Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1913-09-30
From President Kline

Following Is III. letter of President ] " Kline
OF III" oksmith- IN reply to IN. letter sent him
strike vote w also pint our reply to tins letter
Chicago, s.pt %. 1913.
Boa l.. Clinton. III
Dear Sill A brother
Your letter received with enclosed list Of locals
of VARIOUS crafts IA Norabl- to a general strfk.
You want a letter from me for publIc.tion In
regard to same. and Will say, Broth.r Person tha,
am not In favor OF general strik. at this time.
and so advised our membership.
First, organized labor In this country pre-
pared Tor II. working med "a base ball bat
labor need the same. None OF US realz. the n
m.nstA OF II. with our varied pr.judic.s II would
be- farce. splendid illustration OF thls was the
strike vote taken after tn. kaasa. CITY
We do no, care to suffer the humiliation again.
II revealed the fact. however. that our organza-
tons' before taking general strike vote. must
BE- adjusted differently. and this also made
plain In Your recent attempt to get the strike
strike votes taken by federations In the past not
In accordance with our constitutions. caused frie-
ton Then came your appeal for vote. and haN
ing sent to other points rather than the general
Office appeared To be AN attempt to dscrsdit the
general Officers with their mem ership. and caused
office
These things conflicting with our eon.titu-
wust eliminate that which causes the friction.
agree that our various constitutions viii have
TO he amended to III the rapid changes In the labor
movement. but until they changed they must
govern and cannot allow some els. take
strike vote OF my craft and then place the matter
1p to the general office to assume the financial
and other responsibilities.
| believe In giving the rank and file the voice
In these matters. and advise and urge them on.
and while there Is demand BY some to have
general sirik. vote taken. that demand Is not gen
ersl al the present time. We must keep within
hans dstsne. Of both sides and not lose the
details OF organization. We dare not set too far
ahead OF the crowd We cannot move faster than
our constituents viii permit us Due regard Is
coming TO all We cannot enforce our plans at Will
favored general strike In the Vest almost
two years ago and believe that ninety per cent
Of the men, II allowed to vote their .enti-
! mehtt would nave voted IN favor OF II hslteNp e.
furthermore. that We could have had the Hartman
strike settled long do know but what
/ would favor Yet. II the conditions favor
able and II necessary would make campaign Of
the roads IN tn. Wes, and urge H. but III. eastern
railroads are different proposition they Will
have to get some OF the western bumps before th.y
will be In lin. for such acton l Will go as far
as any one possibly, and am willing to put
| a general strike vote from headquarters.
and Will allow you or any els. o come In ami
witness the counting. but will not let
else do tn. counting when am held responsible
! for the result
With be-, wishes. am
Yours fraternslly
W KLINE.
General President Blacksmiths Union.
Clinton. III, sept. IS. 1918.
Mr. ] W Kline
! Int Pres. l. Il of B n II
l250 Monon Blds Chicago. Ill.
Dear Sir brother:
! Your letter ~ the 2ard hand and contents
fully noted VIII say In response to same that
regret exceedingly that YOU have employed your
efforts 10 countersct ON the general strike propost
ton which III. strikers have developed. and further
that you advised your constituents against taking
]
or NOT they We're In favor of the Railway i-psrt-
meni submitting strike Not. to the membership
There was nothing humllatns about the STRIKE
vole taken subsequent to tn. Kansas ct, ennNen-
! tion. when 1t taken into consideration that -
cent OF the labor leaders and their messengers
We're pressed into service In the interests of the
railroads 10 see 10 II thar the STRIKE vote did not
carry You attribute this failure to the fact that
the men were not allowed To voice their own sen
timents Most assuredlS such Was the How
ever II 1t appears to Nou that Ne have faiird to
interest enough ~ Your constituents IN general
strike action at this time permit Us Ia attrihnt"
this To tn. failure cur part 10 allow Nour con
3 proposition.
III. for their opinion to general striks. and
81. II Is needless To mention that II would haze
lodge officers judging from the unfaVorshle att
tude they have adopted
You favor of a general strtkc at tbs
Tine hut iia.c indus
trial conditions changed In this PERIOD Of time To
such extent that Warranted In changing
your mind or have decided that you
mistaken ago' II. however. Nou
wete right IN this matter then and stul feel that
you right today IN taking stand against
general strike. then fram this IN" OF reasoning
the labor moN emrnt Is gong backwards Then,
ihr opportune time wears and INV
" two years behind the times. Ani With thr
evolution OF tim. VIII be much further h.-
hind the times Rrother Kline. yeu sere "Ifhrt
mistaken two years ago. or you are wrong to-day.