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Western
Wisconsin
AFL-CIO Local Labor History-Chapter 2 |
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La Crosse Labor History, by Terry HicksChapter TwoThe Knights of Labor Years, 1885 -1897 also known as ***** or The Five StarsBoards
for the sawmills
The Knights of Labor was the next
and first highly successful, organized labor association in La Crosse. They were able to bind together unionists
and workers of the La Crosse area. Lumbering and its’ associated industries
and services was widespread at this time.
This industry was the first large employer of the citizens
of La Crosse. It employed
thousands of men in many lumber and shingle mills by the last half
of the nineteenth century, and in the associated trades.
The lumber industry would be the source of many workers that
eventually would join the Knights of Labor, and other unions in
La Crosse. Before detailing that event, a little
background on the Knights is in order.
Terence Vincent Powderly, Grand Master of the Noble Order
of the Knights of Labor in 1886, wrote a preface to a work on the
history of labor by John Cameron Simonds.
Bear in mind, this work related union history and went into
print when the infant AFL was just beginning life.
Terence Powderly was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania on
January 24, 1849. Attending school from age seven until
thirteen, he became a switch tender for the Delaware and Hudson
Canal Company. After
four years of labor at that job, he became an apprentice in the
machine shops of that company for three additional years, becoming
a machinist. In 1869 he went to work at Scanton, Pennsylvania
for the Delaware, Lakawanna and Western Railroad, becoming President
of the Machinists’ and Blacksmiths’ union there. In November of 1874 he joined the Knights
of Labor Assembly No. 88 and in November of 1876 he induced his
union to form Local Assembly No. 222.
In January of 1879 he succeeded Uriah Stephans who had become
very ill and could not continue as General Worthy Master of the
Knights. Elected Mayor of Scranton in 1878, he
was to die in 1924. He
led the Knights from 1879 until 1893.
[36]
In the introduction to Simonds
book, Powderly writes, “The prospect for the future of the laboring
man in America is brighter today than it ever was, not withstanding
the seemingly strained relations
[authors’ emphasis] at present existing between employer
and employee. That we are passing through an epidemic
of strikes, lockouts and boycotts, is true, but the fact must not
be lost sight of, that were it not for the growing power of organization
we should have a great more strikes to contend with than we have
had for the first three months of the present year.
The growth of organization for the past ten years has been
steady and healthy. It is only where organization is in its
infancy that serious strikes and lockouts exist.”
[37]
All of this knowledge and labor history
predating the AFL, which was just founded in 1886, so by laying
the foundation for what was to come. The Noble Order of the Knights
of Labor was founded in Philadelphia in 1869 and kept as a secret
order. Fear of repression and dismissal caused
the workers to keep their existence secret. Uriah Stevens a member of the Garment
Cutters’ Union of that town, called a meeting with several other
members of his union and after several preliminary meetings, the
Knights were formed at Stevens’ home on Thanksgiving Day, 1869.
The Knights were founded on the principle that all race,
creeds and colors were to be represented equally.
For the first years of existence the group was known to the
public at The Five Stars, Chalking
five asterisks on the face of their meeting places, * * * * *. Adopting the official name the Knights
of Labor in 1871, by 1878 the leaders decided it was time to go
public. So in June of that year they sent out
notices and at a mass meeting formed Assembly No. 1, in Philadelphia. This first National Labor Organization
was very progressive and modern in its’ policies and by 1881 had
admitted women as equals to the Assemblies, which now had spread
to many other states.
[38]
These assemblies were lead by officers
that were designated as, Master Workman, Worthy Workman, Venerable
Sage (retired Master Workman), Recording and Financial Secretary,
Treasurer, Worthy Inspector, Almoner, Unknown Knight, Inside and
Outside Esquires, Insurance Solicitor and three trustees.
Cigar-makers were not allowed to be Knights of Labor, unless
they agreed to drop A.F.L. affiliation first.
The preamble of the Knights spoke
of the need to stem the uneven distribution of wealth and direct
more of it to the working class.
Their agenda included the following goals.
Establish bureaus of labor statistics. That public lands be held in trust for
all, not another acre for the Rail Roads, or Speculators uses. It sought legislation to safeguard the
health and safety of miners, manufacturers, builders and other workers. The recognition of Trade Unions as a right
of the workers was a right being demanded. The establishment of a law forbidding
the use of child labor in mines, workshops and factories finding
strong support among all Knights.
Outlawing the use of convict labor.
The creation of a graduated taxation system on income being
thought integral to the needs of organized labor at this time of
our nation’s history by the Knights. Mandated arbitration laws for workers. Interestingly, the Knights also
were forward thinking on national issues as well, calling for the
national government to own all telegraph, telephones and railroads. A rather socialistic plan, but sought
due to the abuses and injustices being witnessed on a daily basis
by the workers and their families by the affluent and powerful owners
of these essential industries.
They also demanded that Congress prohibit the importation
of contract foreign labor, create a safe banking system for the
people using the U.S. post office, and secure equal pay for both
sexes for equal work. They
also asked for an eight-hour workday.
[39]
The author of The Story of Manual
Labor, summed up the current (1886) status of the Knights of
Labor with this concluding paragraph, The
Knights of Labor may fail, but whether the organization dies or
lives, it has taught a lesson which will never be forgotten as long
as man shall earn his bread by the sweat of his brow.
It has demonstrated the overmastering power of a national
combination among workingmen.
If the Knights of Labor were to dissolve tomorrow, on the
next day a new society would be formed to push on
their work. No fair man can object to the ends, which
they propose. Labor
must win, and the sooner we all come to a realizing sense of this
fact the better it will be for America.
[40]
The Knights did not die in 1886,
but by the 1890’s were on their way out.
The A.F.L. was the next national organization to take up
the challenge of workers’ rights.
As to the goals of the Knights of Labor, the sad truth of
the matter is, we are still toiling and still laboring to win these
same goals today! La Crosse embraced Knights of Labor Assemblies
when offered the opportunity by Knights of Labor representatives
sent to this area. Based
on the numbering system used by this nationwide labor organization
the Knights first organized La Crosse workers around 1882 or 1883,
when assemblies numbered 2466, 3162 and 3987 were chartered in La
Crosse. These assemblies
may have been comprised of railroad, carpenters, or lumber mill
workers or a mixture of these and other workers. All that can be said with any certainty
is that these three Knights of Labor Assemblies were in existence
prior to the birth of Assemblies number 4989 and 4990 in La Crosse
early in 1885.
The newspapers of the era note
first the appearance of the Knights of Labor in La Crosse in issues
published in December of 1885.
A representative of the Knights contacted workers on the
cities’ north side and began handing out handbills to passersby
advertising a speech that would take place that same Monday afternoon,
December 21. Colonel Charles A. Lincoln of New London,
Wisconsin, the Knights of Labor representative, attracted hundreds
of interested workers who attended his speech at the opera hall
on the north side of town.
Speaking on the topic of
“American Labor and American Finances,” he was frequently
interrupted with applause and enjoyed the apparent support of all
the workers that made up the audience. In fact so many men, women, and
children crowded into the hall, that many had to stand for the entire
speech, which lasted for two hours!
[41]
A local paper gives Odd Fellows’ Hall,
as the location of this first meeting and states that Mr. Lincoln
appeared in a costume befitting that of a primitive woodsman. It further states that he proceeded to
blast anyone with an accumulation of money and also paid a flattering
tribute to Mayor Powell. It
seems Vanderbilt and Gould were featured targets of the evening
and all monopolies in general.
The paper ended with this warning, “ The result of the orders
establishment in La Crosse cannot be foretold, but we predict the
tug of war next summer, when all our laboring classes are all employed.
It is their custom to raise wages when they think it ought
to be done.”
[42]
One of the local supporters, Alderman
Mathias Wannebo, a millwright and local businessman offered his
hall (still situated at 1132 Caledonia Street) for a repeat performance
that evening. The context
of the speech was that if workers wished to gain either wage increases
or improved job conditions, they had to form collective bodies of
workers to negotiate with their employers successfully.
Mr. Lincoln recommended the Knights of Labor as the organization
to assist them to accomplish this task.
Upon the end of his speeches Mr. Lincoln invited all interested
parties to stay after and begin the process of forming a local assembly. Sixty persons remained behind and went
into a private meeting and began forming a local chapter of the
Knights of Labor.
[43]
An article appearing in the December 22,
issue of a local paper warned the workers of La Crosse not to fall
under the spell or influence of those that would desire the destruction
of all capitalists and urged them to instead seek redress through
the medium of local, state and national politics, by the ballot
and lobbying of their elected officials.
[44]
Additionally the editor of the republican
newspaper also had an editorial that warned the workmen of La Crosse
against embracing too fervently this organizer from the Knights,
citing an article from the Chicago News of December 21, 1885; which
forecast a great labor agitation in May of 1886!
[45]
A Chicago newspaper reported that they
had interviewed a local socialist labor leader, and the La Crosse
republican newspaper editor to demonstrate the strong socialistic
view he felt this organization held, reprinted the quotes.
The editor noted, that this labor leader predicted possible
violence if the Knights of Labor did not win the Eight Hour Day
campaign in 1886! Prophetically, this would indeed come true! However, the article was reprinted to
scare off local workers by playing on their fears. Citing the Chicago paper he reprinted
the following; “Before that date, every employer in the United States
will have received ample notice that the law fixing eight hours
as a legal days’ work, must be enforced or all the wheels of every
productive industry will be stopped.” Asked by the Chicago reporter
whether the knights of labor could field enough workers in May to
win the Eight Hour Day effort the socialist responded, “ the organization
is so general and so effective as to be beyond dispute. The records of the knights of labor will
show initiations of over 500,000 workers, and, though there may
have been some depreciation of the rolls in times of peace, they
would rapidly fill up again in the emergency that a refusal to concede
the eight-hour demand that would at once precipitate upon the country.” Concluding this activist
summed up with his viewpoint on American workers saying, “Americans as a class are selfish to the point of cowardice
in labor matters. The
native gives his whole desire and attention to the benefit of the
individual and he is not disposed, nor does he make any personal
sacrifices for the good of the class of which he is one.
There is no unity among the Americans as workingmen, and
that explains the fact that they have been crowded
out of their rights as workingmen, but it is not so with the Irish,
the Germans, the Scandinavians, the Poles, and other nationalities
from abroad. They are always ready to fight, and fight they will
for eight hours as a days’ work, if fighting should be necessary.”
[46]
From George Read
[47]
editor
of the Daily News, came the prediction that the fifth ward
of the city would soon form a chapter of the Knights Of Labor. The
group was expected to send an organizer to town very soon.
Not to be left out, the workers from the Southside asked
for meetings with Mr. Lincoln.
And on Wednesday, December 23, he spoke at Bohemian Hall.
Enough interest was shown by these workers that one or possibly
two more assemblies were expected to be necessary.
[48]
Interest in pursuing the creation of Knights
of Labor assemblies continued and Mr. Lincoln held additional meetings
on Saturday the 26th both taking place at Wannebo’s Hall. That evening his speech was
titled Land, Pauper and Prison
Labor and Finances. Crowded to its’ limits, the appreciative
audience again frequently applauded and interrupted his speech. At the conclusion Chairman Charles Bennett
asked for the withdrawal of all those not interested in joining
the Knights of Labor and after this happened, over one hundred men
stayed behind and conducted another organizing session.
[49]
Yet another meeting took place at Solberg’s
Hall on Wednesday December 30, when around three hundred men gathered
to hear an address by Mr. Richard Trevellic of Detroit, Michigan. When he did not appear, Mr. Lincoln took
over and addressed the gathering.
He discussed such items as a scheme for the bonding of a
city project to fund the Losey Boulevard project of up-town sewer
systems and called them nothing less than highway robbery.
At the conclusion of his speech he invited all except, attorneys, saloon keepers and gamblers
to stay after and join the Knights of Labor. Mayor Powell presided at this meeting
and was made an honorary member of the Assembly along with organizer
Charles Lincoln.
In response to this outpouring
of interest, the Knights of Labor agreed to send their national
organizer (responsible for all of the United States and Canada)
Captain Trevellic of Detroit, Michigan to La Crosse to help with
the work. Trevellic was once again, scheduled to
appear at Solberg’s Hall this time on Tuesday, January 5th. He could not keep this appointment because
of a delayed train connection in Chicago. Mr. Lincoln stepped in and took over the
speaking duties successfully.
Rufus N. Moody a carpenter from Eau Claire, Wisconsin was
now sent by the Knights to formally charter the local Assemblies.
On January 8, he formed the White
Beaver Assembly at a meeting held at Wannebo’s Hall,
this Assembly comprised of the north side workers.
On Friday January 9, he formed the Lincoln Assembly, made up of the workers
of the south side of town.
[50]
The Assembly founding meeting was
so heavily attended that the hall doors had to be locked to keep
the crowd from overfilling the rooms.
[51]
The movement was beginning to be
very widespread and being a very progressive organization, it soon
was extending its’ membership base to include all the women of the
community. On Thursday, January 14, at Wannebos’
Hall a meeting for these woman was held and a list was made of all
interested in the movement with the goal of forming an all-women
assembly in La Crosse, soon.
[52]
The La Crosse Daily News was by
now, an official organ of the Knights of Labor and it revisited
an issue from the Shoe and Boot makers strike of 1863, when it printed,
“Occasionally one is heard to grumble because the Knight Of Labor
desire to have wages paid once a week instead of once a month.
And why should they not thus the pay?
There are rogues in all classes of society. Grocers and Butchers suffer most by the
monthly payment system, and next to them the honest workman. Rogues cheat, failing to pay, and honest
men have to help make up the deficiency, or else the creditor goes
to the wall. If
the honest workers had their pay once a week, the money would go
further, and with the small credit the dishonest was could not do
much harm. - Sauk Co. Democrat.
[53]
During the year that the Knights
were organizing the workers of La Crosse the workweek across the
nation and in the area, ran from 52 hours a week up to 60. Wages were being paid to plumbers at the
rate of $3.28 (54 hour week) and $2.46 a day to carpenters and joiners,
who worked a 58-hour week.
Farm labor earned $1.63 a day for a 63-hour week on the average
and plasterers were earning $2.58 a day for their 52 hour a week
labors. The dollar was fixed at 70.8 cents.
[54]
The Knights of Labor national newspaper
notes that an assembly was formed in La Crosse in July of 1886,
known as the Humboldt Assembly Number 8242. First Central Body of Organized Labor Formed in La CrosseThe Grand Labor
Council was the first effort to unite
the Knights of Labor unions, farmers’ groups and AFL unions of the
Coulee Region. The
Grand Labor Council of La Crosse came into being in October of 1891. Several AFL unions had been chartered
in La Crosse by this time, the American Federation of Labor (A.F.L.)
itself being founded in Columbus, Ohio on December 8, 1886. The AFL had succeeded the Federation of
Organized Trades and Labor Unions, which lasted from November 15,
1881 until being replaced by the AFL
[55]
. Samuel Gompers, the father of the AFL
had been instrumental in the work and formation of both organizations.
[56]
Finally in La Crosse the unions of both
the Knights of Labor and the AFL affiliates choose to work together
in harmony for the betterment of the community’s workers. The Knights of Labor, admittedly a more
progressive organization being all-inclusive of workers, regardless
of gender or race, and the AFL, which at this time was, yet a single
crafts oriented body of tradesmen. Have Joined Hands,
Labor Unions and Knights of Labor to Work in Harmony. They Organize A New Society. It Will Be Known as Grand Labor Union-
Officers Elected ran the headings in the newspaper
story in October of 1891.
[57]
The Grand Labor Council was formed
from a coalition of the Knights of Labor and the Trades Union assembly
of La Crosse early in the month of October. Boycotts, strikes and lockouts,
were cited as the reason for the formation of this labor body. The principal labor organization behind
this initiative was the Knights of Labor Assembly No. 4990. Inviting three delegates from each
labor union throughout the city, discussions began and resulted
in the creation of the council.
These delegates agreed upon by-Laws, a constitution, and
rules of order. Taking this information back to their
unions, votes were taken and the members accepted and approved the
formation of the council.
James Collins was elected as the first President, Frank Mathias
was chosen as Secretary. Mathias was a member of Cigar makers Local
61. Even while this
body was being created, the Knights of Labor were still advancing
their cause in La Crosse by forming another Assembly of Bohemians
(20 charter members) at White Beaver Hall, on October 15.
The Grand Labor Council would exist
for only six years.
The men that served as the Councils’ President during the
last five years were, 1892; Leonard Stallman (Cigar makers Local
61), 1893; Fred Snell, 1894; Leonard Stallman (Cigar makers Local
61), 1895; Frank Grebner,
and in the last year of its’ existence, 1896; the president was
Frank Dunscombe. At
the time of its’ last year in existence the following unions comprised
the membership of the Grand Labor Council, Typographical Union No.
274, Stone Masons Union No. 4, Hod-carriers Union No. 1, Brewers
Union No. 81, Barbers Union No. 91, Cigar makers Union No. 61, Brotherhood
of Carpenters and Joiners Union No. 472, Woodworkers Union No. 35,
Clerks Union No. 103, Coopers Union No. 39, Horse-shoer’s Union
No. 52, Teamsters Union No. 560, Plumbers Union No. 31, Tailors
Union No. 66 and, Molder’s Union No. 70. The following Railroad Brotherhoods were
members, Locomotive Engineers Division 13, Switchmen’s Union Gateway
City Lodge 44, Railroad Carmen Union No. 5, Order of Railroad Conductors
La Crosse Division 61, Locomotive Firemen Guard Rail Lodge 176,
and Railway Trainmen Gateway City Lodge 168.
The Knights of Labor had five Assemblies, Scandia Assembly
2466, Humboldt Assembly 8242
[58]
, Gateway
Assembly 4999
[59]
, Northern
Star Assembly 3987 and Norden Assembly 3162
[60]
. The Farmer’s Alliance was also affiliated
during the years the Council was in existence and was an important
member of that group. Wages of 1891 were as follows,
plumbers $2.87, bricklayers $3.51, farm labor $1.37, hod-carriers
$1.77, painters $2.09, stonemasons $3.18, plasterers $3.20 and stationary
engineers earned $2.26. Workweeks
ran from 48 hours a week for the plumbers and stationary engineers
worked a week of 63 hours. The dollars buying power was fixed at
76 cents
[61]
to
better judge what these daily wages meant to the worker and family
during the year of 1891, it is necessary to look at the average
prices for goods during this period.
A five pound bag of flour cost 15 cents, Round steak meat
cost around 12 cents per pound, while pork chops went for 11 cents
a pound and bacon 12 to 23 cents a pound. A pound of butter cost 27 cents and a
dozen eggs were 22 cents.
A gallon of milk (delivered) cost 27 cents and a five-pound
bag of sugar ran 30 cents.
[62]
The La Crosse Trane Company and the Early Plumbers UnionShortly after the initial formation
of the Grand Labor Council, a labor dispute involving the newly
organized plumbers and steamfitters arose.
The James A. Trane Company hired a nonunion plumber and Local
31 (one year old) ordered the remaining union plumbers to walk out. This dispute arose when the two
union workers that had been installing the steam heating apparatus
at the State Bank, received a telegram calling them home on business
in their home state of Minnesota.
Trane himself was in Austin, Minnesota and when notified
of the work stoppage, send word to his staff here locally to employ
another plumber to finish the job on time. When Local 31 heard about the nonunion
man put on the job, they called out the remaining union men on other
Trane projects until the nonunion man was removed from the State
Bank project. Meeting
with newspaper reporters the union officials explained their point
of view and stated that the problem was not simply that the nonunion
worker was employed at the project, but that he was an unemployed
bricklayer who was not skilled in the field of either plumbing or
steam fitting. Upon
the request of the master plumbers association, other union plumbers
of the city walked off the job.
The man in question was given an opportunity to join the
union as a steamfitter’s helper, but he declined to do so.
This was an early case, which arose from a contractor trying
to keep to a written contract, and a union trying to maintain competent
craftsmen employed in their skilled trade.
Both sides had to sit down and discuss the issues before
this dispute was resolved.
[63]
Planting early seeds of Labor/Management InitiativesPrior to the formation of the Grand
Labor Council, and just about the same time as the Pullman Railroad
strikes were breaking out in Illinois, La Crosse workers were experiencing
an example of outstanding good will from their employer. On Saturday, May 2 1891, the Salzer Seed
Company hosted an excursion and picnic for all of their companies’
employees. John A.
Salzer had started his company just a few years prior to this event
and was already noted as being a liberal and fair-minded employer. His firm had grown to be the third largest
seed company in the United States.
Employing one hundred and fifty employees, the invitation
drew over one hundred attendees.
Gathering at the foot of Adam Street (which was just a few
blocks from the business) the men and women boarded a special Burlington
train that the Salzers’ chartered for the picnic and excursion.
The engine pulled up with two passenger coaches decorated
with flags and bunting and a banner reading SALZER SEED COMPANY.
Pulling out shortly after nine in the morning the train reached
Grand Crossing and was switched over to the freight line and ran
out to a level field at the foot of Granddad’s Bluff.
Leaving the train the workers spread out among the trees
and enjoyed themselves in such things as a ball game and other outdoor
games, provided for them. A tent had been set up and tables
were inside loaded with food and refreshments. At four in the afternoon a lunch was served
and Manager Henry A. Salzer rose and spoke to the guests. He announced to the workers that the company
had decided to distribute among their workers 12 percent of the
annual profits of this company.
The workers were to receive an envelope with this bonus,
based on their assessed skills and their time on the job.
Inside the envelope was a note that read, Please accept
the enclosed token of our appreciation of your services of the past
season, Respectfully, John A. Salzer Seed Company.
This bonus met with loud cheers and approval and shortly
afterwards the train arrived and transported the workers back to
town. When the short work season of this
company is taken into consideration, it being only from December
until June, this magnanimous gesture is even more amazing to ponder.
[64]
First Labor Day
and Labor Day Parade in City (AFL and Knights of Labor unions)
The beginning of Labor Day Celebrations
and Labor Day Parades were the direct result of the competent leadership
and guidance of the Local Knights of Labor. Labor Day was created by an act of congress
in 1894. However, the
first serious celebration of Labor Day in La Crosse occurred three
years prior to the federal holiday, on Monday September 7, 1891. United Labor Rules, Is Known As Artisan’s Day
was the headline in the La Crosse Daily Press newspaper of
Monday, September 7, 1891.
The story went on to say: La
Crosse witnesses an unusual spectacle today as all the unions’ turnout
for a parade honoring union workers.
For in the past only one or two of the city’s unions and
perhaps thirty or forty men had publicly honored the day.
Union leaders in New York City had initiated the event beginning
in 1882. They staged
a Labor Day Parade on Tuesday, September 5.
The union members in La Crosse
apparently attempted to follow their lead during the interval of
1882-1890 but were not able to elicit much local interest. In 1891 almost twenty unions turned out
to commemorate the holiday and their numbers were estimated to run
into the hundreds, reaching as high as six hundred marchers during
the parade. Marching under the flag of labor
through the city, a carriage containing Mayor Copeland, ex-mayor
Dengler, B. Berlyn and Theodore Stallman, headed the parade. Rudolf and Reese’s Band followed this
carriage. Cigar makers Union Local 31 (Knights) was next and they
were attired in white vests and stiff hats, followed by the Journeymen
Tailor’s Union Local 66 (AFL).
Bricklayers and Masons-helpers Union Local 1 (AFL) was next
and these men were dressed in outfits of blue shirts and jean pants.
The Nickel-Plate Fife and Drum Corps followed them. Next came the Stonecutters Union Local
4 (AFL), and the Plumbers Local 31 (AFL), whose members wore, white,
felt hats and carried canes made up of gas pipe.
Also made up for their parade unit,
the plumbers and gas fitters had constructed a frame for a silk
banner displaying their union logo, out of pipe and gas fittings
weighing some thirty-five pounds.
Faucets and spigots added amusement to the sight of this
piece of work. Machinery Molders Union Local 70
(AFL) appeared in line next followed by the Carpenters and Joiners
Union Local 335 (Knights and AFL) and then came the Journeymen’s
Masons Union Local 4 (AFL).
The La Crosse Cornet band trooped along next followed by
the Teamsters Union Local 560 (AFL). Some of the various unions comprising
the Knights of Labor finished up the rest of the contingent. Due to the large number of sawmills and
lumber workers that were employed in their occupation this day,
there number appearing in the parade was less than what had been
hoped for. The papers of the day reported
that thousands of citizens viewed the parade. Public relations and publicity for the
labor movement was taken advantage of during this parade, because
the units carried many banners during this parade,
smoke only union made cigars, deference, not defiance,
united we stand, divided we fall, eight hours for work, eight hours
for rest, and eight hours for one week will, to work by the piece
or work by the day! Decreasing the hours increases the pay, nine
hours work for a full day’s pay, fidelity, education, benevolence
and production, a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay,
and finally a sign reading on a horse drawn wagon reading
Reins in hand on the wagon we stand, bold as a king, for youth$3.00
we sing. The line of march of this first
Labor Day parade was Market Square north to Pearl Street, west to
Front street, north to Main street, east to 11th street,
south to Cass street, west to Fifth street and finally south to
Germania Garden. This is where the parade dissolved
and after the bands had played a patriotic song, Mayer Copeland
was introduced and made the following speech: “Both
as mayor of the city of La Crosse and a private citizen, I am pleased
to take part in the exercises of a holiday, which has been set apart
by you, a class of our people said form the real foundation upon
which this great country has been built and must rest.
What would be our condition if none of us performed any labor! We would have to live in a country where
neither food nor raiment would be required. In this country of ours, labor is
represented in everything nearly to its full value. The law material costs almost
nothing. We will for
instance our new city hall.
What do you suppose the raw material for the complete building
would cost? Almost
nothing. Nature has given us this raw material
free, the sand and clay for the brick, the stone and the tree in
the forest; now you add to these the labor necessary to put this
raw material into shape so we can use it, and you will find that
labor is represented to nearly its full value. I once heard of a man who offered to sell
the raw material for one million wagons for five cents a wagon and
another man took up his offer. No. 2 thought he had made a great
trade until he went after his wagon stock; he supposed he would
get the timber for the axles, the hubs, spokes, and felloes, gotten
out in the rough and the iron to put the wagon together, and you
can imagine his surprise when No. 1 told him that the wood
for the wagons was in yonder tree, his iron was down in the ground,
all he had to do was boom mostly to add the labor to them and he
would have is wagon stock that he thought he was buying; so that
really an article is worth but a trifle more than the labor that
it cost to produce it. But labor does not necessarily mean
work done with the hands there must be some brain work employed
to design and instruct the hands also capital that is required is
merely the produce of labor; all have got to work in harmony for
us to prosper. I
presume few of our citizens realize how much of our city owns to
laboring people, La Crosse has been very fortunate in having so
little strife between capital and labor and from the fact our citizens
have put their money into our fine buildings and enterprises with
a sense of security. Now
our main object is to get the other fellows money. We cannot make
him give it to us for nothing, and surely he will not give it to
us of his own accord, so we must find something that he is willing
to trade his money for. He wants to put up a building, or he wants
to manufacture something to sell; he must have your labor, and is
ready to exchange his money for your labor providing the product
of your labor with his own will bring him a little more than he
has paid you. I heard it remarked on the street several
times last week that there were few, if any, places where all the
people were so well dressed and looked so well fed, as our people
in La Crosse, and everybody was wearing such a good natured smile,
and I hold this will always the said of us.
Their is so much that can be said that there is really no
stopping point, therefore I will give way to others, who will be
more interesting for you to listen to, and will close by saying
that La Crosse is proud of her laboring people, and if you will
work for the interest of your employers as you would expect others
to work for you, there will never be any strife between labor and
capital in this city.” Following Mayor Copeland on the
stand was Mr. Berlyn, of Chicago who spoke for an hour. He addressed the many social and labor
issues of the day such as opposing child labor, equal pay for women,
and sweatshops. He
invited the learned men of the city to speak at labor meetings and
urged the union workers of the city to support the labor movement
by buying union made products whenever possible.
He spoke in favor of establishing circulating libraries for
the workingman and condemned the press for allegations of misrepresentations
of unionists as labor agitators. The President of the Labor Council, Leonard
Stallman made a few remarks and the crowd dispersed and went to
their homes for an evening meal.
They returned to Germainia Hall later that evening for a
grand ball.
[65]
Four hundred people attended the
ball that evening, and filled the dance floor to its’ capacity. Rudolf and Reese’s Band provided the music
for the evening. Mr.
Berlyn of Chicago spoke once again and added some instructions to
the mothers of children in his speech this time.
Al Major and Frank Killian served as floor managers for the
event.
[66]
The Republican newspaper of the day noted
that the workers shouldered muskets to defend their country when
needed and that they marched in step to patriotic music during this
parade and showed no socialistic traits in either their speeches
or banners. The editor thought the workmen made a
good impression on everyone.
[67]
The Grand Labor Council had plenty
of labor dispute issues prior to the next Labor Day celebration
in La Crosse. In March the carpenters went out on strike. Not a union hammer has descended since
eight o’ clock ran a heading in the Daily Press of March 31. Meetings held at the Knights of
Labor hall attracted nearly two hundred carpenters and they agreed
to ask for a nine-hour day, wages of 25 and 30 cents per hour and
recognition of the union as their demands.
The bosses meanwhile gathered at the Builders Exchange and
planned their response.
[68]
Soon the Knights of Labor and the other
La Crosse AFL unions planned a public show of support for these
mill workers and it was decided to hold a mass meeting on April
10 at the Knights of Labor Hall.
Several hundred union members gathered
there and then marched en masse to the Armory Hall. The striking carpenters leading the procession,
banners flying. Upon
arriving at Armory Hall, they joined additional hundreds of citizens
until the crowd numbered over six hundred, including many women. The Knights of Labor brought in Mr. Frank
Frye of Marinette to serve as the featured speaker for the evening. He announced to those gathered there that
he would give a speech titled, why should Labor Be Organized? In this speech he explained to the workers
that every other group in America was already organized. He pointed to the bankers, doctors, lawyers,
courts, churches, and railroads as examples. He noted that all these groups worked
to profit their advocates financially and then asked the workers
why they should not do likewise.
He also illustrated the point that
it is not the employed that set the wages as much as it is the unemployed
that affect wages the most.
He advised workers to insist that their unions work to admit
only skilled tradesmen into their organizations to ensure success
in improving marketability of their particular labor.
He further stated that trained union workers would encourage
the spread of the acceptance of union workers over nonunion workers.
The Knights of Labor and La Crosse AFL unions also gave notice
at this time that they had purchased La Crosse Times newspaper
and would replace it with a labor press to be titled, The Voice
of the People. Not so coincidentally the editor of this
paper was to be none other than Mr. Frank Frye of Marinette. This was to be a daily paper, publication
to begin in April of 1892.
[69]
This strike now continued for some
three weeks and caused nearly a complete cessation of building projects
within the city. The
crux of the matter was the demand of the carpenters as set forth
in a resolution given to the employers in this form, We the undersigned
contractors, builders and owners of shops and factories where carpenters
and joiners are employed, do hereby agree to pay to every average
workman belonging to the local unions No. 335, 472 of the North
Side, of the carpenters and joiners of the City of La Crosse, twenty-five
cents per hour, and that nine hours shall constitute a day’s work
and bind ourselves not to employ any non-union men any longer than
eight days. The employer’s
group balked at agreeing to this resolution until the unions agreed
to the following changes.
Resolved,
That two lower rates of wages per hour be hereby established for
union men who, after undergoing am impartial test, shall not be
found able to pass as average workmen; said rates of wages shall
be 22 and one half cents per hour for those second below average
workmen; and Resolved further, That a committee shall be appointed,
consisting of two competent good workmen of the union, two competent
contractors and builders, and one respectable citizen, the latter
to be chosen by the former four, said committee shall have power
to impartially adjust all disputes between employer and employee
regarding the ability of workmen and their claims to wages.
Resolved further, That every contractor or builder employing
not over six union journeymen, shall be entitled to keep one apprentice
for every additional six union journeymen, and in conclusion.
Resolved, that the above agreement and amendment to the same,
shall be in force for one year, beginning form date. This agreement was expected to
profit both sides. Mr.
W.F. Abrams, a member of the Executive Board of the National Carpenters
Union arrived in La Crosse from Detroit to assist the men.
He studied the resolutions and encouraged the men to submit
them to the bosses with his support for approving them.
[70]
So ended the dispute, for on April 20th
the union and employers agreed to the resolution and amendment.
10-Hour
Day Won – Lumber Mill Workers Strike Then, just as soon as this strike
ended another began. On
April 20th, A.W. Trow and Co.’s Lumber Mill saw trouble
begin when the union workers asked for a reduction in the work day
of from eleven hours to ten hours per day.
The demand was denied and the mill shut down.
[71]
The very next day, A.S. Trow and
Co. Agreed to the demand and established the ten hour day. Holway’s Mill on the same day saw its
workers make the same demand.
All the other mills acceded to the ten-hour day cause; Mr.
Paul’s foreman discharged two men, allegedly for not doing their
work. The Labor Council issued a warning that
a strike would occur if these men were not taken back on the job.
[72]
Mr. Paul did not agree with this ultimatum
and did not allow the men to return. By the next day, over two hundred
and fifty employees of the John Paul Lumber Company were out on
strike. They left the shops in masse and marched
down the labor headquarters.
The Chronicle newspaper reported that the teamsters
were said to have left their teams standing in harness when they
struck, but the public was notified by the Daily Press newspaper
the following day that in reality they cared for the teams and placed
them in the barns before departing on the strike.
[73]
Loading
crews left railroad cars half filled and office personnel had to
take over the tasks. The
union men quickly telegraphed the Headquarters of the Knights of
Labor, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and explained the situation
and received permission to call a strike.
[74]
The union issued a circular to the public,
which read, ‘To The Public-Why We Are Blacklisted. We, the employees of John Paul & Co.,
finding that a secret system of blacklist and discharge was being
imposed on all our comrades who have exercised their constitutional
right to organize for their own protection, the same as has been
practiced by our employers, have through our duly authorized agents
sent in our protest against this gross and un-American injustice,
and asked that the matter be arbitrated. Our appeal being met with a positive refusal
and insult, we therefore realizing that in protection to our most
sacred principle of American citizenship, Equal rights to all and
special privileges to none, do feel the necessity of taking our
places along side of our blacklisted comrades, collectively and
simultaneously instead of gradually and individually as we have
been compelled to do heretofore. We also ask that the influence of and
sympathy of our fellow-townsmen be extended to us during our stand
for our principles and enforced idleness.
Respectfully yours for the cause of right, The Employees
of The John Paul &Co.’
[75]
The men also made two demands of
their employer, the restoration of jobs to the discharged men and
the promise of continued work for them, and a general raise of one
and one half cent a day, for all men currently earning $1.50 a day
or less.
[76]
The mill owner’s answer was quick in coming,
for the next day all the mills in both La Crosse and Onalaska shut
down. This threw somewhere
from fifteen hundred to two thousand men out of work. The Lumbermen’s Exchange did this because
they were aware of the movement in La Crosse to call a general strike
on May 1 by the Knights of Labor, and wished to force the issue
instead of waiting. The
Knights of Labor had a strike assistance fund available which would
pay single men $4 a week and married men $5 a week while out on
an approved strike, or at least the union wanted the owners to believe
it would.
[77]
Mayor Copeland
[78]
quickly
agreed to act as a mediator and arranged a meeting with Mr. Collins,
President of the Grand Labor Council.
At this meeting the Knights of Labor representative agreed
to appoint a labor committee of a dozen representatives to meet
with the mill owners on Thursday morning.
On Thursday morning a the committee along with Mr. Fryre
of the local labor press met with the Mayor and the Lumbermen’s
group, and explained the situation to them, detailing the demands
of the workmen to them. The men were asking for a ten hour work
day, a raise of one and one half cents per day for all men earning
$1.50 or less, and lastly, no indiscriminate firing without just
cause. Then the men left and after a short meeting,
the mill owners took a stand to keep the mills closed. The union leaders learned this from a
meeting with the Mayor that evening, and stated their intent to
remain out on strike for as long as was necessary to win their demands.
[79]
A meeting on Friday (where Mr.
Paul addressed the workman while standing on a log
[80]
) resulted
in Mr. Copeland agreeing to rehire one of the discharged men, admitting
that he was fired because he had left his work and circulated among
the other men informing them of the Mill Workers Union. One of the discharged men had now left
town and the other man Mr. Copeland refused to take back. The workers meet and passed another resolution
in which they publicly stuck to all three of their demands.
[81]
The union men were solidly supportive
of their strike and their cause, they reported that they had signed
up 150 new members into the Knights of Labor on Monday and Tuesday
and expected more to join as the strike continued.
Said one union local official, “It is a case of union against
union, it is a union of capital against a union of labor.
We are in this to stay and believe that we will win. We have sent in our demands and we will
hold for their acceptance if it takes all summer.”
[82]
Now the press as an agent of agitation
in the strike introduced the local physician George Powell. He agreed to speak to a reporter and made
the following statements, I
am no more responsible for this strike than you are.
I have given no advice leading to it, and have not been consulted
outside of chance conversation with patients or friendly callers,
and in all such cases I have said the men ought to meet their employers
either by a committee or personally, fix up the trouble and get
to work again. I am in favor with all of my heart of
the laborer getting every penny his work is worth, and if I could
help him to the extent of his reasonable demands, I would. George Powell also cautioned the workers
against humiliating the employer simply to benefit the leaders of
the Knights of Labor, if there was no legitimate reason to continue
the strike.
[83]
The union continued to stick to
its’ demand of no discharges for insufficient cause and the Mill
owners agreed to a ten hour work day and the one and one half cent
an hour wage raise, but nothing else.
They cited labor statistics that showed this would cause
them to be offering higher wages than those currently being paid
in Dubuque and Lansing, Iowa, where mill hands were earning $1.35
for 11 hours work. Other
unions in La Crosse now witnessed their members going out on strike
for wage improvements, Hod-carriers asked for 23 cents an hour for
a 9 hour day and Italians working on the local Railroads struck
for a wage of $1.50 a day up from the $1.25 they were earning.
[84]
Issuing a public statement through
the papers on May 4, the mill owners announced that they would start
up the mills again on May 5.
They stated that they would honor the ten hour day, pay the
same wages as offered last year and would hire and fire as they
saw fit, but not discriminate between union and nonunion men when
doing so.
[85]
True to their word, the Mill owners opened
up two mills in Onalaska with full crews. Mr. Collins of the Grand Labor Council
stated, Should the mills attempt
to run, filling the places of the strikers with scabs, the people
would see a neat strike in which all labor organizations would take
part and from which there would be no compromise.
[86]
Strikers set up watches
around the mills taking names of those going to work, in hopes of
persuading them to honor the strike when they could speak with them. Mills still were short of men and were
not able to operate at full capacity.
[87]
Attempts at arbitration were made on May
6 but nothing was settled, almost all of the union men stayed out
and honored the strike on this day.
[88]
Internal strife among the meetings of
the Knights of Labor was reported in the local press on May 8. It was reported that the strikers had
received only one dollar from the strike fund, which amounted to
their initiation fee.
Reports came in that workers in Desoto and Prairie du Chien
were anxious to have the mill jobs in La Crosse.
[89]
Another rumor started in the city
was to the effect that if the strike continue, Mr. Collins President
of the Grand Labor Council would personally profit from its’ continuance
as it was known he was receiving either $6 or $8 dollars a day during
the dispute in salary and expenses.
He replied in print and stated, “I only wish I was getting
it, {he replied with a twinkle in his eye} I don’t care to refute
the story, but I am not getting that or any amount for my services.”
In this same issue, the attitude of Mr. Paul was expressed
by the following quotes, “Mr. Collins, the less said about unions
the better it would be for all concerned, the mill owners are not
dealing with unions, but their employees.”
[90]
The north side Photographer, Frank
Spettle of 306 Caledonia Street was reported to be a organizer and
influential member of the local Knights of Labor in a issue of the
Daily Press newspaper.
Upon being interviewed by the paper, he stated the true state
of the case of the striker’s demands and he urged the Mill Owners
to agree to them. Also reported in this same issue was an
article indicating that an official of the National Knights of Labor
was in town with a bag of money to distribute to the striking workers. He was reported to have given each of
the strikers a few dollars.
[91]
As mentioned earlier, a labor press,
The Voice of the People had begun publishing in north La
Crosse during this strike, this paper did not survive in any archives
that the author is aware of, but the Daily Press reprinted
a letter to the editor which is interesting in that it expresses
the public opinion of one of the strikers, “I would like to say
a few words through the medium of the only labor paper in this city.
I live in La Crosse and have watched with much interest the
strike and lockout, and the great conflict of rights now being waged
in La Crosse between the workingman on one side and the owners of
sawmills on the other. I
am uncompromisingly in favor of the men. Their demands are just and equitable.
They have no banks or other financial concerns to assist
or promise assistance to them. They can’t say we are abundantly able
to sit and wait, and live without doing anything. They do not control the press of this
city, as do the mill owners, if we may judge a man by his public
utterances. The Morning Chronicle in an editorial May 3, states
that workingmen seemed to realize that the claims made by the mill
owners that they are paying more than the other mills were paying,
was true, but that Mr. Collins, as their spokesman, had no reply
except to insist on their demand. This is an insult thrown in the face of
every workingman who is now connected with this matter. It is an assertion that they are incapable
of knowing whether he is right or wrong. It is an assertion that they are ignorant
and irresponsible. It is more, it is a willful injustice done a
body of men who toil day after day for a pittance, and who give
no inconsiderable part of their earnings to support such leeches
as he who penned this infamous sentence, so couched in words as
to leave its meaning doubtful. Ever since this matter arose I have watched
the press of this city and invariably find that it misrepresents
the situation, quoting at length what the mill men have said in
their defense as though it were gospel, putting in a little coloring
here and there, where the mill men have missed the point or made
a bull of it. But I have yet to find where they have
quoted from the workingmen, or their representatives, and given
the public any idea of their side of the question-and yet they claim
to be NEWSPAPERS. They are not! They never were! They never will be as long as principle
is bartered for the favors of the rich. The Leader has persistently misrepresented
the situation by giving the points favorable to the mill owners
and remaining silent with reference to facts favorable to the men. The Leader and Morning Chronicle
are great institutions. So
great indeed that there names have become contemptible to all respectable
citizens. Their editors
have appropriated the plans of each other, and today. Boodler Usher and Ickle Pen Fince are
well known personages. So
I do not apprehend that the literature published by them has much
influence. It certainly ought not to have. They are not only met by all these adverse
influences, but there is another element that I have noticed in
this connection. All
of the men who are getting a little better than starvation wages,
such as sawyers, filers, scaler, straw bosses, bookkeepers, foremen
and even some of the paper-collar clerks are against the men.
They are too good, too big, too well fixed to train with
the men. They seem to ignore the fact that they
were once common workingmen, and that today they are not half as
good as the workingmen. The
men have principle and will not barter it, as did Judas Iscariot. Judas had principle in one respect, however,
knowing his worthlessness he went out and hanged himself, as he
ought to have done. These fellows who are too good
to train with the union men, and who throw their influence against
the men, fail to see the significant fact that when the mill owners
have no use for them that they are unceremoniously fired and their
services dispensed with. The men are right. They will win if they will fight. They will fight because they are conscious
that they are right. There is one point that the public
seems not to understand clearly.
The mill men say they will reserve the right to hire and
discharge their men, and allege that the union would deny them of
that right. The union does nothing of the kind. What the union does say is that the men
shall not be discharged because they are union men. Quite a difference, is there not, in those
propositions, and yet the press of this city has not till this day
explained or elucidated this point, nor will it, because such a
course would not be in keeping with its past career. There is another event of considerable
significance, which occurred in the Nineteenth ward of this city
on the third of this month.
An election was then held to elect an alderman. There were two nominees, Geo. H. Pierce,
Republican, and Geo. HL Taylor, Democrat.
The ward has hitherto been strongly Republican, so much so
that it was thought useless to run a Democrat.
Mr. Pierce prides himself o the fact that his is a non-union
shop. During the recent carpenters strike
he discharged all his union men.
The election was held and notwithstanding the fact that the
ward is Republican he was defeated by 96 to 42.
The workingmen were in it, and have said that no man can
run a non-union shop and get their votes, even though they have
to change their political faith for the time being.
It shows that the workingman knows what they want and that
they are not ignorant as the tinhorn statesman says inferentially.
Yours Respectfully.
Abe Van Linda.”
[92]
In the same issue under the pseudonym
A Union Man, the
paper ran a letter, which criticized the President of the Grand
Labor Council, John Collins, accusing him of having a bad attitude
towards arbitration of the mill strike.
“He is in no sense a laboring man and cannot be in sympathy
with them except to line his pockets with money wrung from the poor
working men...As a union man I protest that there are no grievances
which cannot be satisfactorily adjusted if Mr. Collins will get
out of the way and let some real laboring man talk. He is totally unfit for the place, having
neither the respect of the mill owners or the confidence of the
strikers. The very
fact that he has blacklisted the three daily papers proves that
he fears the effect which the facts upon the other side of the case
may have upon the honest fair minded laboring men.
The strikers themselves will soon get their eyes opened and
then Mr. Collins is quite likely to hear something drop.”
[93]
John Young (wryly signing his rebuttal, A Scab) of 618 North 9th Street of La Crosse replied to this anonymous letter in the next day’s paper, in strong terms a |