The labor argus. [volume], August 29, 1907, Image 1

About The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915

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OMLESTOH. WEST VIRGINIA. Mir., w -========
Kanawha's (JrmU\ \(~Cubui I?7~ , i_ _ , "'ta,a""?
.,-_K~?r"JTZ S"P'- *?<*>
JNU AliKHilA
v :?_
By Council Committee
Both Sides of tf
troversy?St
r
The situation in regard to thi
street car Strike remains unch'ang
ed, as lar as the getting togethei
of the parties to the controversy
are concerned. The Sympathy o:
the people , is still with the men
aiul they are gaining ground cacl
lay.
As predicted in' last week'si issm
nf tliO A I'fflio o cnnniol ?io.di'.?n.
v, v.,w Mjj.vvaui. lilcCbUlg UJ
council was hold and after a lew
preliminary remarks as to the ob
jeet of the meeting Councilmai
Harlow offered the following reso
lotion in. behalf of the strikers:
Whereas, there exists a controversy
between the Kanawha Valiej
'fraction Company, which enjoys
its franchise froih, this city, aud its
employes; the company contending
- that they are right|;and
- Whereas, the ^controversy has
- assumed such important proportions
that certain business interests
are being affected, and the.citizem
_ in general of the city are ^embarrassed.
And
Whereas, it is generally -understood
that the company and .the
employes cannot or have not beeti
able to agree, and it being the
sense of the. council that there
ought to be a settlement of the
differences existing between these
contending factious, that - the-good
name and welfare of this city and
its present administration demands
that there; should be a speedy
settlement of said differences, and
that each side should make reasonable
concessions to the other, with
a view of such settlement.
Therefore, be it resolved by the
Common Council of the city of
Charleston that Hon. J. A. Holley,
Mayor of the city of Charleston,
bo requested, and he is hereby
authorized, aud directed at his
earliest conviencc to request Raid
Kanawha Valley Traction Company
to select an arbitrator, and
, the striking employees of said company
also to select an abitrator, aud
the two (arbitrators select an umpire
who shall be disinterested,
and in case the arbitrators cannot
agree upon an umpire then the
mayor of this city shall appoint an
unpire who shall not be a member
of or interested in any corporation,
or member of or interested in any
labor union organization, and
when selected and sworn the three
shall coutitnte an arbitration
board, who shall sit and hear the
grievances publicly of each side;
in the meantime, and during such
arbitration the men on strike to
resume work in their former positions
prior to August 9th, 1907,
the arbitration board be requested
to adjust the differences, impossible,
and in case of their failure to
make such adjustment, to make
the report in writing to this council
at the next regular meeting
thereof, or speeial meeting should
one be called for that purpose; the
costs of the arbitration to be borne
equally by the parties to the con
troversy. "
Resolved further, that a copy ol
these resolutions be certified by
the recorder, and given one copy
to the compirny, and one copy to
the striking employes, as well as a
copy to /the ' board of arbitration.
Before the resolution could be
debated, however, " councilman
Stephenson offered the following
Substitute, which was ' adopted
without debate:
' 'Resolved"that the Mayor of the
eity be authorized to appoint a
committee of three members of
this body to confer with the street
car company and its striking employes,
consisting of a committee
of three appointed by each of them",
and to do what they can to bring
aljout a settlement of said strike^'
Whereupon, the Mayor appoint
ed the 'foliowing committcee ;'t<
carry'out the instruction^ of thi
resolution: Messrs. Stephenson
atJNi
IS REACHED
'? , ;
and Representatives oi
le Street Car Conrike
Still On*
s Buster aud Norvefle.
A conference was licld at (hi
r Hotel Rulluer Saturday e.veuiiij
i by the committee at which Hon
f \V. H. Chilton represented thi
i company ami National Boari
i Member Fiizgontkl, of'tlie st'rec
ear workers, President .Tolin E
; Clinton, of the Local Division,~nm
* ' A " -C -fStf " ? -: >* ' " '
l -t? j- - ui i;. ... esrganizcr Tlios
r Cairns represented the strikers
His Honor, Mayor James A
i Holley was also present.
The conference lasted" sevcra
hours but nothing was aocom
plished. The representatives ol
t the meli urged that the enti'ri
i matter be left to a l>oard of arbi
i tralion, but the Traction Uhrupan'j
f still maintained their determined
stand not to recognizu the union,
i Filzgerald and Cairns presented
their case in a clear cut niannei
i and made an unanswerable argui
mcut why the" existing differences
should be arbitrated.
At the conclusion of the meeting
all the parties to the conference
: parted iu the most friendly
manner.
i . There is no prospects of the com
tinitt.ee "having another meeting unless
the- company experiences a
change of heart,- which means that
dheictihtest. will. ?be a long drawn
out and stubborn contest.
\V. B. Fitzgerald, who has been
here representing the National
body left Monday for Pittsburg as
there was uo further use for his
services, the local men having the
situation well in hand and thor
oughly competent to handle^it iii
future. Mr. Fitzgerald during his
short stay has won many friends
in the city by his gentlemanly deportment
and broad and liberal
views and enjoys the confidence
and esteem not only of his own
people but - the representatives of
the street ear company, and all
with whom he has come in contact
in his effort to secure a peaceable
settlement of controvcsy, and
i should he ever return he will rei
ceive- a hearty welcome.
One of the features of the strike
that has elicited much favorable
comment is the dignified .and
gentlemanly manner in which the
! men have conducted themselves
during the controversy. They
have lived within the law at all
times and have advised their
sympathizers to do likewise. But
on the other band the strikebreakers
have been as a rale ever
ready to create a disturbance on
the slightest provocation and have
caused ine autnonties no little
trouble.
Hod Carriers Convention. '
The Fifth General- Convention of
: the International Hod Carriers'
, and Building Laborers' Union of
America 1*111 be held.in Central
Labor Union Hall, corner Bank
and City Hall Avenue, in the city
of Norfolk, "Virginia, beginning the
second Monday in September,
September 9th, 1907, at 9 o'clock,
, and will continue in session from
day to day until the business flf
, the convention*is completed^.
t t ?
Child Labor Convention.
Governor Patterson of Tennessee,
i has issued a ."Call for a meeting 01
the textile psperators and represent
atives Of Vhbor organizations of th?
cotton s.tsates to be held in Nash
ville, <pctober 14. The purpose oi
the tfheeting is to consider, tin
formulation of laws regelating th<
^employment of women and childrei
t in the mills of the South.
o A girl likes to be told she is nice,
e but she would rather be to.d she is
, nicer than any other girL
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' ' ' \/j' y~}-. iV" ' r
1 JOHN Ml
- President of tlie United Mine' SVoi
. West Virginia i:
LOCAL NEWS~OF
; Much Good Work Being Ac
the Officials?S?mai
' Fairmon
I
District President Craigo and
t Secretary Morris visited the Local
Union at Winifroda loof
his gone to{ the expense of over
two hundred dollars in making the
. necessary arrangements. It is reported
thai; Ex-Governor Atkinson
and other \ speakers of national
reputation /'will deliver addresses
on that daiy.
# =t= *
Nstthonal Organizer Chas, Krallmncii
and Tj. F. . Lanham have
.j-again been doing some very effcc"
tive work; visited Local Union at
. Barren Creek on last Wednesday
night, addressed a good meeting
and found harmonious relationship
existing between the employers
f arid the men. Also visited. the
. local unions at Dorfee, .which has
> very much improved its conditions
. in the last few mouths, "from there
f they- visited - Briar Creek a?d or;
ganized another local ntiicyi in that
3 section".
t , - * * *
national Board Member Davis
and Sub-District Secretary Hast,
ings were Called to the Mecca
i Mines and settled a very important
question with the" Carver
V ..V- ...
And iu company with the mine
committee held an important conference
with Acting President
Baird and Superintendent'' Edmonds.
This meeting was arranged
by the Company with the view
of bringing in now men. The tonnage
at this mine has somewhat
decreased, duo to the shortage of
men, and before bringing in new
men the company desired to have
a conference with the officials of
the Mine Workers and a committee
of their men, so as to have an
understanding in the matter.
* * *
Sub-District President Cairns
and District- President Craigo on
last Saturday took up a grievance
at Mammoth with the Sunday
Creek Coal Company, which wps
amply settled .to the satisfaction sen
all parties concerned. )
* * *^ I.
The Mine Workers 'Ash Camp
Local Union on Paitfa Creek have
made arrantreinenXs for a bit?
demonstration ajtf that place on
Labor day, wh.Cn it is expected
that at least 2^,000 people will be
in attendance. The Local TIninn
Bos i ?;-0 ^
cs - I
r9 I . ?
1
0
1 ;
te
H
I I
ifCHELL. I y^0??f.':\ '; P
kcrs of America, who will vi?it
i tie near future.
' MINE WORKERS
compKshed In the District By
it Field.
Brothers Coal Company, which
greatly affected the mine workers
at that place. Also have attended
several meetings on Gaulcy Kiver.
* * *
Reports from the District office
show that all the local unions have
greatly increased their membership
throughout the State, with the
exception of the mines between
Handley and Mount Carbon on
the Ci & O. road, when it is hoped
that the miners at those mines if
they expect to the conditions that
have been brought about by" the
Organization, will become active
dues paying miners. '
* * *
National Organizer Chas. Krallman
reports that Secretary- Bert
Hastings and National Board
Member Davis 'and Organizer
Chappell have. been doing, some
/very ' effective, work at Crescent,
Eagle and St. Clair and other
points in the vicinity.
* * *
Senator Littlepage at Grafton.
The following special from
Grafton in yesterday's Gazette will
be of more than an ordinary interest
to the mine workers of the
Kanawha field:
For the purpose of looking after
some interests in the United Mine
"Workers of America, for which he
is leading' counsel in the state oi
West Virginia, Senator Adam B.
Littlepage, of Charleston, arrive*!
J"q the city yesterday, and he will
remain here for several (lays'.
There has -been some unpleasant
occurrences in this section of the
state recently because of the effort
of the mine workers union to organize
the coal miners, and some
of the organizers have been threatened
with violence it is understood.
It is the purpose of the genial
Senaton from Kanawha county to
make an effort to have the differences
in regard of these matters
between the operators - ajjja. the
miners settled if possible so that
all will receive fair treatment.
''It is my object to do all the
good I can in the way of bringing
the employers and employes closer
together, no matter in what walk
Continued on page four.
- - """ '
STRIKING f
CAR MB
' . , ?:r;
Fidelity Trust Company <
a Sweeping Injun<
Strikers?Was I
. -
. ? ?? uteu m wo.clfcrk'gj
ofliw of the United StateS'-Cou rt.
Friday night a suit in equity, j
brought by tlie Fidelity. Trust
Company aguiusl -.Tohu Oijntau
uiuV other street car strikers, ih
which Judge Nalhnn Ooffon An
gust 2'2, grantwl an Injunction',
The injunction \vns sekved Batunlay
on the following strikois:
John Clinton, C.: J. Harriett, J> \V,
Martin, \\r. J. ihrttinssoii, K;
Jtobertson, O. Stewart, W. IT.
liileman, George Boo, II- L. Beane,
M. H. Fielder, h. It each, A. \V.
Bush, t~- Ferry, J. \V. JohnSon,
J. D. MeadpufS,.Ft lti ' AVisfetaan,
A. B. Haytics, J. ?T Tucker,
O. O. Tucker J High Jtobert
iiayue, J, J?. Steward, t??
-Whiter, Oliarlea Backus,.- ilerbcrt (
MTcComb, O, L. Coleman amivB. Bi
Thuia and practically all - the
pronduent labor men in tlrq city.
The full text is as follows:
United States Circuit Court,
Southern District oi' VJeSt
Virginia.
Fidelity Trust Company, Com.
plaiuant, vs. (in Equity)
Dunn uuuwn, unci ocnera,yjj(ifcnclants.
This clay came the complainant,
Rented to tlm iuidc;rsigiiod. .irmhafi
Qoff, cii'cdH^VJuajlje 'of'th? VoaFili
Judicial circuit, in Chambers at
Clarksburg, West Virginia, its bill
of complaint, duly veriilcd, together
with certain exhibits therein
mentioned, which said bill prays
for ccrtiou injunctions against the
defendants as therein set out; and
thereupon said complainant, moved
for permission to ille said bill
and for the process against said defenudants,
and also moved tbat
tho injunction as prayed for bo
granted; upon consideration of
which the said motions to iile said
bill and for process against the defendants
are granted, and tho bill
is ordered to be died i 11 the clerk's
office of the circuit court of the
V ..'VULIICI 11
district of West Virginia, at
Charleston, and. process is awarded
thereon against each and all of
defendants.
The motion to grant the injunctions
as prayed for is set down for
hearing at Charleston, West Virginia,
on the first day of the term
of said court designated by law to
be held on the tanL Tuesday i n
November, 1907, at Charleston.
Until the further order ot sdil
court, or of a judge thereof, a
temporary restraining order is
granted inhibiting the enjoining,
the defendants named in the bill,
and each and all of them, and all
other persons conspiring with them
as follows: From in any manner
directly interfering with, hindering,
obstructing, or stopping
-the business of the Kan1
awha Valley Traction Company,
or any 01 its agents, servants or
employes, in the maintenance,
management and conduct of its
affairs; from compelling or inducing,_or
attempting to compel or in1
duce by threats, intimidation,
1 force are violence any of the said
' Kanawha Valley Traction Company's
employes or agents, to fail
: or refuse to work for it or to leave
its service; from preventing or attempting
to prevent any pergon or
persons by threats, intimidation,
soree or violence, from freely entering
into or continuing in the
service of said company; from congregating
upon or about the
premises of said company'" or at
' any points where the business of
said company will be obstructed
thereby, for the purpose of intimidating
"its employes or preventing
them from discharging their duties
to said company; from unlawfully
interfering with the said company's i
employers in going "to and from
mmm t
TREET
1 ENJOINED
>1 Kmyl.anii W.<
:tion Against the
terved Saturday.
thuir work; from <eu forcing, n>?iu- "
tuinhur or nSditit. ?<* *? -
<n>JP!L? ?" s?cw ssPsr,ucc*i-j'fS
mont or maintenance' of anyitlegal^?
lH>ycott against the said company,. Its
agents or employes; from endeavoring
to illegally induce peo- &
pie not to patronirc or deal wlth
said company, its agents or employes.
from attempting to compel
said company by threats, intimidation,
force or violence, to cmploy
or discharge any person or
persona whomsoevor,:fronxcoin- :
bini tig together, or with other persons,
for the porpose of preventing
said company from' doing any law-,
fat act in the conduct* of its business.
It' is further o:dered that .
the service of a oertilled oopv of
this order shall be deemed and
tiiken to bo duo and legal servioe Sw
of this restraining order. But this
restraining order shall not be
effective until the complainant
shall execute and file with the
clerk of said court, bond in the
usual form with good security, to
be-'approved by said einrv.
penalty of 95,000 conditioned to.^||
pay such cost as may bo awarded. ^
against said company, and also. .
such damages as shall be incurred j
by tho "said defendants or any of
thorn, in cuse said restraining order
bo hereafter dissolved. ;;
On notice duly given, and servr r
?sd, the court M ill, previous to the
fliwfc. day of its November torrt,
herein before mentioned, hear anag?p
determine any motion referring
to the matter In the bill set forth
by the complainant, or the defendant
of any of them.
NATHAN GOFF,
U. 8. Circuit Judge,'
August 22, 1007.
TO EDWIN M. KEATDEY,
Clerk U. S. Circuit Court,
Southern District of West Virginia,
Charleston, W. Va.
COUNTER SUIT
MAY BE FILED
Against the Rational Manufacturers'
Association by Organized
Labor.
Following a meeting of' the executive
council ofgthe American
Federation of I<abor Wednesday,
President Gompers said that most
probably the federation would
bang a counter suit against the
Natioial Manufacturers Association,
clmvgng that body with
conspiracy, liusaid:
We have learned that'Jfri. Van
Cleave lias been instigated in iv
sorting to these injunction proceedings
by direction of the Manufacturers'Association,
which met
in New York recently and decided
to raise a fund of $1,500,000 to
crush 'out organized labor. The
Executive Council of the American
Federation of Labor has decided
that the case to_ be met in the
courts shall take on the broadest
cope.'
Our friend "Van Cleve will soon
know we are in the running.
If he expects us to surrender the
rights that cost centuries of struggles
by the people to secure
and establish them he is mistaked
in his men. 'We know we are
within our legal rights and we
propose to exercise them regardless
of personal consequences.
I amstronger in my conviction
that when it comes to the test of
surrendering to an injunction of
the courts I shall not hesitate to
exercise my rights.
The man behind these injunction
proceedings are pitting their
millions of money against human
hearts and minds and in the long
run hearts and minds will win.
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