The Connecticut labor press., 1920-06-26
ALL UNIONS MUST
 COME TO TAMPA
 CICARMAKERS' AID
Loss of This Strike Serious Set back to All Organized t.# Labor.
A. F. OF L. ENDORSES IT
Sol Sontheimer Sends Appeal to Connecticut Labor Press for
 Publication in Full.


 now connected with the Cigarmakers International Union of America as ; general organizer, sends to The Con necticut Labor Press the appeal that | made on behalf of the 13,0O0 striking cigarmakers of Tampa, Florida, by tht Joint Advisory Board of Tampa.
 This appeal affects all Organized Labor and was read i'll full at the last meeting of the New Haven Trades Council Upon the winning of this par ticular strike depends largely the future success of the Cigarmakers lnterna. tional Union and upon the success ot such large organization as this de bends in d great degree the very life of Organized Labor in this country.
 It is Up to every Local and every ln- dividual member to do everything pos sible to aid these strikers i'll Tampa and The Connecticut Labor Press takes pleasure in complying with Brother Sontheimer's suggestion that 1t publish the appeal in full 1t Is as sfollows:
 "To the Officers and Members of the
 Executive Council of the American
 Federation of Labor. Greetings: Owing to the present situation III the cigar industry in Tampa, we deem 1t necessary to forward this appeal to you for your endorsement, morally and financially.
 "This appeal for funds has been en- dorsed by the Central Trades and Labor Assembly of Tampa and vicinity, a resolution promising moral and finan- cial assistance to the Tampa cigar workers was adopted at the recent con- yention of the Florida State Fedora ton of Labor, held at St. Augustine, Fla, and at the Cleveland convention of the Cigar Makers International Union of America, held April, 1920, the following resolution was adopted:
 Resolved, That this convention give the aforesaid strike in Tampa its most hearty support morally, and that each and every delegate, upon their return to their respective local unions, organize a campaign for the purpose of collect ing funds to aid their brothers in dis tress.
 For a number of years the C. M. l. U. of A. has been struggling to organ ize the cigar workers of Tampa and vicinity. The cigar industry is and has been TaImpa's greatest asset; 1t has poured into commercial channels of the city millions of dollars annually in the form of wages spent by the workers.
 "The workers have, in common with the workers of every industry in every land, found that collective bargaining between workmen and employers was absolutely indispensable.
 "The commercial interests of Tampa, being so largely dependent upon the wages of the cigar workers, and the barons of the cigar industry being so stubbornly opposed to organization among the workers, the business ele- ment has always arrayed on the side of the manufacturers in disputes that threatened to be of long duration. In times past business men have usurped the powers of the police and have even deported labor leaders to barren shores of Central America the deportees with out even dollar in their pockets -some of whom have not been accounted for to this day.
 Tn the time of our memorable strike of seven months, in 1o10-1o11, two of our men were arrested on technical charge, lodged in jail, and were found next morning hanging to the limb of a tree on the outskirts of the city. Three members of the Joint Advisory Board were railroaded to prison charged with conspiracy. The judge who sentenced these men stated at the time that he re- gretted that the statutes of the state of Florida would no permit him to pass a more severe sentence. This (honor- able) judge was recently elected mayor of our city (by majority of Al votes).
 During the earlier part of last De- cember the Joint Advisory Board of Locals 336 474 and 500 of the C. M. | U of A. appointed delegates in each of the factories. The appointment of these delegates in no way interfered with their work as cigar makers, but did afford a direct and reliable con- nection between the workers and the Unions The manufacturers called these delegates agitators, and although $50 of these delegates have been black listed since December 24th, we admit with pride that the Union membership has grown from 3,400 to 5000, out of approximately $500 cigar makers and packers.
 Tn addition to the 5000 members we now have 4,000 cigar factory workers, strippers, banders, factory clerks and soforth, only small part of them be- ing entitled to benefits, and therefore the rest have no means of support.
 "On April 18th it became necessary to call out 2o large factories for the purpose of having our delegates rein stated. This strike has been duly ap- proved and authorized by the Cigar Makers International Union of Amer ica. Since this strike was called the 1 remaining factories of Tampa locked l out their workmen.
 While 1t is true the bulk of the cigar makers proper will receive strike ben efits from the C. M I. U of A., be- l cause of the recent international assess ments levied our benefits will be re- duced to $3.50 per week. We have a | Federal Labor Union here known as | factory helpers, who are affiliated with | the American Federation of Labor and | whose strike application has the ap- Oroval of the executive council of the | A. F. of L., but the rest of the cigar | workers will receive no benefits what | ever, hence we must find ways and | means to support these workers for the | duration of this strike. Remember we are striking for the | light to organize and bargain collec- lively, which we consider just and | reasonable demand.
 We are proud to say that so far. we | rave maintained a solid front; but | Brothers: We need money to continue ,ur strike, which threatens to be of | ong duration.
 "Fraternally,
 CENTRAL TRADES AND LABOR ASSEMBLY,
 'R. B. Lovett, Pres.
 "C. E. Silva, Sec'y