``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Sunday November 5, 1905 From the Montana News: "The I. W. W. Asks For Strike Funds"
The I. W. W. was founded only last summer and is already active on the ground organizing workers who the American Federation of Labor has previously left unorganized. The Stogie Makers were one such group left out on their own by the "aristocratic" International Union of Cigar Makers.
The I. W. W. officers describe how the strike in Cleveland began:
Immediately upon learning of the organization of the employees being perfected, the manufacturers organized. Their first move was to engage, what they termed apprentices, The members of the union counteracted this move by taking in the apprentices, most of whom were over twenty and thirty years of age. The manufacturers continued engaging and breaking in more apprentices, until they thought they had enough to begin war against their older employees, by establishing a blacklist. Employees quitting their jobs, or discharged, could not get employment in another establishment.This same issue of the News also published the entire constitution of the Industrial Workers of the World which we will republish in full in tomorrow's issue of Hellraisers.Finally the union was forced to take action....The members were forced to either strike when the employers were the least prepared or allow their organization to be destroyed piece-meal; they chose the former.
From the Montana News of October 11, 1905:
The I. W. W. Asks For Strike Funds~~~~~~~~~~In this period of unrest among the wage-earners of this country when thousands and scores of thousands are looking to the Industrial Workers of the World as the organization offering a plan of action and fighting methods in line with the requirements of this age, it was to be expected that the capitalist class, alarmed at the growing interest the wage earners were taking in the principles expounded by the Industrial Workers of the World, would at the first opportunity, attempt to strike a blow against the organization while still in its infancy.This opportunity presented itself when the Stogie Makers of Cleveland, Ohio, organized the industry under the Industrial Workers of the World. The employees in that industry had been denied the right to organize themselves by the aristocratic International Union of Cigar Makers and, as the message of industrial unionism appealed to them so strongly, they organized themselves immediately after the close of the convention. It is well to state that the men and women of that industry were not ignorant of the aims and fighting methods of labor organizations; they had gone through two struggles before, when organized in a union which had to be independent, for reasons given above.
Immediately upon learning of the organization of the employees being perfected, the manufacturers organized. Their first move was to engage, what they termed apprentices, The members of the union counteracted this move by taking in the apprentices, most of whom were over twenty and thirty years of age. The manufacturers continued engaging and breaking in more apprentices, until they thought they had enough to begin war against their older employees, by establishing a blacklist. Employees quitting their jobs, or discharged, could not get employment in another establishment.
Finally the union was forced to take action. Upon presenting the case to the general executive board of the Industrial Workers of the World, by an authorized delegate of the union, advice was given to ask for an adjustment. Failure upon the part of the manufacturer to arrive at an understanding, satisfactory to all concerned, was sufficient reason for more drastic measures; quick action was deemed essential for any eventful success. The manufacturer refused to negotiate. The members were forced to either strike when the employers were the least prepared or allow their organization to be destroyed piece-meal; they chose the former.
The general executive board of the Industrial Workers of the World knowing that the wealth producers are always right in their struggles against the exploiters, realized that immediate and adequate support must, by all means, be given to these members of our class, driven into one of the most justified strikes. It was, therefore, to issue a strong appeal to all members of and the strong army of sympathizers with the Industrial Workers of the World.
Fellow workers—this fight can be won, if you show your struggling comrades that you are with them in spirit and in action. The sinews of war must be supplied! Contribute your share! Take up the matter immediately! Don't delay action on this appeal! The membership of the Industrial Workers of the World should demonstrate to the world of labor that they are imbued with a noble spirit of solidarity. Now is the lime to act!
Send all contributions to David Hochwald, 260 Scoville Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; and notify general headquarters of your donation. CHARLES E. SHERMAN, General President. W. E. TRAUTMANN. General Secretary Treasurer.
[Photograph and paragraph break added.]
SOURCEMontana News (Helena, Montana) -Oct 11, 1905 http://www.newspapers.com/...http://www.newspapers.com/...
IMAGES Montana News, Oct 11, 1905 http://www.newspapers.com/... Charles O Sherman http://www.newspapers.com/... William E Trautmann https://books.google.com/...
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Solidarity Forever - Wobblies & The Nightwatchman
Is there anything left for us but to Organize and Fight? For the Union makes us strong. -Ralph Chaplin
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