Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-03-14

to have won. But now the strikers are
asking for fair hearing Of the truth,
and to that end the following state
ment is being published in some Of the
leading newspapers Of the county over
the name Of Ben F. Nauman, chair
man Of the executive committee Of the
general strike committee of Seattle:
THE Macy award being unsatisfac-
tory to shipyard workers, they pro-
tested it by referendum vote, but the
war was still on, and having clean re-
cord of putting all loans and dona-
tions way lover the top" their patriot
ism was beyond question.
After the war was over, they ex-
hausted every means to try and open
negotiations for another adjustment,
as the high cost of living had put them
in such a position that they could not
eat. live, or clothe themselves properly.
This agreement with the Emergency
Fleet corporation was signed by the
international body without hearing
from the rank and file affected.
when nothing more could be done
to redeem the situation. the workers
in the shipyards played their card OF
economic strength and quit the yards
to a man, 25,O0U strong. They immedi-
ately saw that a game of starvation
on the part of the employers and 9TH
ers was to be played, so the general
strike movement was started. To Off
set this movement Of the employers, a
referendum vote was taken Of all
bodies affiliated with the Central La
Dor Council. The sympathetic strike
vote was very favorable, and a gen.
eral sympathetic strike was planned
and called for Feb. 6, at 10 a. m.
Everybody went out, even the non
union shops, many of the bosses join
ing in the demonstration as a protest
to help bring relief to these shipyard
workers. The city was prostrate, as
mas been said, not a wheel turned ex-
cept such exemptions as affected the
,eneral welfare of the entire city Of A.
900 people; hospitals, undertakers, san
itation, water, light, gas, cold storage
of food, running into millions of dol
lars, and many other exemptions that
we're vital to the general welfare of the
public. 1 may mention that the United
States government was exempted OF
everything concerning the govern
ment.
From Thursday at 10 a. m, Feb. 8,
the time the strike was called, until 1t
was called off Tuesday, Feb. IL, not
so much as q fist fight was booked
at police stations which could De
traced to the strike. Everybody stayed
at home and rested up-took a vaca-
ton, 80 to speak.
1.-The organized workers on strike
numbered approximately $4,000, while
almost that many others who do not
belong to any union, but who earn
their living by working, walked out
and stood out with the others. Even
the orientals, such as Japanese BAR
bers Japanese restaurants, and others
took q vote and walked out and stayed
ont. returning at the appointed time
set by the strike committee. All res
taurants, eating houses, etc., were
closed. and the cooks, walters, and
others fed this city from union halls
.afetcria style, 35 cents for good
meal, and they did it on cooperative
basis. assisted by the farmers grange.
Nobody received pay for any LABOR
they performed, many thanks to the
culinary crafts of this city for their
splendid, cheerful, and efficient nan
ding of this situation.
81 wish also to call your attention TO
q splendid voluntary labor ponce
force which had no authority except
that of moral suasion, whose sole duty
was to ask everybody to observe all
laws to the letter. This body was COM
nosed of returned and discharged SOL
diers and sailors in uniform and OIL
f,cered by discharged officers of same,
and all union men. some ESQ all toid.
This force labored almost day ana
night keeping their eyes on things IN
order to prevent anything that other
interests wished to start. A nunper
of individuals were preaching and ad-
vocating measures that organized Ia
bor would not stand for, due to the
fact that certain elements wished 70
inject matters not germane to the reai
ssue and use it as propaganda ana
.ouse the downfall of the whole strike.
Tho hand of the employers assocla'
ION was sown many times In TINS mat
ter. We were repeatedly threatened
with martial law but labor stood on
its feet and said, Fine, that will suit
us if it does you 1t was only DUH
on the part of the employers wheh
they yelled martial law. because thele
was no more occasion for martial law
T., Seattle than there would be for the
,rv souad to raid a Sunday school pic
mic. which has been shown since. Ger
tain interests tried to intiame the asi-
tated minds all over this country by
stating that Seattle was the Pctrograd
of America and that revolution was
being started here. This foolish no
tion of a few individuals was lost IN
the absolute silence of peaceable ana
city of 100000 people.
"It was current in the newspapers
throughout the country that Seattie
was under soviet rule thc soVie'
was the chamber Of commerce. as
reuon and the seat of the city govern
mont had been transferred from the
city hall to the labor temple. oh'
such nonsense for people VINO are
credited with having good Judgement
to try and poison the minds of whole
nation by such stuff as that.