The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-09-24
STAR EERILESSS WALL PAPER DTIT.LSOF
JOLIET. ILL.,, LOCKS OUT ITS EMPLOYEES

wallpaper dealers in Everett were
notified of this action. Some time
ago the Local Union was notified
by the Allied Wallpaper Trades that
was marked as one of the blank
label cities by the scab mills, and
that very easily scab wallpaper could
be shipped in, as according to the
Allied Wallpaper Trades, the scab
mills have number of devious
ways by which they smuggle their
goods into the market.
1t was found after investigation
that one of the wallpaper dealers in
Everett had received a shipment of
scab wall paper from the Star-Peer-
less Wallpaper Co. of Joliet, Illinois.
AS large part of this shipment
was already used by union men it
was decided on by the Local Union
to use up the balance. The wallpa-
per dealer soon after this discovery
notified the agent that he could do
no more business with him and re-
ceived as answer the following let
ter from the Star-Peerless Co., which
is typical 100 per cent American
At the present time all wallpaper
dealers in Everett have signed an
agreement with Local Union No. 339
not to buy any more scab wallpaper
after this. Union made wallpaper has
either the name of the factory or
the Union Label of the wallpaper
trade on the margin. Non-union
made wallpaper has blank margin
Following is the letter from the
Star-Peerless Wallpaper Co., is bit
of history Of the attempt to organ
ize this factory.
Resolutions were passed in the
Northwest Painters Conference in re-
gard to scab wallpaper and all Lo-
cal unions in the northwest are on
the outlook and our International Of
flee will bring the wallpaper matter
again before the members and re-
freshen their minds to look for
union label goods.
Star-Peerless Wall Paper Mills
Joliet, Illinois
August 9th, 1920.
Gentlemen:
We have just received a letter
from our Mr.. Keith advising that
you are afraid to buy our line this
season on account of the |. w. w.
activities among some of your local
workmen. 1t certainly grieves us
to know that such an Un-American
spirit should be so strong in a dis
trict as to prevent an old customer
from asserting his Americanism and
purchasing goods wherever he could
buy the best.
Two years ago we had six such
cases in this country and the writer
kept track of them just to see how
they would come out. Last year ev
cry single one of the concerns that
had complained about such activities
purchased our line stronger than
ever and now yours is the first and
only case that we have heard of
this season. The writer suggests
that you get the Master Painters
together in your city and form the
same kind of an organization that
has been formed in a few other cities
like Los Angeles where it has been
endeavored to take away their law
full rights by coercion. If you would
simply get together and state that
you are going to purchase goods
wherever you want to, you could do
it and develop your business on
basis which you know would be
absolutely secure and you would not
have to lie awake nights wondering
what was going to happen to the
country.
Write to any of the dealers in
Los Angeles and find out how they
beat the l. w. WIS. l presume that
YOU are fully aware that none OF
the fine foreign papers and over
so per cent of the domestic made
papers have no label on them.
Yours respectfully,
Star-Peerless Wall Paper Mills,
Per: T. F. Goodson,
Asst. General Manager.
Upon September 20, eight men
working for the Star Peerless Wall
Paper Mills of Joliet, ILL.,, held
conference to discuss the advisablllty
of forming a Trades Union OF wall
Paper Workers. AS result of this
conference 100 of the employees OF
these mills, both men and women
met in convention October A and de-
cided, after discussion amongst them
selves, to form themselves into
trade union, eighty-five of those pres
ent signed applications for member
ship at this meeting. A committee
of eight were appointed, representing
all manufacturing departments OF the
plant, to further the movement OF
organization.
Another meeting was held the
- q 70
employees of the Joliet Wall Paper
Mills were also invited, and many
of which attended. At this meet
ing all were welcomed including en-
ployers. Both the Star Peerless
and Joliet Wall Paper Mills were
represented either by the employers
in person or some one or more of
the superintendent or foremen.
Ninety other employees of the Star
Peerless Mill who had not previously
expressed themselves regarding the
organization signed applications for
membership, making a total OF one
hundred and seventy-five (175) out
of about two hundred and forty (240)
employees working in the Star-Peer-
less Mills or over 70 per cent of
the total number of men and women
working in the mandatory depart
ments. At this meeting it was de-
cided to complete the organization
the evening of October 14th, upon
the morning of October 10, the
committee of eight appointed to help
in the work of organization were
called into the office of the Star
Peerless Company and told they could
not join a trades union, and that the
policy of the company was against
trade unions or organizations of any
character of its employees. Each of