Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-04-09
President Riley
Writes Of StOgieS

49,
Wheeling, W. Va, March 81, 1914.
Editor Majority,
Dear Sir:
We fully understand and appreciate !
the benefits to be derived from, and
through the publication of your jour
nal, and we hope that we may in the
future contribute through patronage
substantial evidence of our friendly
interest in the prosperity Of the en-
larged Majority, and that we may oc-
ctasIcna1iy be permitted to use space
IN your columns ito attract attention
of the working classes to ouf efforts
to better conditions in, general, where
in they as consumers may ana snouid
give us moral support.
We find when our position and con-
ditions are contrasted with other or
cause to complain. Take for instance
a Kindred Organization, the Cigar
Makers, classed as a model organiza-
ton, one that challenges comparison
even among the combination of
trades affiliated with the A. F. of L.
We find that with all the advantages
of numerical strength and the coop
erative support Of the greatest combi-
nation of the working class in the
world, over two million strong, they
have not out stripped the National
Stogie Makers League in prog essiVe
comparison, we find and can verify
the contention that the results OF our
efforts to Unionize the hand workers
in our special line of industry will
show greater per cent of success
than the Cigar Makers can show in
depicting the unorganized element
that menaces our separate interests
and the general welfare of the con-
sumers.
The money exactions to successful
ly operate reform movements are de-
cfdedly favorable to the Stogie Max
ers' with a greater per cent of wages
and a nearer approach ito a hundred
per cent of organization with rap
idly increasing demand for output
which insures steady work and pro-
!portionately enhanses the value of the
lIStogie Industry as desirable bust
ness asset. When we take a reteres-
pective view of our work and what
at times appeared to he insurmounta-
BILE obstacles to overcome, We are in
a sense amazed at the success of our
efforts. The inequality of taxation,
the combinations of money men to
monopolize the tobacco business in
all its branches will full application
of both legal and illegal means bit
lIterly Waged to hamper those legita-
mately engaged in the production of
raw material who were intimidated
by threats and raids, by destruction
of crops, terrorized by Night Riders
and every conceivable means to con-
troll the product of the farm, followed
lby the purchase of the prospective
crops before the seed was planted,
the cornering of~the trade in the man
ufactured line, the buying out or freez-
ing out system in the retail lines, the
lack of adequate protection ITO safe
guard the legitimate honest produc-
ers. from fraud such as non-payment
OF revenue, stuffing of old boxes, base
mutations of meritorious brands and
unlawful practices innumerable Con-
s1derat1on of these questions enables
us TO realize the magnitude and i'm
portance of the work, the fact that
in addition to these discouraging CON
dttions we were denied cooperative
support of a portion of the organized
working class, governed by jurisdic-
tional prejudices which might have
been avoided by a closer sympathet-
ic alliance in accord with the aims
and purposes of Organized Labor strip
ped off selfish interests, (Which we
favor.
| II we should be asked as to what
cause we attribute our phenomenal
success in our progressive work we
woul I'D say printers Ink" judiciously
used contributed materially to aid US.
The character of the men who con
stitute our membership is also dom
inant factor, being men capable to
understand and take advantage of OBJ
portunities which guarantee success
full and beneficial results. All that we
ask is such recognition and held as
We are willing to accord to others.
Fraternally,
w. H. RILEY,
President, National Stogie Makers,
League.
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