Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-17
'STRAINS' CLERKS PROTEST
AGAINST BOYCOTT ATTEMPT
Store Employees Seize Banners Carried on Street;
Demand Source of Authority for APP
pearance of Signs.

Acting in protest against the dis
playing of boycott banners carried
since last Thursday in front Of Strain
Brothers main store, Fourth street
and Central avenue, and the cash and
carry grocery department., 41S Central,
employees of the store Saturday morn
ing, in their own initiative, took from
the possession of three carriers the
signs objected to and went in a body
to Carpenters hall, labor headquar-
ters, to hold what was termed an in
digDation meeting and to demand a
reason for the appearance of the ban
ners. The action taken was due to
the clerks" disapproval of the appear
ance of the banners under the circum-
stances obtaining, it was stated by
spokesman of the employees.
The store was closed nearly 70 min
utes while the clerks were at Carpen-
ters' hall, only the cashiers remaining
at their posts while the force was alb
sent. The Conrad grocery, 13 Fourth
street south, also was closed while the
clerks there joined with the sales
force from Strains in the march to
Carpenters hall.
The Conrad employees action also
was to learn the reason for the display
Of banners, it was stated by Fred
Dorm of the grocery's sales force. All
employees there, he said, are satisfied
with the working arrangement now IN
effect. Both Strains and Conrad's
were among the stores which last
spring placed in effect the American
plan of operation.
Carpenters hall was deserted when
the employees from the two stores
reached there. After some discussion
by different Of the clerks and +. l.
Arthur, superintendent of Strains; the
clerks returned and business was re-
snmed. The banners had appeared on
the streets without signatures and 1t
was not definitely learned by what
authority they were carried Saturday
morning. Friday afternoon. a dele
CATION Of clerks from Strains asked
II. T. Foran. president of the clerks
union, who had authorized the banners
and he is quoted as saying that he
was partially responsible. He then
agreed to remove the signs and they
disappeared within a short time, only
to again Saturday morning,
Foran was said to have denied respon-
sibility for the last appearance Of the
signs.
Two signs were first taken from f.
A. Stems and j. A. Brown and a
short time later n third was taken
from J.. e. Westover. William Win
terrod is said to have accompanied
Westover as bodyguard and was ar
rested on a charge Of melting a riot
after an alleged show of hostilities.
Winterrod claimed to be q business
agent of the Montana Federation of
Labor at Helena. The police said that
they have known him as a Great Falls
resident for a considerable length of
time, but different of the clerks inter-
viewed did not know him at all. He
was released on his own recognizance
to appear in police court Monday
morning.
In a statement issued shortly after
the clerks returned from Carpenters
Hall. w. e. Johnson OF Strains main
store grocery and Mack Crowder Of
the cash and carry department said
that the clerks were satisfied with
wages and working conditions at the
store. Mr.. Johnson formerly was
president of the clerks union. Both