The Labor enquirer. [volume], February 17, 1883, Page 7, Image 7

About The Labor enquirer. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1882-1888

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The Carondelet Lockout.
HBHltrike at the Vulcan hits general
HHHEg in Carondelet below the belt,
H^K^ es the town look dull and life-
I'ht-re is nc smoke coming out of
S§jßtall chimneys, and the tinkling of
liKthousand hammers and the cheery
the willing workmen has died
K av . The few men at work, look like
HLpg at sea in a calm— helpless and
([waiting for a fair wind,so that they can
feßteer for some safer and better harbor.
rTlieir heart is not in ’ their work, and
; -they labor because, perchance, they are
compelled to, and not because they have
found pleasure in not taking part with
their brethren in the strike or the lock
out. The present disagreement should
be called a lockout, and not a strike, for
the workmen made no demand for
higher wages, and were willing to accept
„ fair reduction; but even this did not
suit the monopolists, who locked their
doors and thus compelled the workmen
to rest their brawny arms for a spell at
least.
There was a time when the ironwork
ers were ignorant of the laws governing
supply and demand, but that time has
passed away. When the manufacturers
raised a hue and cry in the daily journals
to the effect that the demand ’for rails
was falling off, and the market prices
declining rapidly, the workmen smelled
a mice, and knew that this was a prelim
inary step towards shutting down for the
winter. When the manufacturers ap
peared and announced a new schedule,
. which cut down wages 33£ per cent, the
workmen understood their move. The
manufacturers should have come out
plainly and honestly and said : “We are
at the beeinning of a long winter. We
have got you in a tight place. We want
you to accept this reduction of 33J per
cent, and after you have accepted it we
will shut down anyhow. You will then
grow boisterous, squander your money
quickly, and perhaps starye through
half the winter. In the early spring
you will be willing to go to work at a
a still greater reduction, and we will
open our doors to you and take you back,
and pretend that in taking you we are
doing a great favor.” The manufacturers
did not speak thus plainly, but the work
men understood their silent move. To
make sure they were right, and prove
that their employers were not honest in
what they said, the workmen spoke,
saying: “We will accept a reduction of
20 per cent for four months, or until the
first of May. If upon that .date the
market price of steel has advanced, we
will want a proportional advance in
wages; but if the price declines, then we
will be willing to talk about a new
schedule.” This fair proposition was
not even considered. The result was
4Jje lockout, and the greasing up of the
machinery so that it would not rust
through the winter.
So far the scheme had worked well for
the manufacturers, but they counted
without their host when they thought
the workmen would grow boisterous,
squander their hard earned, wages, and
be left to starve through half the long
winter. On the contrary, the workmen
accepted the situation manfully, and
settled down t<# make the best of it.
There were no threats made, and no
exhibitions of a “communistic” nature.
The men bad toiled steadily and honestly
for years, and the married men, strange
to say were better ofi in this world’s
goods than the unmarried ; so that they
were prepared for a long seige, while the
younger men rather enjoyed the holi
day. Even since the day the fires were
put out the workmen have kept clear of
the works. Never since that time have
they asked for a compromise or re
quested a conference with the manu
facturers. Now and then comes a threat
from the latter, who say they will bring
men in here to take the places of the
strikers, but such threats as these are as
so much chaff. “Is it likely that men
are coming here to take our places ? said
one of the workmen the other day. “I
don’t think it is, for the reason that those
not on strike elsewhere are employed,
and might as well go in where they are
as come here and tdke our places at the
very reduction they were offered at
home. When the strike commenced
one of the bosses-said that a iOt of our
men were lying around the Union depot
watching for the arrival of workmen,
and standing ready to warn them against
coming to work here. That statement
was a lie made- of whole clotn,. for we
knew that no workmen would come in
here: so that there was no need of
standing ready to warn them, even if we
felt so disposed. The other day we met
a gentleman who was acquainted with
Mr. E. M Hitchcock, president of the
Vulcan works. We got him to call upon
Mr. Hitchcock and ask him what he
intended doing. ‘We intend starting up
in the spring with non-union workmen,’
said Mr. Hitehcock, adding: ‘lt’s a
mighty funny thing if out of fifty mill
ion people, we can’t gfet men enough to
run our mill the way we want it run.’
This same gentleman called upon Oliver
L. Garrison, secretary of the Vulcan
works, told him what Hitchcock had
said, and asked him what the manufac
turers intended doing. He said: ‘I
guess we will be idle for two months yet,
at least; but when we do start up, I guess
it will be with the old hands, and not
with non-union men.’ The reason of
the discrepancy between the statements
of these two men is that Hitchcock is
not a practical workman, and does not
know what it is to be one, while Garrison
has been brought up in the iron business,
and been connected ,with this mill from
its birth. He knows the difference
between union and non-union men. I
think he is at heart a friend to the Amal
gamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers. He ought to feel friendly
towards that organization, for many
reasons. Until two years ago this asso
ciation was not well organized, and it
was hard work getting hands and con
trolling them. Until two years ago there
was drunkenness and idleness in the
works, and piles of worthless rails were
piled up and left to rot. Now drunken
ness is wiped out of sight by the associ
ation, all men are kept at work and
there is no waste of material —something
that nearly bankrupted the manufactur
ers before the regular organization took
hold. I remember when Superintend
ent Fry came out here from Pennsyl
vania, he tried to play the bull-dog, and
was continually barkiag at the men. He
complained to Garrison and was told to
let the association men alone and they
would do their duty. He tried this xvay
of running things, and was astonished
at his success.”
Many workmen talk as intelligently
as the above. One said yesterday that
all the boys were taking things easily.
None of the men who went out have
left Carondelet for good, although sev
eral have taken advantage of the situa
tion to visit friends. Some have gone off
visiting and not returned yet. The men
on strike number 1,000. There are about
300 rollers, molders and machinists and
laborers still at work. Those <?n the out
side have nothing to say to those at
work, but spend their time in hunting or
fishing, or sitting around the fire discuss
ing the situation. The store keepers of
Carondelet seem to have entered into the
spirit of the strike, and, with an excep
tion or two, stand ready to help the
workmen. —St. Louis Union.
Golly-YV ash.
We have reached that period in life
where our pity for poor, downtrodden
humanity can no longer be aroused by
reading the poetical effusions of some
poor driveling drone who wastes his
time piling up doggerel, narrating the
sad fate of the horny-handed sons of
toil “who plow and sow, who reap and
mow.” No song of the laborer will
reach my softest impulses. No song'of
the factory' slave, no song of the shirt,
no beautiful snow, no supplicating slush
will reach me. I am firmly set against
it. For whom is such whining Whang
doodle written? Not even the air would
please a babe or soothe it to rest. If in
tended for the ears of the class whose
sad fate they mourn, they fail in their
objects, as those poor slaves do not read
labor papers, and seldom read, even had
tliey the time to spare, that which would
enlighten them with the light of truth.
Let those who are by nature gifted in
the art of changing and arranging words
so as to make them jingle pleasingly on
the ear, remember that the day when
the present damnable system of piled-up
wrongs will be made to tumble down, is
fast approaching.
The demand of the present hour is for
poetry and for men having dash and
flash sufficient to light the torch bat
tle and, lead labor’s aroused masses to
the soul-stirring music of which they
shall advance to liberty or death.
Therefore let us hope that all labor
poets may change their songs and the
tunes thereof; let them select a theme
worthy of free men and not of slaves.
No more whining cur-like appeals; no
more prayers, no more petitions, no
more begging and crying, no more sup
plications.
*The last spark of liberty has not flick
ered out of the American breast. There
is yet some manhood left. Let them,
therefore endeavor to fan it into a flame
by singing the songs ot “Liberty, Fra
ternity and Equality.”
Let them abandon the music of “Sweet
Bye and Bye” or “Hold the Fort” and
give us one grand song with liberty’s re
frain, “March On; March On,” to the
music of the Marsellaise.
I am constrained to write these lines
from having read thq occasional songs
that have appeared in labor journals.
The whining appeals thus put lorth are
sufficient to make one feel ashamed of
his race, and wish he were a noble red
man, yea, even a digger Jndian or a
Chinaman, rather than this hound of a
slave crying out like a sick child.—Mas
saniello, in San Francisco Truth.
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side reading. Its columns will also he open to all for the discussion
of all matters looking to the advancement of the people.
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RAILWAY TIME TABLE.
(DENVER TIME.)
ALL CURRENT AND RELIABLE.
CD lon Pacific.
I s
ROADS. ■ LEAVE. ; ARRIVE
Omaha Short Line i 8:00 a. ml 6:25 p. m
Colorado Central— l ! „
For Cheyenne ; 7:30 a. mi 6:20p. m
Georgetown Express ■ 8:06a. m;ll:l5a. m
Georgetown extra mall* I 2:25 p. m; 6:10 p. m
Union Pacific— „
Kansas City train- 10:30 p.m. 6:00 a. m
Kansas City A East’n Ex! 6:30 p. ml 7:45 a. m
Cheyenne train I 8:20 a. m! 6:45 p. m
Boulder train* : 4:25 p. m;10:20 a. m
Denver a South Park— i ! „„
Morrison train 110:25a. m; 9:35 a. m
MorriSon train 1 5:15p. m. 4:15 p. m
' \le. Denv'r ar.Ldvlle
Day Express ; 8:20 a. ml 6:00 p. m
Leadville Express.!..... ; 8:00p. ml 7:00a. m
k.L'dvlle'.ar. Denvr
Day Express- 17:lia. m; 6:00p.m
Denver Express 1 7:06 p. m; 7:00 a. m
*No trains on Sunday. * 1
Denver & Rio Grande.
LEADVIL. E AND GUNNISON EXPRESS TRAINS.
■ -'V'-' “
STATIONS. WESTWARD.
Lv. Denver ... j ... . 8:00 a. m. 8:00 p. m.
Ar. Colorado Springs . . 11:45 a. m. 11:15 p. m.
“ Pueblo 1:30 p. m. 1:00 a. m.-
“ Canyon City .... 3:50 p. m. 3:05 a. m.
“ Westcllff 8:35 p. m
“ Salida...!*, 6:40 p. m. 5:50 a. m.
“ Maysville. . . ... 8:10 p. m. 11:40 a. m.
“ Gunnison 12:05 p. m.
“ Nathrop. . V., .'. 7:42p.m. 6:52a.m.
“ Alpine . . . . v . . . 10:15 p. m. 11:80 a. m.
“ Leadville ■■■■■■ 10:00 p.m. 9:00 m.
STATIONS. EASTWARD.
Ar. Denver 7:10 a. m. 7:15 p. m.
Lv. Colorado Springs . . 3:50 a. m. 3:50 p. m.
“ Pueblo . 2:00 a. m. 2:05 p. m.
“ Canyon City .... 12:05 a. m. 11:40 a. m.
“ Westellffl ...... 8:20 a.m. ......
“ Sallda 0:30 p. m. 9:10 a. m.
“ . Maysville 5:05 a. m. 4:00 p. m
“ Gunnison . ..... 3:10 p. m. .....
“ Nathrop. ...' . . . 8:30p.m. 8:13a.m.
“ Alpine 5:15 p.m. 6:05 a. m
“ LeadviLe .... 6:30 p.m. 6:15 a, m.
No. s.—The THUNnERBOi/r Express.
For Kansas City, leaves Denver at 2:30 ip. m.
All trains daily. j ,
EXPOSITION SPECIAL TIME TABLE '
Between Union Depot, Denver, and Exposi
tion Building:
Trains leave Union Depot for Exposition at
8:20 a. m., 9:00 a, m., 9:55 a. m., 11 a. m., 12:01 p.
m., 1 p. m., 2 p. m., 3 p. m., 4 p. ra., 5 p. m., 5:56
p. m., 6:20 p. m., 7:15 p. in. Returning, leave
Exposition 9:00 a. m., 9.58 a. m., 11:00 a. m.,
11:57 a. m., 12:55 p. in., 2:00 p. m., 3:00 p. m., 4foo
p, m„ 5:00 p. m., 5:47 p. m., 6:27 p. m., 6:57 p. m,
SAN JUAN AND .NEW MEXICO DIVISION AND
EL MOKO BRANCH.
L". Denver . 2:30 p. m. Ar. Denver . 12:15 p. m.
Lv. Pueblo . 8:30 p. m. Ar. Pueblo . 6:1)0 a, m.
Lv. Cuchara 11:25 p. m. Lv. Cuchara 10:50 a. m.
Ar. El Moro. 7:05 p. m. Lv. El Moro 8:45 a. m
Ar. Alamosa 6:00 a. m. Lv. Alamosa 8:30 p. m.
Ar. Antonito 7:50a. m. Lv. Antonrto 7:10 p. m.
Ar. Espanolal2:ssp. m. Lv. Espanola 1:55 p. m
Ar. Durango 7:30 p. m. Lv, Durango 7:30 a. m.
El Mono Express leaves Denver 8:00 a. m.,
Colorado Springs 11:50 a. m., Pueblo 2:15 p. m.,
arrives at ElMoro 7:05 p. m. Returning leaves
El Moro 8:46 a. m., arrives at Pueblo i:3O p. m.,
Colorado Springs 3:40 p. m., and Denver 7:15
p. m.
MANM'OU TRAINS.
Lv. Denver. . 8:00a. m Ar. Mahitou..9:4o a. r&
Lv. Denver. . 2:30 p. m Ar. Manitou 12:20 p. m
Lv. Denver....7:3o p. m Ar. Manit0u..,4.25 p. m
Lv. Manitou :8:20 a. m j Ar. Manitou.. 6:30 p. m
Lv. Manitou 11:20 a. m ! Ar. Manitou 11:40 p. m
Lv. Manitou.. 3:20 p. m lAr. Denver...l2:ls p. m
Lv. Manitou..s:2o p. m ;Ar. Denver... .7:15 p.m
Lv. Manitou 10:45 p. m 1 __
Burlington Line.
going east.—Denver Time.
Fast Ex. for Kansas City Lvs. Denver..2:3o p. m
Eastern Chicago Ex. Lvs Denver........2:30p. m
Through Freight and Accom 5:10 a. m
COMING WEST.—Denver Time.
Fast Ex. from Kan. City Ar. Denver] 1:00 a. m
Denver Ex. from the East Ar 11:00 a. m
Denver Ft. and Accom. Ar. Denver...l2:2sp. m
Denver, Longmont & JfortliwcsUrr
Depot foot of Nineteenth street.
Passenger train No. 5 leaves Denver at 5:00
p. m., arriving Longmont 7:00 p. m.
Train No. 6 leaves Longmont at 7 a. m., ar
rives Denver 9:00 a. m.
All traips daily, Sundays excepted.
Denver Circle Railroad Time Table.
Trains will leave Curtis Street station for
Exposition, San Souei Park and Base Ball
grounds at 6:30, 7:30,8 a. m., and every twenty
minutes thereafter until 12 m.; and at 1 p. m.
and every twenty minutes thereafter until 8
p. m.; and every half hour thereafter until 10
p. m., returning at like intervals, the last
train leaving Exposition station at 10:35 p. m.
Fare 10 cents each way.
Postoflice Bulletin.
The office is ofieh daily from 8 a. m. to 7 p.m.
Sundays, from 9 to 10 a. m. and from 6 to 7 p.
m. Money order department from Ba.m. to 4
p. m.
Malls Arrive and close as follows.
Denver and New Orleans.—Broad Guage.
Passenger trains leave the Union Depot, foot
of Sixteenth street, daily, as follows:
SOUTHWARD BOUND.
stations. ; Pass' ngr Emigr'nt
Lv. Denver ! Brls a.m; 7:06 p.m
‘ Parker’s '! 9:13 a.m; 9:10 p.m
“ Elizabeth ; 9:53 a.m 10:28 p.m
“ Elbert..., '10:23 a.nr 11:25 p.m
“ Easton 10:52 a.m 12:15 a.m
Manitou J .- ‘11:34 a.m; 3:00 a.m
“ Francvilie— 111:47 a.m: 3:50 a.m
Ar. Pueblo : 1»15 p.m 1 7:50 a.m
NORTHWARD BOUND.
stations. ' i Emigr'nl Pass'ngr
——————— 1 i - -■ - " ■ ■ ■ :
Ar. Denver.-. ;il:00 p.m. 1 7:10 p. m
“ Parker’s \ 9:10 p.m.! 6:14 p. m
“ Elizabeth 7:55 p.m.! 5:38 p. rn
“ Elbert 7:00 p.m. I 50)9 p. m
“ Easton . 6:10 p.m.; 4:43 p. in
“ Manitou J \ 4:40 p.m. 4:00 p. m
“ Francvilie 3:50 pin ! 3:47 p. m
Lv. Pueblo 112:20 p.m.- 2:20 p. in
VIA. • Clones. Arrives.
Kansas Pacific..! { wwLP' !n ‘ a ’ m ’
( 10:00p.m.45 p. e».
Denver a Rio Grande 7:30 a. m. 7:15 p -w.
Denver a South Park 7:30 a. m. 7:o*' .
Colorado Central 8:05 a. m. ?.!L p. m.
Boulder Valley., 40)5 p. m. 9:50 a. m.
Boulder a Longmont 6:10 a. m. 8:00 p. m.
Merchants & Mechanics*
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Lunch Room,
.10!) LARIMER,
I ‘ f ' ■
Between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Streets.
■ '*
Good meals, fine lunches, oysters in every
style.
Everything neat and comfortable. Open
until 1 o’clock a. m.
7