The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-05-21
Recommendations Made Are
= Not Approved by Tim
Der Workers
TO HOLD OUT
FOR ElGHT.HoUR DAY
Mills Elsewhere Begin Opera
ton on Ten-Hour
Shift Basis

dent, Is acting preSl0ent.
This action was taken by Mr..
Kroe. owing to the attitude taken
bv the members of the union, when
he made his report and recommends
ton with reference to the local situa-
ton after having made a trip to
ViI9inia and Minneapolis at his own
expense in an effort to bring about
a comprise and to learn the actual
facts about mill operations elsewhere.
: tsThe mills at Virginia are running
ten-hour shifts as stated in The
Pioneer" said Mr.. Krog, land Twas
shown by actual reports and records
in Minneapolis that the Crookston
Lumber company could not afford to
change to an eli ght-hour shift at this
time. was told that they believed
in an eight-hour day and would oper-
ate on this basis as soon as other
mills throughout the country did the
II secured concessions, at least I
consider them such, to the extent that
the company would take all OF the
men back regardless of their attitude
in the present strike.
AT the meeting Tuesday night
presented my findings truthfuliy ana
told the men what I believed was the
best thing to-, do. l. told them that
I was in the mills in Virginia ana
that they were operating and were
not in a crippled condition.
my recommendations did not meet
with the approval of those present.
No vote was taken, but from the
General sentiment expressed from
the floor it was apparent that they
preferred to insist upon an eight
hour day." .,o,,
various sources that the men, mostly
single men, were leaving for other
localities, where they secured employ
ment. Some have gone to BlackducK'
Northome and Turtle River, but as
far as could be learned they were
all working ten-hour days:
In discussing the local situation
with some of the men, intervlewers
advise that many have expressed
desire to vote upon the ten-hour
day. but would prefer that the vote
be taken by ballot, secretly, SO that
no influence one way or the otner
could effect the vote.
In this manner could be ascertalned
tho exact status and feeling OF me
entire body and which would enable
the employee and employer to come
to a better and more speedy UNDER
standing.
Eight Hours in Big Falls.
The strikers at Big Falls have Sc
cured an eight-hour day, but the
scale was placed at so cents an hour'
making it a 81 day. The Dulutn
Logging company operates mill
there and employees about seventy
five men.
Report. Operations.
- At Trout Creek a second mill
} started operations. The Roddy Lun-
her company has opened a saw mill
with an IS. per cent production. Inc
Hebard company at Pequaming have
added a night shift. The Rhinelander
Roy and Lumber company have be-
gun their saw mill: u
At Ironwood, Scott and Howe
have started operations with !OO per
cent production. The Medford Veneer
company began last Monday with a
Is per cent production. All the
above it is understood are operating
In Baragf, the request Of the
Raraea Lumber company by one
striker for his former job is accepted
bv company officials to indicate that
the strike is broken there. ihe
Baraga operators express Wiling.
ness to adjust wage differences, but
stand pat against the establishment
of an eight-hour day.
W. C. Birk, president Of the village
of Baraga and secretary OF tne
Baraea Timber Workers union, gives
himself credit for the orderilness
with which the men have continued
their strike.
Answering the statement by labor
leaders in Virginia, Mimi, that even
with full crews the Virginia mills
could not produce 100000 feet Of
lumber for shipment this week, rep
resentatives of the Virginia T. Rainy
Lake Lumber company said there Il
j. more than 100000 feet OF LUMBER
now in the local yards.