Evening star., 1923-12-16
AS A UNION MAN SEES 1T.
.ISMS WORKERS CHIEF FOE
Labor Organizations Built OH Strong
Foundation, But New Doc.
trines Are Menace.

formed. but the records indicate that
there was such an organization in AL
bany as early as 1859. Now the en-
ployers are represented by the Stove
Founders National Defense Association.
organized in 1885 as an offshoot of
then existing association.
Suspicion General.
"A marked spirit of suspicion and
hostility existed from the first between
the two groups in the industry, as is
evident from the record Of strikes and
lockouts which occurred repeatedly in
the same foundries and localities.
Molders and manufacturers were alter
nately successful in these disputes and
nothing in the natura of a permanent
settlement or an assured prospect of
peace was realized. A defeat for either
side often meant only a determination
not to abide by the result. but to re-
organize and then retaliate at the first
favorable opportunity
The panic Of 1857 was followed by re-
auctions in wages, and In the succeed
ing year three strikes for the restora-
tion OF the wage rate previously paid
were noted. although in some of these
strikes questions relating TO apprentices
and payment in kind were injected.
A great number of disputes occurred
in 1855 and 1866. In 1866 the employ
citation and brought about the great
lockout Of that year. Disputes in 1867
were more bitter than those of the pre-
vious year. Strikes in the following
years were generally lost by the unions.
The prosperous times of 1872 led TO a
recurrence Of fairly successful strikes.
but the period from 1874 to 1880 was
quiet. Beginning with tine latter year
there was a revival OF activities among
the stove molders' unions with fire.
"a
pute which led directly to collective
bargaining was that of 1887, which had
its beginning in st. Louis with a de-
rnand for increased wages, and ended
Both Sides Suffered.
As result Of these disturbances the
workmen and the employers suffered
severely. Efforts were then made by
both sides to bring about an under
standing on the merits rather than
In 1866 the president Of the union sug-
gested to the employers association
that there should be a conference be-
tween representatives Of both associa-
tions. The reply to the suggestion was
not favorable and took the form of
posting of defiant notices In the work
places of the employers.
In 1876 the moIders' union suggested
policy Of arbitration, but again the
employers did not respond and the ef-
fort to secure arbitration was aban-
doned. There was, however, a condi-
ton that helped the way to an under
standing, and that was that some Of the
foundry owners had been journeymen
molders and understood that there
were hardships and injustices that
should be remedied. On the part Of the
union the character Of its representative
had much to do with reaching an un-
derstanding between the contending
forces.
Strike Adjusted.
In August, 1880. a strike in Pitts
burEh was adjusted by the employers
officers on the basis OF a written
agreement with the local union. The
operation Of this agreement proved
satisfactory to the owners and the
men and made 1t evident that IL an
agreement could be reached after
strike it was possible to reach such
an understanding before a strike was
permitted to occur. So In 1890 the
executive board Of the union was
directed by the molders' convention
to communicate with the representa-
tives of the stove manufacturers
association with the object Of meeting
in conference and discussing points Of |