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Hellraisers Journal – Monday December 12, 1904
Chicago, Illinois – Mother Jones Addresses Striking Garment Workers
Mother Jones gave an address to the striking garment workers of Chicago in which she praised Chicago workers for making that city a “mighty uncomfortable” place for the employers. The garment workers have been on strike since November 19th, and they vow to continue their strike to the end.
From The Chicago Daily Tribune, December 10, 1904:
STRIKERS TO FIGHT TO END.
———-
Garment Workers at Mass Meeting,
Addressed by “Mother” Jones,
Make Decision to Stay Out.
———-
The striking garment workers, at a large meeting last night in Brand’s Hall, voted to stay out until their demands are granted in full. Addresses were made by president T. A. Rickert of the national organization, President Barney Cohen of the State Federation of Labor, “Mother” Jones, and others.”
Mother” Jones declared there was one place in the country where the workers had made it “mighty uncomfortable” for the employers, and that was Chicago. Ben Miller, said to be a picket for the Capmakers’ union, was arrested in the evening charged with assaulting Samuel Jordan, a nonunion garment worker.
[Photograph and emphasis added.]
From the Chicago Inter Ocean of December 11, 1904:
The strikers are led by the United Garment Workers of America,
B. A. Larger, Secretary and T. A. Rickert, President
—————
SOME BACKGROUND ON THE CHICAGO GARMENT WORKERS’ STRIKE
—————
From the Decatur Daily Review of November 19, 1904:
GARMENT WORKERS GO OUT ON STRIKE
———-
Six Thousand Makers of Clothing
Quit Work in Chicago.
———–Chicago, Nov. 19-Six thousand garment workers struck in twenty factories here today, following a walkout of 450 cutters. Refusal of employers, members of the National Wholesale Tailors’ association, to sign an agreement with the garment workers’ union caused a strike.
[Emphasis added.]
From Chicago’s Inter Ocean of November 20, 1904:
Leaders of Striking Garment Workers,
Miss Sophie Becker and Miss Emma Steghagen
From The Inter Ocean of November 21, 1904:
GARMENT WORKERS’ STRIKE IS INDORSED
———-
Chicago Federation of Labor Will Support
Effort to Secure an Agreement With
the Clothing Manufacturers’ Association.
———-10,000 MEN AND WOMEN
AND LIFE OF UNION ARE INVOLVED
———-
Employers First to Commit Violence,
Say Members-Affiliated Bodies Will Contribute
Funds for Maintenance of Struggle.
———-Indorsement of the strike of the United Garment Workers was voted by the Chicago Federation of Labor yesterday and all affiliated unions pledged themselves to assist the men and women trying secure an agreement with the National Clothing Manufacturers’ association.
J. J. Sonsteby before the central body yesterday said one of the remarkable features is that the first violence had been committed by the manufacturers.
[Said Sonsteby:]
Only the labor men are accused of committing violence…but this time we propose to see if the law does not work the other way. As one of our men was leaving the factory of E. V. Price & Co. yesterday Mr. Price knocked him down, and his partner, E. Tyner, kicked him repeatedly. We had them both arrested and they will be given a hearing in the Harrison street police court tomorrow.
Says Letters Were Held Up.
We are also investigating complaints that special delivery letters addressed to our members were received by the manufacturers and held up, and if we find the charges true there will be more prosecutions.
Robert Noren said the fight the clothing workers were engaged in was one for the existence of the union, as the manufacturers had refused to make any agreement with the organization.
The contract which the clothing workers had with the employers does not expire until March 1 of next year, but a clause in it requires that it be renewed before Dec. 15, and that unless it is renewed before that time it will run for another year.
When the workers presented their contract for renewal they were told by the manufacturers that no agreements would be made with the union hereafter, and that each man and woman would be hired as an individual. The workers believed that the manufacturers intended locking them out after the holidays, when the dull season is on, so went on strike Saturday morning.
Involves 10,000 Workers.
Noren said that the members of fourteen local unions were now on strike in the special order branch of the clothing trade, involving directly and indirectly over 10,000 men and women. He made a plea for the support of the central body and said he believed the workers would win the struggle in a week. Financial support was voted local No. 61 of the United Garment Workers, whose members have been on strike for the past fourteen weeks.
[Emphasis added.]
From The Inter Ocean of November 29, 1904:
Leaders of Garment Workers’ Strike,
Miss White and Miss Lindstrom
From The Chicago Daily Tribune of November 29, 1904:
Injunction Aimed at Strikers
Three injunctions were secured by clothing manufacturers against their striking employes, and five more are to be asked for at once. A. J. Pfiaum, representing members of the National Wholesale Tailors’ association, said that if necessary a restraining order would be asked by each manufacturer affected by the walkout. Judge Kavanagh granted the injunctions on behalf of the following: Edward V. Price & Co., 266 Franklin street; Charles Herst, 893 North Campbell avenue; and Oldrich Stieber, 901 West Nineteenth street. They prohibit the men from picketing, from intimidating nonunion employes, or in any way interfering with the business of the complainants.
Thirteen local unions of the United Garment Workers of America. T. A. Rickett [Rickert] general president; B. A. Larger, secretary, and thirty-one other individuals were made parties.
[Emphasis added.]
From The Inter Ocean of December 6, 1904:
Gompers Enthuses Strikers.
Mr. Gompers and T. A Rickert, president of the United Garment Workers of America, [after meeting with the executive board of the Chicago Federation of Labor] attended a mass meeting of the striking clothing workers at West Twelfth street Turner hall and stirred up enthusiasm among the strikers. It is said the members of the National Wholesale Tailors’ association are on the verge of breaking away and making terms with the strikers, and that the trouble will probably be over by the end of this week. A number of the manufacturers have already made overtures for peace, and the strikers expect important developments in the next few days.
[Emphasis added.]
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SOURCES
Quote Mother Jones Raising Hell, NYT p1, Oct 6, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/25743172/
The Chicago Daily Tribune
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Dec 10, 1904
https://www.newspapers.com/image/350251040/
-Nov 29, 1904
https://www.newspapers.com/image/350278454/
The Daily Review
(Decatur, Illinois)
-Nov 19, 1904
https://www.newspapers.com/image/7006010/
The Inter Ocean
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Nov 21, 1904
https://www.newspapers.com/image/34492813/
-Dec 6, 1904
https://www.newspapers.com/image/34493351/
IMAGES
Mother Jones, Socialist Spirit p19, Aug 1902
https://books.google.com/books?id=wIcuAAAAYAAJ
Larger & Rickert of United Garment Workers of America
Chicago Inter Ocean p10, Dec 11, 1904
https://www.newspapers.com/image/34493492/
Miss Becker and Miss Steghagen Lead Garment Workers Strike,
Chg Inter Ocn p5, Nov 20, 1904
https://www.newspapers.com/image/34492730/
Miss White and Miss Steghagen Lead Garment Workers Strike
Chg Inter Ocn p4, Nov 29, 1904
https://www.newspapers.com/image/34493083/
See also:
United Garment Workers of America
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Garment_Workers_of_America
Annual Report-Illinois State Board of Arbitration
Springfield, IL, 1906
(search: United Garment Workers, choose p2)
(search: Teamsters Sympathetic Strike, choose p28)
https://books.google.com/books?id=vcw9AQAAMAAJ
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