The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-07-05

meetings IN any part OF the city
whore they attempted to-. organize
tMr. Hays also told me. that they had
the backing Of the machine politicians
Of both parties in Philadelphia, and
that the police In 4, large majority
could be depended upon to, assist in
breaking up gatherings OF union print
ers. ...- ~ .-.-z' 49,.
Combat Cleveland Strike. i
The next strike that Gushing asked
me to interest myself in was the ma
chinists' strike that was going on in
Cleveland. Several members Of the
n. A. NJ. wrote to the New York office
I'asking the aid of Gushing to help them
to break the strike. Although Cushing
1 was very busy in Washington about
this period Of the time, and he and
were engaged both night and day lp-
on lobby and policital work, he pre-
vailed upon ME to report: to William
r.. Cowles. an active member Of the
! n. A. NJ. and it's Ohio vice president,
who was also vice president and
treasurer of the Longarm System COM
| pany Of Cleveland, Ohio.
Finally, when the National Metal
Trades, who were handling the strike
in Cleveland, announced that it would
! be long drawn out fight, Cowles had
the strike matter, through the efforts
of the executive board Of the metal
trade, placed in my hands, and a few
days after this was done the strike
was settled by using almost tho iden-
tical tactics as far as money matters
| were concerned that had been used
in the printers strike in the year of
1906.
| Bribery In st. Louis.
| About the first of Septem ber in
1907, the same year. at the solicita-
ton of Mr.: Fred schwedtman, the Sec
rotary to the president OF the N. A.
of M. at that time, 1 was induced to
go to St. Louis, where there was an,
other strike taking place, where 49,
900 shoe workers had started on
strike for more pay, better condi-
tons, and shorter hours, and especial
ly against the piece plant system
which was in vogue in st. Louis at
that time.
| 1 remained in St. Louis at the es-
pecial request Of Mr.. Van Cleave and
Mr.. Schwedtman for about three
weeks engaged in this labor compli-
cation, and there 10 an abundance of
letters and correspondence to show
that all kinds of bribery was used in
breaking up this strike.
The next activities of the n. A. of
M. in relation to it's strike was the
I service that was rendered to Mr..
George F. Baer, president Of the
Reading Railroad company. On Nov.
I2s, as the suggestion of Mr.. Van
Cleave and Mr.. Schwedtman,. wrote
to Mr.. Baer a long letter, offering the
assistance of the N. A. Of M. and
Itheir agents. to help if they needed it
ITO break any strike that would come
! up in the anthracite coal regions.
T There were hundreds of letters sent
out to workers all over Pennsylvania,
through the n. A. Of NJ, asking them
to make preparations to help the coal
barons providing the strike came up.
Ohio Strike Next.
Shortly after the trouble in the an
thracite coal regions the next large
| strike that the NJ, A. Of M. became
| directly Interested in was the shoe
makers. strike in Portsmouth Ohio.
where there were about 5000 men
out on strike !. General: Manager
Bird, who is still filling that office
/
called me from Washington, and at
Mr.. George D.. Selby. Mr.. selby had
been a leading member Of the N. A. of
M. and for quite a number Of years
one Of it's managing directors.
L had hardly finished my work in
Portsmouth when ! was directed by
General Manager Bird to become very
active in the Danbury hatters' strike.
This in a sense was a national strike
Of great importance, for the national
| officers of that organization, who
have offices in Brooklyn and Newark,
N. j., were directly interested in
| managing the affairs Of the striking
| hatters in this locality.
Tackle New York Strike.
| This strike being in and ground
New York, Mr.. Bird became largely
| interested in it himself along with
his general counsel, Mr.. Emery II
| was given to understand that at all
| times Mr.. John Kirby, who was then
! president OF the organization. was
thoroughly informed Of the progress
| and Of the efforts the N. A. of M. was
| making in settling this strike in favor
of the manufacturing matters. Mr..
Bird had frequent interviews and
! meetings with Mr.. Samuel Mund-
| helm, the president of the manufact-
uring hatters. Bird and Emery had
agreed upon a price to be paid to the
! N. A. Of M. provided, they succeeded
in breaking this strike.
! In Mr.. Birds office at No. 10
Broadway, when this meeting took
place between Emery, Bird and my
self, Bird and Emery decided that the
organization should receive at least
$4,000 for the job. There are letters
from Bird, Emery and others on this
subject to bear out this statement.
Besides this $4,000, Bird induced
Mnndheim to send me 1880 cash to
be used as expenses and for bribery
work along my line of activities. The
efforts to settle the strike by the or
ganization lasted during long period
of time, and they finally appointed as
a committee Of arbitrators three
I ri ne no