The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-23
.SCHWALD ISSUES
|. FIRST STATEMENT
ON LOCAL STRIKE
Refuses to Discuss Plans Of
Labor Council for Future
and Confines Himself to
Reasons for WalkOut.


Breaking. silence for the first time,
PRESIDENT Arch Schwalb, of the Trades
ana Labor council, Friday issued the
Following statement of the situation
and concerning matters leading up to
me walkout of the firemen:
further than. to say that the labor
organizations OF Memphis are unani-
mously In sympathy with the firemen
ana that they are Of one opinion that
the rejecting Of the proposition known
as the editors proposal by the city
authorities was wilfuI and unneces-
sary defy of organized labor. I can not
az thls time give any information as to
the attitude and plans of the council
and various organizations.
This refusal by the mayor and COM
fnisslonerS to accept the offer of the
men to return to work without condi-
ton demonstrated clearly that the pur-
pose of the administration and the
group of business men who seem to
control 1t. in making the present issue
with the firemen was planned from the
beginning to destroy and discredit this
particular organization and through 1t
to contest the right of all laboring men
to organize and bargain collectively. .
1t is fair to the public to state all
the facts which now show this purpose,
emanating from an opposition to the
aims of organized labor has actuated
those responsible for the city's present
attitude and not the welfare of the city
or the justice of the situation.
In the first place. there is no ques-
ton of economy involved because a
vastly larger amount is being expended
in the campaign to destroy and supplant
the men of the Memphis firefighters'
union than would have been necessary
to say nothing of their later offer to
return to work without any condition
as to increase in pay.
Divorced Politics.
I'm the second place, the service OF
these men and the effect of their or
ganization has not been such as to
| make it advantageous to the city 10
eliminate them or their organization.
Upon the other hand the facts are that
ent union in Memphis, the department
was football Of politics, inefficient as
a firefighting machine and SO consti-
tuted that the men composed could not
be self-respecting citizens and the heads
| of decent families. The organization
| Immediately divorced the department
| from politics--a matter of no small con-
| sequence to the city from every stand
point.
"Since the organization the efficiency
| of the department has been improved to
such an extent that all will admit every
| citizen of the city has been benefited
| thereby.
| Lastly, the organization has en-
| deavored to secure for the men working
| conditions which will enable them to BIZ
self respecting and useful citizens ans
| fathers and husbands. able to rear theil
1 families decently an accomplishment
which benefits not only them but a'
certainly affects the community o
! which they are part. 1t will thus b,
Iseen that the firefighters union which
| is spurned and denounced has given tC
| the city tangible benefits which might
be compared favorably to the sum o.
all that has been So far accomplished
/ by the organization now controlling the
city government.
| This brings ME to statement oil
! the real reason for the present contro-
(, Versy and necessitates my making pub
lie conversations ard proposals that
| have not heretofore deemed 1t proper
| TO discuss it publicly, and do so now
because of protestattons OF friendship
| accepted by us in good faith appear Il
| have proceeded from design and mo-
| tives to accomplish the destruction Of
| the organizations so vital to us
ut will be remembered that when the
| firemen, many weeks ago, brought theiI
| conditions to the attention of the com.
! missioner and their petition was de-
MED, the president of the Chamber o.
| Commerce interviewed and took charge
of the controversy. After he had showT
an earnest interest in the men and OBJ
/ tanned their agreement to walt for hin
to work out their aviation, the frs
| definite proposal when the presldent o.
| the Chamber Of Commerce made was Al
a conference between ]. Cohen, L. F
! Sunderland and myself. and the pro
posal was that If the firemen would sur.
render their charter chat is dissolve TIL
local) they would stand a better chance
for financial relief, and that he (tht
president of the ChaUber Of Com
merce) would see that they were made
honorary members of the Chamber o
| Commerce.
I'm other words, the president Of the
| Chamber OF Commerce conditioned any
efforts toward relief upon dissolution
Of the union, although the city had time
and again recognized and dealt will
the union, and no question was ther
pending as to its recognition.
1.-THE adequacy or inadequacy OF tn
mems pay did not depend in the slight
est upon their organization or nonor
ganization, yet the president Of thu
Chamber of Commerce, after time TO
preparation had been obtained, refused
to give relief admitted to be just unles
the men abandoned an organization the,
had had for several years.
I'm short, he proposed to barter breat
to hungry men for the surrender b.
them of a right which they deemed cs
sential to their protection and which
for that reason, was Objectionable Il
him or those acting with him.