The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-30
Union Men in Five Big Mills in
Walkout Today.
Charged That Unemployed Beer
Makers Caused 1t.
SAY THEY WON'T GIVE IN
Employers Have Given Raises
and Eight-HOur Day.
Flour Supply of City VIII Not
Be Affected.

A strike of approximately ESQ em-
ployes of at least five of Topeka's
largest flour mills became effective at
noon today. The closing of the Kan
sas City breweries is indirectly respon-
sible for the trouble that has arisen.
some of the mill managers declared
today. alleging that men out of work
had drifted into Topeka and began
agitation
The mill workers local here is af-
filiated with the brewers local, under
the name of the Affiliated Cereal
Workers and Brewers union. This
merger was effected about a year ago.
The strikers are demanding increases
in pay ranging from 81 TO $3.50 and
more a day, and recognition of their
union.
That the strike will affect the flour
| supply in Topeka is not believed prob
tically unanimous in declaring that
1 they will continue to operate the mills,
| altho their pace may be slackened for
few days. But there is flour enough
, ahead. they say, to supply the demand
until they can hit the old pace again.
| Brewers the Cause?
David Page, of the. Page Milling
company. said today that he believed
| the strike was occasioned by brewers
| thrown out of work in Kansas City,
who had come down here and started
agitation.
TITS just the riff-raff that has
| brought this on" he declared. Some
time ago We voluntarily gave our en-
ployes a substantial raise in wages and
we hink we are being wronged. How
| ever. the majority of our men are
loyal to US and did not even vote on
the strike. We are going to continue
| to operate IL we have to put the office
force in overalls. What the strikers
want is for us to recognize their union
| and that we will not do" &C.,
- Hire Men Thru Union.
A contract submitted by the stIik-
ers to the millers requires that all
men be hired thru the secretary Of
the union, 1t is said. All the mills
claim they have for more than a year
recognized the eight-hour day and
that they have been paying their em-
ployes good wages. The Kaw Milling
company closed down Saturday after
noCn and the Inter-Ocean mills closed
this afternoon, pending the settlement
Of the affair and to give the employees
an opportunity to return to work in
the morning il they decide to do so
after considering the step they are
taking.
Gave Men n Raise.
I'VE gave our men substantial raises
a week ago." said j. B. Nicholson,
manager of the Kaw Milling company,
"and we have recognized the 8-hour
day for a year. We cannot pay any
more money than we are now paying
and we certainly are not going to
sign for n closed shop. We want to
retain the right to hire non-union men
IL We want to, and not have to hire
our men thru the secretary OF the
union"
Men Refuse to Walk Out.
The millers declare that they had
nothing against the union itself. but
|. do not wish to enter a contract to hire
union men exclusively. At most OF the
, five mills there are a mum OF em-
ployes who still remain loyal and re-
fused to walk out with the strikers.
S. p. Kramer. of the Topeka Milling
company. said today that the strike
, did not affect him in the least, and
that he had no union men employed.
! New Rates Asked.
Mills which, it is claimed the strike
does not affect are: Shawnee Mills,
Derby Milling company and Topeka
: Milling company.
The new rates of pay which the mill
3 employees demand IS as follows: Sec
, ond miller, Sc; spouters. $500; Sweep
=, ers, S4.40; head packers. $40; packs
4 ers, $500; barn packers, $500: truck
ers from packers $3.50; floor men,
Y $40; elevator helpers. $40; assls-
s tant engineers. Sc; fireman. $3.50.
n The average rates of pay which
these men have been making under
r the recent advances follows: Second
millers. IS; spouters. $3.75; sweepern
: $3.25; head packers. S4.75: packers
:, $3.50; bran packers. 81: truckers from
: packers 1915; floor men, $3.50; ele.
I vator helpers, $3.50; assistant engi.
= neers. sass; firemen. $3.50.