give the grand lodge and the locals
enough in per capita tax and they would have
enough in their treasury to pay those who
are willing to stay and fight the battle through
to the end for living wage. But as it is.
We have not the high dues. and so every one
should help and do his part in keeping I'D the
picket line Don't depend altogether on your
officers and say, Well they ough, to do this:
they can stand il better. etc" Remember
their families cannot live on wind pudding. any
more than your families can The strikers
families need food aud clothing as well as
yours. ! hope these few lines will be taken
by the brothers in the spiri, they are meant.
Let those who do not want to give support
to the boys on strike at least no, discourage
others who are willing to do so.
Theo. E. laepfner.
Bu> Agt. Maehinists. Memphis. Tenn