Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-08
United Textile Workers Statement

through the request of Attorney
sawyer, who. as l understand is act
ing in the interests Of The Madison
WOODEN Company, a proposition was
onered to committee from the Cen
trail Labor Union. to settle the strike.
After the committee and the United
Textile Workers of America, Local
Union 1912. had given the matter due
consideration and had realized that
they did not have the power to call
the strike off. they decided to notify
the International Union Of the United
Textile Workers Of America to the ef-
feet that possibly negotiations could
be opened and the STRIKE adjusted, il
an international representative could
be sent to Madison. The general OK
ecutive board, realizing that this
strike. as well as all other strikes at
this time, should not exist, at once
sent the representatives with instruc-
tions to do his very best and to leave
no stone unturned in bringing about
q settlement /, the representative,
after spending several days in Madi-
son during which time / have had
and three with the management Of
the mill. find that if the strike Is not
settled. that the blame, IL placed
where it belongs, should not be upon
the strikers but upon the manage
ment of the mill.
When the proposition was FIRST Of
fered, find that some Of the business
people OF Madison who were not ac-
quainted with the situation as it was,
| were inclined to believe that the Mad
| fson Wooden Company was willing to
settle the strike but that the workers
were not. The fact Is. that the man
agement is willing to settle the strike
| at its own terms, which terms would
be detrimental to the welfare Of the
workers as well as the Madison Wool
| en- Company itself, because a few
| months under those conditions would
| only bring another strike in that
plant. Real satisfaction would not be
resumed and the same old good feel
| ing could not exist under those terms.
1t seems to be the opinion Of few
people in this community that labor
| organizations are formed for the sole
purpose Of striking. I believe that 1t
| is well lat this time to explain why
labor organizations are formed. We
workers organize to seek cooperation
and better conditions and to increase
| our wages. and to do that only through
| negotiation. concilliation and arbitra-
ton. We realize that diplomacy Is
more powerful than the sword. We
| In,
| place. but they do take place only
when manufactures refuse to negoti-
ate or arbitrate. The Government at
this time has established a boad Of
arbitration which is called The War
Labor Board. The workers in gen.
eral take great pleasure in abiding by
the decisions of that Board. All the
National and International Unions
that go to make up The American
Federation Of Labor. insist that the
membership abide by the decisions Of
that Board and stand by the Govern
ment, to do the utmost to assist the
boys in defeating the common enemy
Of civilization. Labor Organizations
are today recognized and encouraged
! by the Government Of the United
States. because in an industry where
an organization exists, the production
is greater and because cooperation
and good feeling exist amongst the
workers and is only brought about by
organization.
I We feel sorry that it was not pos
sible to bring about a settlement Of
| the present strike, at this time, and
we hope that deeper consideration
will be given the matter by the man
agement of the mill. so that an ad-
| iustment will be possible in the near
| future.
HORACE A. RIVIERE.