Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1919-09-11
STRIKERS VS..
n. {. ?. Cd,


What are the facts and the truth
about strike conditions as we know
them? For the past twenty-five years
we know personally the workmen for
the above Company and their prede-
cessors have been as well paid as any
similar class of labor in any other
mills in the State Of Wisconsin. They
have always worked about the same
number of hours, both day and night,
as the same kind of help, who have
been employed in other mills and at
the same wage per hour and even bet
ter than some. In some instances a
little more. The working conditions
in the mill, and the board and housing
conditions have been equally as good,
and in many instances better, than at
other places. Apparently most of the
employees have always been fully sat-
isfied until the present Papermakers'
Union was organized. Since the strike
there has been nothing but trouble,
loss and waste for both men and Com
pany. Why?
The outside organizers, strangers,
union officials, came in here to organize
the men into local unions, whether by
invitation or otherwise, cuts no figure.
They were paid for coming, either by
the State, or National organization,
or both, to form the Union. After or
ganization they made the members of
said Unions to feel they were not sutfi-
ciently paid. They were working too
long hours, eight, was enough for any
man. The outsiders made trouble be-
cause they created dissatisfaction "a
mong the men. Shortly after the u
Mon was formed they formulated
changes they wanted the Nekoosa- Ed
wards Paper Company to grant the
ren. Our readers all know what they
by the Company, others were not. Af-
ter several conferences between a Com
mittee appointed by the strikers and
officials of the Company, a strike was
voted in an attempt to brow beat the
Company to the strikers terms Twelve
weeks-three months-have gone by
and all hope of the strikers winning
has been abandoned. Why?' Because
the Union persisted in having every
thing they asked for. What is the re
suit? Failure-as far as the workmen
are concerned. The Company is max
ing and shipping paper and have been
the past two weeks. One machine is
making kraft paper at the Nekoosa
mill and one machine at Port Edwards
is making white print paper. These
are facts. The strikers are losing out
and will continue to lose out. The
more trouble they make for the work
men who have gone back only adds tC
the flame of defeat. There are some
of the strikers who have conducted
themselves in such a manner that the
Company will not take them back un-
der any consideration, but there are
some who have never forgotten the
past excellent treatment by the Com
pany, of them, and while they have
proven true to their obligations as
Union men, they have been fair anc
upright with the Company, some ot
them as long as 25 years. The con
dition of some of the workmen's fami
lies are such, that their fellow work
men are contributing through the u
MON for their sustenence The strife
and bitterness being created between
workmen and their families is illus
trated by the treatment of Frank Noe
and others. Who would have thot thi.
possible six months ago? How fool
hardy it is. While the Com
pany has been losing big money b.
having the mills idle most of them ar,
able to stand it for long time with
out suffering 1t is different with tn,
men. No work,no income We under
stand more new workmen are comins
in all the time and other parts of th
mills will soon be running. Workmen
why continue the strife longer? Lif
is too short to thus waste it away il
pickering. Go elsewhere and get EN-
ployment if you can't give in and g
back, but don't stay here and disgrac
yourselves by quarreling with you
old time fellow workmen, is our ad
vice.