The labor standard., 1919-09-01
UNDERWOOD STRIKERS REFUTE CHARGES
 OF I. J. KELLEY
Manager and 'Anti-UniOn Agi- tatOr" of Manufacturers Association of Connecticut Reflects on Intelligence of Underwood Go. ,Employes

HARTFORD-Th Advisory Com
 mittee, representing the striking en-
 ployes of the Underwood Typewriter
 company, has made reply to Thomas Jefferson Kelley, manager and "anti-
 union agitator" of the Manufacturers
 Association of Hartford County. Mr.
 Kelley stated that the presence of
 "outside agitators" caused the pres
 ent strike situation in Hartford. The
 committee states that the strike was caused by the low wage rate paid at the typewriter factory.
 Strikers Committee Statement
 The committee representing the striking and locked-out employees of the Underwood Typewriter Company who in accordance with the principles of our American form of representa- tive government, having been duly elected and authorized to act as their representatives, feel that it is our duty both in behalf of the employees and the citizens of Hartford-to reply to the statements and charges reported in the Hartford Courant," issues of August 2S, to have been made by Thomas J. Kelley, so-called manager of the Manufacturers Association of Hartford County" which we know are carefully prepared propaganda for the purpose of confusing and mislead- ing the public in order to divert from the strikers public sympathy and sup port, which is practically unanimous with the strikers as proved by, the fact that on Saturday, August 23, C'Tag Day") over 15 ,O0O persons contributed $2,600 to aid them in their fight for a living wage and against the unlaw- full practice of black-Gsting and boy unpatriotic and ungrateful attitude of the association which Manager Kelley represents, toward our striking sol diers, which, by the way Manager Kel- ley did not deny, and this sympathy and support is the cause of his latest spasm and attack on the duly elected representatives of the men and women who are fighting for living wage in the Underwood factory.
 Manager Kelley is reported as say ing: During the past month five out of-town agitators have visited this city for the express purpose of fo- menting unrest. Prior to their com ing everything was peaceful" Was it? Ask the Underwood employees. Have they no right to a voice in deciding that question? They most emphatic ally deny the right of Manager Kelley to decide the question for them.
 The fact that, excepting a so-called bonus and proft-sharing, and because of the many strings attached, which in a large number of cases the em- ployes were not entitled to receive Ga more proper term to us would be "boneless") the employees of the Un- derwood have received no regular in- crease in wages for several years, and, therefore, had substantial grievance, and the so-called agitators were sent by their national officers to Hartford, not for the purpose of caus- ing discontent Gas that was in exist ence many months before they ar rived) but for the purpose of adjust ing these grievances; and among these "agitators" were two United States government conciliators, who tried to adjust these grievances, and on two occasions were refused conference, statements to the contrary notwith- 
 Again, Manager Kelley says: "Along came the first itinerant ven- der of discord. With slight knowledge of our working conditions, he began urging susceptible groups to make de- mands and threaten strikes. After he got several hundred people on the streets he departed and another stranger came along and got another group discontented."
 The committee respectfully ask the reader to reflect on these statements, which seek to create the impression that the employees of the Underwood factory had no grievance, in fact, but were persuaded by strangers to think they had, and, therefore, two or three thousand immediately decided to go on strike. This is certainly refec- tion on the intelligence of our Hart equivalent to saying that the en- ployes of the Underwood factory are a lot of idiots or fools. Can fools as- semble and adjust the various parts of an Underwood typewriter? If so, what is the real value of such a ma chine?
 Manager Kelley again says: "It matters little to these men ("agita- tors") what damage and s,~ffering their policy causes. They mu t pro- duce something in return for their wages and strikes are their onl.s pro- duct"
 This committee will ask Manager Kelley if he will inform the public what he produces for the wages he receives from the Manufacturers As sociation, and if among his products are lists of names of men and women ;,o4 41o;, e,,f fcient at least to protest against be- ing exploited, or unwilling to work for less than living wage, and, if so, are these lists used against them as black lists, including our soldiers?
 Manager Kelley made other state ments along these lines which this committee consider as pure bunk and of notice by intelligent peo- pie, but we hereby challenge Manager Kelley to disprove the fact that the employees of the Underwood Typewri- Co oro pdorroid oyod fboroforo