The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-01-04
/ W. W. FACTOR IN STRIKE
Two Hundred and seventy-five Men Are
Out of Work at the Lawler Houses and
It Is Expected That the Strike VIII
Spread to Other Lakes

The big ice industry on Twin Lakes
Was stopped this morning on account OF
a strike among the 275 men employed
by Harry Lawler at the houses of the
Lawler Ice Company on these lakes and
early this morning call was sent to
Sheriff Jacob Hermann for deputies
to prevent trouble as result Of the
strike. Sheriff Hermann and seven
deputies left Kenosha just after ten
20 'clock for Twin Lakes and it is expect
led that the deputies will be in full con-
Nrol of the situation by early this after
moon. 1t was the first call for depu-
ties under the new sheriff and for the
most part the men who went out had
been sworn in for service just few
minutes before the automobiles started
for the lakes. Rather meager details
of the troubles at the lakes have been
given out. The big ice companies have
been in fear Of labor trouble ever since
the work Of filling the big houses OPP
ened and it is declared that there had
been mutterings of discomfort at several
of the lakes. In past years the LAWYER
Company has been decidedly free of
labor troubles and that the first trouble
should start there is regarded as serious.
IL is admitted that in the two hundred
and seventy-five men employed at the
Xavier plant some seventy-five are
members of the Industrial Workers of
L. XHNV1I Y,nnv hax haar1 1Nnr
sistent in their demand for higher
wages. 1t is declared that two hundred
of the men at the Lawler houses were
ready to go to work this morning but it
was declared that they were prevented
by the warlike attitude assumed by a
small portion of the men. When the call
was sent for deputies little details of the
trouble were given even to the sheriff.
1t was declared that there had been
no show of violence but that conditions
were such as to demand the immediate
presence Of the sheriff with a force of
deputies if trouble was to be prevented
1T was planned to close the saloons in
the neighborhood at once and to keep
them closed until after the strike trouble
had been settled. The strike put an end
TO all work at the Lawler houses but the
men there declared that they were hope
full that the work would be started
again this afternoon. Sheriff Herr
mann and his men found no serious con
ditions when they reached the lake but
it is probable that the deputies will be
kept in service there for several DAYS.
Men at the other ice houses declared
today that the ice cutters were getting
higher wages than ever paid before in
the industry. 1t was asserted that the
wages were ranging from 1925 to $3.50
q day and that great majority of the
men were satisfied with the wages of
fered. Tt was declared that agitators
had been busy among the men ever since
che first cake of ice was cut At all of
the houses the work was being rushed
rs fast as possible but the companies de-
clared that they were unable to get men
TO take care of the work and at all of
the lakes the forces were smaller than
normal.
The report of the strike with the feat
ure of the presence of the I. W. W.
caused considerable Of sensation in
Kenosha. Two years ago members of
this organization were working on the
ice and it was one of the most trouble
some years in the history of the ice in
dustry. The managers Of the big com
pany admit that they consider the situa-
tion this year "ticklish" and most of
them are keeping their feet on the soft
pedals in an effort to get away without
trouble.