The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-11-23

strike of the 200 textile workers O.
the New York Mills corporation, il
New York Mills, New York, has ius
ended in a complete and sweeping
victory for the workers and for unior
organization. "One of the creates
victories ever secured by the United
Textile Workers of America" are the
words in which the settlement of the
strike is described by Mr.. John Col.
den, general president of the United
Textile Workers of America.
In letter conveying the thanks oil
the executive board of the textile
workers to the committee on indus.
trial relations for the help given by
the committee in exposing the wrongs
done to the striking workers. and In
bringing about the victory for the
workers, Mr.. Golden gives the terms
of settlement as follows;
A 10 per cent increase in wages
to all the strikers.
All those evicted from the COM
pany tenements totbe placed back
in the houses from which thew
were evieted.
No rents to be paid by the ten
ants for those weeks between
July 18th and October 21st.
Recognition of the union COM
mittee.
All strikers to be reinstated in
their former positions or other
positions just as good, without
discrimination.
Abolition of the card system
which prevented an employe from
securing work in any other mill
connected with the company, after
they had left their previous en-
ployment
These terms are an absolute con-
cession of everything demanded by
the workers. The splendid signih-
cance of the victory to trades union
ism, is that these 200 workers, in
many nationalities, but chief
" Polish workers. showed the per-
feet discipline of organization and
proved what such labor unionism can
accomplish for the cause of industrial
Justice.
As the news letter of the committee
on industrial relations of October 1e
showed, everything that could be done
by harsh and cruel methods Of cor
poration management was done to dis
courage the strikers. and to tauni
them into acts of violence that might
have caused them to lose public sym
pathy and to lose the strike. Gun
men and so-called deputies" bullied
and beat many of the workers: these
bullies were constantly doing acts tc
irritate and molest the workers and
the orderly picket line they had es-
tablished Families were ruthlessly
sent out of their homes into the street
The most desperate but unavailing ef-
forts were made to bring in strike
breakers and to run the strikers out
Of town and out of their means oil
livelihood. A trumped up damage suit
for SIS 900 was filed on behalf Of the
corporation against three or -four
members of, or sympathisers with, the
union in an effort to repeat another
Danburv Hatters case Of injustice and
But against all such measures the
union organization remained firm and
There were practically no
desertions hack into the mills. The
most splendid spirit of solidarity and
Of sacrifice was manifested by the men
and women who had suffered together
almost indescribably in their effort to
create better conditions later for them
selves and for their children.
When finally, through the efforts Of
President Golden and Mrs. Sara Con-
boy, secretary-treasurer of the textile
wide spread publicity was
given by the committee on industrial
relations to the strike conditions, and
when a further appeal to local unions
Of the textile workers promised fur
ther assistance to the strikers, the
New York Mills corporation surren-
lered completely. AS one of the in-
,idents of the settlement, the general
of the corporation severed
his connection with the Co.--wheth-
r by resignation or by discharge be-
ing unknown and immateriai. The
great and lasting result is by their
own efforts and by their united de-
nands the 2700 workers in the New
York Mills corporation and its SUBJ
iidiary companies have demonstrated
he power of collective bargaining and
union organization. They have won
great fight, not only for themselves,
but also for the cause Of labor