Evening public ledger. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, February 23, 1917, Night Extra, Image 2

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. EVENING IEl
Sl-PHILADWftrA. BttaYl FEBRUARY 2fc '1917
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HIGH NOON IN THE HEART OF THE FOOD BOYCOTT ZONE
u aa aminMia
i PRESENT DEMAND
'Straight Wage "Raise" of
, Five Cents an Hour and
Abolition of Bonus
$f c
WILL FIGHT TILL END
Statement of I. W. W. Leaders
Calls Refinery Rules Relic
. . of Barbarism
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The utrlklnjr misar worker have an
wtred the ultimatum of the Franklin Sugar
Refining Company published todny.
In a statement lanued through the In
duatrlal Workers of tho World, by K. I-
Dores. chairman of tho publicity commit
tee of the Industrial Workers of the World,
a defiance was mado that the strike would
be fought to the end.
'The admission of the Franklin Com
pany," tho statement says In part, "that
It has ever paid such wanes as fifteen
and eighteen cents per hour In recent years
Is In Itself scandalous and does not reflect
creditably as to the fairness of tho com
pany toward Its workers.
The bonus of eight per cent which vs
offered the men was to bo paid every tno
months. Tho men asked that this bonus b
scattered along an hourly basis, that It be
paid hourly Instead of by tho month. Tli
firm refused this change because It wii-j
easier to flro n. man at the end of two
months than pay him the bonus.
CALLED "BATUJARISM"
The company admits the twelvc-hoiir
day, which Is In Itself a relic of harhntla.ni
and which has been outlawed by all humane
communities. The night shift works tueUo
hours dally seven days a week. This gives
the entlro working forco a twelve-hour day
for seven days a week every other week.
'The mixing machines are started ut 5
p. m. Sunday. The operators have to be
thero at 4 p. m. on Sunday and stay until
6 o'clock on Monday morning, miking a
total of fourteen hours.
"The pension proposition Is an Insult to
the Intelligence of tho workers, and e.pe
dally the twenty-five-year service clause.
Imagine a man working twenty-five years
at twelve hours dally, 3C5 days In a year
for a pension!
The police have been extraordinarily
rough and brutal. They have clubbed
women and children and have tried to
hrlng about trouble. Strikers hae been
kidnapped by officers of a detectlvo agency,
have been taken to tho ofllct'of the agency,
grilled and manhandled, and then railroad
ed Into Moyamenslng prison without a
trial.
They were taken to Moyamonslng
prison In private automobiles so that there
would be no record of the kidnappings on
police blotters. Such methods might be all
right In Russia.
"Our demands follow:
"Straight Ave cents per hour Increase and
abolition of tho bonus, time and a half for
overtime and double time for Sundays and
holidays. This later demand Is mado with
the Idea of cutting out overtime work.
"We figure that a twelve-hour working
day Is sufficient for any normal human
being.
"We demand that no discrimination be
shown against any striker.
"When the men went on strike they were
unorganized and asked only for a five-cent
Increase In wages. Tho Industrial Workers
of the World were not on the scene until
the strike was a day old."
BIG FUNETlAti FOR SLAIN STRIKER
The strikers are planning a pnrade and
funeral In honor of Martin Petkewlcz, 133
Tasker street, who was killed on Wednes
day. The services will bo held next Mon
day. Tho body will bo laid out In Lithua
nian Hall, 928 East Moyamenslng ave
nue. A high requiem mans w II bo cele
brated In 6t. Caslmlr's Lithuanian Catholic
Church, Fourth and Wharton streets. 'In
terment will be In Holy Cross Cemetery,
Tho Industrial Workers of the World are
planning to get all the strikers to act its
an escort to the body and parade up Broad
street.
Magistrate Raker today sentenced Wil
liam Chenevlcus, twenty-four years old, of
1U South Front street, a striker, to thirty
days In the county prison. He and several
others were arrested as a result of yester
day's riot. The others will be arraigned
tomorrow.
Another riot has occurred In the sugar
refinery district. Two strikers were shot,
several were injured and arrests were made
when a mob attacked several policemen
ruardlng a motortruck filled with negro
strike-breakers.
Only the presence of a large force of
police, It was Bald, preented the riot from
assuming the proportions of that of Wed.
Desday.
Tho man shot was Roman Wajceyhowsky,
of 30 Christian street. He fell when the
police nred Into the crowd with a bullet
wound In the shoulder and one In the leg,
He was taken to the Pennsylvania Hospital
and placed under arrest. He will He ar
raigned as soon as his condition warrants
removal from the hospital.
The other striker shot as spirited away
by his companions.
The latest trouble occurred at Washington
avenue and Hwanson street last night. The
motortruck was held up by strikers and
strike sympathizers. The police dodged
howers of bricks and mlsIIes and then
charged the crowd. The pollco said It was
only after other measures had failed that
they fired Into the crowd.
"While the strikers have announced that
they will not yield an Inch, a statement
has been delivered by the Franklin Re
finery Company to the effect that the com
pany will take every precaution to protect
Its property and prevent further trouble
The company announced that It had In
creased the wages of skilled and unskilled
employes several times in the last two years
In recognition of the increased cost of liv
ing. It announced also that a bonus of
eight per cent had been paid to all employes
recently, and that Christmas gifts also had
been given to all.
City News in Brief
1K
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CITV APPOINTMENTS today Include
Charles W. Prlntz, 2717 West Albert street.
machinist, Department of Wharves, Docks
and Ferries, alary $000; Frank W. Rich
ardson, 2013 North Thlrty-nfth street, flre-
, man. Bureau -of Water, S800, and John O.
lfe"lT" Bureau of Surveys, $500.
STATK .SOCIETY of the Cincinnati held
Jta annual dinner and Washington Day cele
hratlon In the Green Room of the Bellevue-
u fjtratford. Tlleham Johnson presided. A
V silent toast to the memory of Washington
was proposed uy tiarris is. sproai, oi west.
"town I'a. About twenty-five members of
if the organization were present.
-ftKIO. OEN. I- W. T. WALLER, U. 8.
Mi C., advocated universal military service
In an address before the George Q. Meade
Tnst. No. I. 0. A. It., during the an
nual yrashlngton'e Birthday banquet at the
Union League. Among mo speuKers were
. Colon John 1 ""bel, president of the Union
juajo.' .i .' M. Aivi.auiey, pasi u-
Bt oofnmatider, a. A. If-: Colonel
i A. Hatfield, V " ! Major Gen-
LtwM uoou, jienn i, xotin and
fc, Collins. John A. Wledorshelm
V
l.-.T.I I. I,. ! Mil
ReWen Offices
rr, Feb.4 SI. New vfslons
ala before shore
. tba Supreme
Mo
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Today, the Jewish over-Sundny market day, n peaceful boycott of food at inflated prices replaced the moro
riotous scenes of the last two days. A mutual under standinpr between all the housewives not to purchase
fresh fish and certain other provisions has already had its effect and in some instances prices have started
to tumble.
WEST SPEEDS UP FOOD TRAINS
TO RELIEVE DISTRESS IN EAST
Continued from I'npe One
construction In American shipyards to re
place tho fleet of merchant slilpn which de
serted the iw"t'"i scrlce following tho
outbreak of the war.
Tho fact that it has been necessary to
ship- by rnll largo quantities of wheat arid
other foodstuffs which previously went by
water from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic
seaboard, Is said to bo one of tho principal
reasons for the present freight congestion.
It Is known that thousands of bushels of
wheat nre ,belng held In storage In Oregon.
Washington and California by reason of
lack of proper shipping facilities.
It Is with the hope of putting this wheat
Into eastern marketK that Penman sug
gested tho plan to the President
Denman discussed with the President
pending legislation In Congress which gives
tho hoard the power to secure to the Ameri
can flag those ships now under construction
In American shipyards, which would other
wise sail under tho flag of a foreign Gov
ernment More than seventy-five per cent of the
ships now belnp built In this country have
been contracted for b foreign Governments,
principally Scandinavian.
It Is estimated that more than $200,000.
000 Scandinavian capital Is Invested In such
ships.
Whllo Congress Is grappling with the high
cost of living problem. President Wilson also
gave much of the day studying the situa
tion. Tho President placed tho entire situa
tion before his Cabinet today Ho Is ex
pected to take some definite steps to forco
an appropriation for an Investigation of
prices through this session of Congress.
Regardless of the fHct that the fight for
tho appropriation Ji.ih (been lost. In tho
House Committee, the appropriation will be
sought In the Senate, and. If It falls to re
ceive attention there, will be taken to tne
floor of tho House. Secretnry of Agricul
ture Houston said.
In splto of tho food riots and other spec
tacular evidence!) nf ncute suffering as a
rerult of food shortages, officials, here
sceffed at reports of :i poslble embatgo on
all food shipments.
And In this connection some Intimated
that perhaps some of tho clamors for food
were as much due to systematic Inciting
of foreign-born women In poor districts of
the large cities as to actual threatened
starvation.
Congress expected to take definite action
on tho situation before adjournment. Rep
resentative Meyer London. New York, has
Introduced a bill asking for nn appropria
tion of $5,000,000 with which to buy food
to be resold at "reasonable prices to tho
poor," and a combination of Senators Is
meeting In secret preparatoiy to asking
for $100,000,000 for the snmo purpose.
The car tie-up. In tho opinion of the In
terstate Commerco Commission and railroad
officials, was at the breaking point todny.
Railroads took advantage of the holiday
yesterday and clearing weather to rush
great strings of empty ft eight cars west
at express-train speed.
These will Immediately bo ftllea with food
supplies that havo been piling up In tho
Middle West because of tho car shortage,
and somo relief In eastern markets Is pre
dicted when theso shipments roll In. The
number of cars Involved In the tie-up on
February 10 totaled 105.27?
Thiee hundred and ninety-five empty bos
cars were moved from Buffalo west over the
New York Central tracks jestcrd:t. savs
a telegram from Vice President Crowley,
of tho New York Central, received by tho
Interstate Commerce Commission today
On February 21 Wednesday .160 "emp
ties" wero moved west by the same rail
road. Tho New York Central will use Its
box cars to relievo the situation at Chicago
as rapidly as possible. Crowley's telegram
said. In all cases preference will be given
to food shipments destined for eastern mar
kets. In announcing the receipt of Crowley's
telegram the committee members said they
considered the efforts being made by the
New York Central to cope with the prchent
situation as typical of those being mado by
nil eastern railroads
While the food situation threatens drastic
disturbances In the Kast the gas and coal
shortage Is no less serious In the West.
In view of tho tenseness of the situation,
officials asserted Congress could not ad
journ without taking action on tho legisla
tion that has been laid before It. Whether
this will be in the form of funds for tem
porary relief or action on exports and giv
ing the Interstate Commerce Commission
Investigating machinery is still a question.
NEW YORK MAY HAVE FOOD DICTATOR
AND $25,000,000 FOR STATE BUYING
ALBANY, N Y, Feb. 23. Legislative
leaders today came to the fore with meas
ures for tho relief from high food prices.
Joseph M. Calahan, minority leader of the
Senate, Introduced a bill providing for the
appropriation of $25,000,000 for the State
acquisition and control of terminal markets
In th larger cities of the State. The ap
propriation would take the form of a bond
Issue to run fifty jenrs and bear 4'i per
cent Interest
Mayor Georgo R Lunn, of Schenectady,
called upon Governor Whlttnnn to uto tho
pollco power vested In him to seize food
stuffs In New York city and feed tho starv
ing women and children who stormed Jhe
office of Major Mltchel a few days ago.
"Thero Is plenty In New York to feed
tho hundreds of btarvlng women and ba
bies," Mayor Lunn said. "It is tho duty
of the State to act.'"
NEW YORK, Feb. 23. Food rioting of a
sporadic nature continued today t New
York as the height of Sabbath food buying
among Jewish people was reached A mass
meeting was scheduled for Rutgers Square,
following which women expected to go en
masse to a meeting of the Board of Inti
mate, where. It was expected, Mayor Mltchel
would make some move to relieve condi
tions. Eyes also were turned toward Albany,
where Governor Whitman Is giving the food
situation his attention. He has put the
stamp of approval on a bill which would
make discretionary the estaKslnnent of a
food dictator for the State. Tammany has
countered this bill with one which would
appropriate $25,000,000 for public matket
terminals In cities.
Leaders appearing before the Board of
Kstlmate are expected to demand that the
Mayor ask $1 000.000 to open municipal
stores, that another $1,000,000 be turned
over for school luncheons, and that steps
bo taken to havo the Government take over
railway systems for, food transportation.
Other demands will bo that food shipments
be given precedence over all others, mat the
city seek a commission to regulate food
stuffs and that a demand be made on the
Legislature for a law that will give blanket
power to tho State to relieve the situation
Governor Whitman. In a statement at Al
bany, said he believed the present situation
to be the worst In the history of tho State,
and declared ho Intended to take any steps
necessary to give relief
Relief, It Is hoped, may be found In the
Immediate passage of the food and market
bill now before the Legislature. This hope
lies In nn emergency clause, which savs'
In case of an emergency creating
or threatening to create a scarcity of
food within the State the commission
Is empowered to take Buch measures to
secure relief as the commission may
deem desirable.
Joseph Hartlgan. Commissioner of
Weights and Measures In New York, has
mado public figures which show that more
food Is now In storage In this State than
In 1916,
One hundred and thirty-two firms, his
figures show, held 132,000,000 pounds of
meat In 1916, This year, he says, the same
firms are holding 165,063,736 pounds. Eggs
are more scarce this year than last, 44,227
cases being held against 159,523 in 1916,
Butter Is represented this year by 8,773,441
pounds, against 7,159,34s a year ago.
BOSTON WOMEN REPORTED STARVING;
POLICE FORCED TO GUARD SHOPS
BOSTON, Feb. 23. Officials of the
Housekeepers' League today declared there
were many women in Boston who were
starving themselves In order that their hus
bands and children mjght eat.
Groups of theso women will call today on
United States District Attorney Anderson,
Governor McCall and Acting Mayo Stor
row, Riots narrowly were averted when sev-
GIllL CLERK IN AUDITOR'S
OFFICE IS DISMISSED
Was Ono Whose Expenses on Trip to
City Were Assailed C, E. WH-
lock Also. Ousted
TiAnnisinima. Feb. 2J. Charles K. Wll-
lock, Pittsburgh, a deputy auditor general, I
today resigned and O, II. Grar,, weaaviue.
ohlef clerk In the department, wa ap
pointed to the vacancy. In making" this
announcement Audltpr Oeneral Powell also
posted the resignation of Lillian May Fish
er, Harrlsburg-, a clerk, who, It Is said, was
one of the attaches whose expenditures
while on duty for .the State In Philadelphia
were crlUold:s' excessive.
T. Mi WMMWimn h..ben appointee
eral hundred w6men stormed a food shop In
Spring street last night after a mass-meeting.
Only the prompt arrival of police re
serves prevented destruction of the shop.
Washington crossed the Del
aware at Trenton to fight.
We are prepared to cross it
at Philadelphia to build fac
tories, power plants, ur to
manage properties.
NaiNt(IN.
MANAOCMCNT.
CONSTRUCTION
DAW
ZIMfriERiyiAFN
I . tNOOMPMATgD
OUSTED PASTOR ASKS
LAWYER'S ASSISTANCE
John H. Gruber, Seeking Reinstatement,
Probably Will Fnil Before
United EvnnBelical
This morning's session nf the Eastern
Pennsylvania Conference of tho United
Evangelical Church at Christ Church.
Twelfth and Oxford streets, was devoted
to nn nrgument as to whether tho Rev.
John II. Gruber. of Allcntown, who was
recently suspended nnd then applied for
reinstatement, should have a lawyer to pre
sent his case. It Is understood that this
question was nrgued heatedly
Whether or not he will be rclnstnted wilt
ho known after tomorrow's evening ses
sion Several members attending said they
would havo to look further Into the matter
before making a decision.
Thn assembled clergymen freely predict
that tho minister will not be reinstated or
even nllowert to present his rase through
n lawver. Ho was formerly stntloned near
Allcntown.
"The saloon Is largely responsible for
our high death rate," said T. Alexander
Calms, who spoko last night before the con
ference. "If It wero not for our anti
saloon movement we would be building
moro coffins than cradles."
JTho conference Is nttended by 135 cleri
cal delegates and 200 laymen and Is pre
sided over by Bishop Foulke. Financial
reports at this morning's session showed
the chuich's financial affairs to bo In ex
cellent condltlton
It was announced today that the mission
fund contributed In eastern Pennsylvania
Is $6000 more than last year, making a
total of $49,000 In the fund thus far.
Remember
We are still selling our
high-grade
Fancy Chocolates
for 28c, 38c & 50c lb.
M 1232 Market Street
TOO I.ATK FPU CLASSIFICATION'
HEATHS
f.WI.S'O HYti Si. AI.KXANDER KWINt
Duo nolle, ut funeral will to Klven, from a'Jt
H. '-'mil nt.
jovi'fi Kel 23. of diphtheria, Al.lCU
I51.IZAI1I.TII uauiihter of Holiert nnd Hiilatr.i
W .tone Kuncrnl Sal 1 pin frcm i-ir um
1 eeldence. 1418 S RUh ft. Int. Mt. Morlah Cem.
JIO.SS. l'b L'3, sudclmly, Wu.l.lA.M III).-..-.,
need 7s llelatlvcs and frlonds, also Ancient
l.nmlmirk I.odge, No 17, F. and A. M . or
Portland, Me., Corinthian it. A. Chapter, Nu
550: Corinthian .Chasseur Commamlcrv. .No. 53,
K T Philadelphia Consistory. S'-'d Degree, A
and A nite, Philadelphia Council. No. 11, It
and !' .M , I'hlladvlphla Maannto Veteran Asso
ciation, Line Officers and Past Commanders'
.Vssoil'itloii. f.u l.u Temple, A. A. O. N .VI. M
nnd all other orcanlzatlona of which ho was
a meiriber, ar Invited to funeral services, flat,
ftp m , nt rhapel of Andrew J. nalr & Son,
Areh and 10th sts Int. Portland Me.
OOODALL. Suddenly. Feb 2'J. MARION',
daughter of Samuel I and Matilda Oondall.
aaed 24. Relatives and friends Invited to funeral
services hut, 1.30 p, m . at parents' rest,
denre, 4441 hpruee St Int. private.
MAtfUDN'. Feb 21. at Goshen, N V . O
HUDSON MAKl'KN M. !.. son of Oeorss and
Allen O. Makuen aged 02. Funeral servlres
will be held at 72 fl Church St.. Uoshen. N. Y .
Frl 1 : p m
HASSINOnn Suddenly. Feb. 21. SAMUr.l.
i: It HAHM1NUKK Relatives and friends In
vited to funeral services. Mon . 11 a. in 22.10
Falrmount ave Int. private, Remains may be,
viewed Hun., from 7 to 0 p. m.
I'ETIIRSON. Feb. 23, at San Franrlseo,
I1MMA I.U1IMAN, widow of Pearson S. Peter-
Mn nfreri Ml.
PRATT. Feb. 22. HARRY W.. husband ofW
Kstelle i;. Biewara irau. ea sj. jieiauves
and friends Invited to funeral Sat.. 2 p. m..
101 Towelton ave., Lansdowne. Pa Int. private.
Train leavra Ilroad St. Station 1:2 p. m
WELLS Feb, 23. CARLTON L. WKLL3.
Int. private.
AR11ELO. reb. 22. ANNA C. w Its of Joseph
J. Arbslo. Relatives and friends Invited lo
funeral, Mon,. 8:80 a. m., 3A23 X. Ilrosd st.
Mass at St, Stephen's Church. IJrrad and Uutler
sts., at 11 a m. Int. private.
LOST ANI FOUNI
gold, with blue sets.
:AIUUN(1. green gold, with blue sets, lost
Spruce st. bet. 47th and 40lh or 40th bet,
Spruce and Walnut! rew.j Return 4621) Spruce
IIF.I.P WANTED FF.MALK
WINDERS on skein yarn! steady work! good
pay. Apply at once. Robert Lewis Co., Inch
inond and Itrldgs sla., l'hlla,
HOUSEWORK TJlrl wanted: family of four:
good homa: no washing; sleep In. Apply ,
Chrlstlan st.t Woodland ,8333 Jj .
CURLS wanted, over 17, for work In glass dept?;
tnexp, girls start at 16, Increase aa work Is
learned: we train you. Apply In person or by
letter. II. K. MUirora CO.. uienoiaen, ra
OIRI.S. mora than 16 Increased facilities have
mada openings In our plant for refined. Intel
ligent girls for sealing and packing medical
aupplleat light, easy work; clean, healthy sur
roundings: fi2-hour week; salary 10 to be
ginners, with rapid advancement to good
workers! 12 minutes' ride, from Darby on
trolleys: 20 minutes from ilroad St. Station on
trains Apply In person or by letter to II, K,
MULFORD CO., (llenolden, I'a.
HELP JVANTEII-SrALK
KNCUNKER to operate small Tea machine, bollerT
ulr compressor and motor, etc.( state salary
eipectad and experience. Apply In person or
bl J"H?-!2. H. IC Mulford Cogienoldsn, Pa.
HOYS for general and laboratory work; excel
lent chance to secure steady employment with
a future. Apply In person or by letter to
MM k. mw,. , " . . ....... ....... . .
HOY wanted, to make himself generallr useful
ver slur,
between I
salary 13,
around silver store. Apply n. e. cor, 16th and
psiwovn v,?u snu ivmu oaturaay
Walnut
mornini
K, E. FOB, HA1.KQRKB3JLT--CITY
N(7"W0NEr hEQUinED- If ground Is ' lm
proved: will lk mortgaga; lot 200iS50j op
posite Penna. IU R. freight station, JOth and
Oakford sts.i suitable foe, factory or wars.
neuaoi, siiasi 'nunmmr s : ''"
' vm :! "v
X
IN view of the serious riot on Wed
nesday evening of this week near,
the Refinery of this Company, we
wish to call attention again to the fol
lowing facts :
In recognition of the increased cost of living, this
Company has not only advanced1 the wages of its skilled
employes, but has also made the following increases in
the wages of its unskilled labor:
WaRes Per Week
DMe Wages Per Hour Waiies Per Day of Six Days
Dec. 1, 1915 $ .18 $2.16 $12.96
Jan. 1,1916 19'2 2.34 14.04
Feb. 10, 1916 21 2.52 15.12
May 5, 1916 25 3.00 18.00
Dec. 25, 1916, a Christmas gift of $5.00 to each employe.
Feb. 7, 1917, bonus of 8 on the January wages of each
employe.
The above increases aggregate 50.
This Company, since 1912, lias had in effect a pension system
equivalent to 1 of the average annual wage during the ten
years preceding retirement, multiplied by the years of service.
Under this plan employes are permitted to retire at the age of
65 or on the completion of 30 years' service. No pension is less
than $20 per month after a service of 25 years.
During the year 1916 over $12,000 was paid out in pensions
and sick benefits exclusive of sums paid under Workmen's Com
pensation Acts.
We have so far employed no professional strike-breakers, having been
able to secure labor at our regular terms.
As is well known, this Company has been selling refined sugar at a
quarter to a half cent a pound below existing market prices and is operat
ing its refinery and taking care of its normal trade.
We wish atfnin to assure the public that there are ample Rupplics of raw and
refined sugar on hand and in transit to take care of the normal consumption; therefore
housewives should pay no attention to the unfounded stories about the shortage of
sugar.
THE FRANKLIN SUGAR REFINING COMPANY
GEORGE H. FRAZIER, President
February 23, 1917
The position of the American Sugar Refining Company and
of its constituent company, the Franklin Sugar- Refining Com
pany, probably will be best explained and understood by a read
ing of the following quotations from SOLIDARITY, Cleveland,
Ohio, "official organ of the Industrial Workers of the World":
SUGAR REFINERIES TIED UP BY I. W. W.
(Tolegram to Solidarity)
Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 5.
"All sugar refineries, including Sprcckcls, McCanns, Pennsylvania, tied up.
Five thousand out. Demands, 5 cents per hour increase. Engineers, coopers,
sack-scwers also out. All joining One Big Union; thousand already lined up.
I. W. W. longshoremen refused to handle cargo. Funds needed immediately.
Send same to Nef, 800 Parkway Bldg., Philadelphia, Pa."
! SUGAR FAMINE FEARED
(Telegram to Solidarity)
Philadelphia, Feb. 13.
' "Sucar strikers firm. Sugar shortage felt. Famine if strike is not over
in two weeks. W. T. NEF."
PHILA. SUGAR WORKERS STRIKE
"All the sugar and molasses workers in Philadelphia are on strike. Over
5.C00 are out and are standing as one man waiting for the decision of the
bosses. The men demand a straight S-cent an hour increase. At the present
appearances of things they are joiug to get their demands, and if the bosses
do not make up their minds quickly there is apt to be some striker who will
think of more demands that might be made. . . .
"But, they are demanding hut 5 cents an hour and the companies have
, refused to consider their demands. Enough is said. The strike is on.. And, it
is on with a vengeance horn of hunger and abuse. The police are doing their
usual dirty work. Clubbings are frequent and the workers are being arrested
in large numbers.
"The workets at the beginning of the stcike were almost entirely unorgan-
z ired. Now, more than 1,500 are members of the One Big Union, and theyare
continuing to come in in a steady stream.. The. fact that they are organized
has given them a new confidence and the picket line is more effective.- No one
is scabbing. Too unhealthy. . . .
"The companies involved are the Franklin Stgar Refinery (Spreckels), tho
McCann Sugar Refinery and the Pennsylvania Sugar Refinery. The molasses
plant; better known as the 'Smear works,' is also closed down.
"Funds are badly needed to carry on the fight. We ask all workers to come
to the aid of these workers in their battle against the Sugar Trust. Open your
hearts! Better, open up your pocketbooks.
"Send all funds to W. T. Nef, 800 Parkway Bldg.,, Philadelphia, Pa.
STRIKE COMMITTEE.
Per K T. Dove."
WE, and the other sugar refiners, are charged with the responsibility of
safe-guarding the sugar supply of America, made especially difficult
at this time by unprecedented world conditions.
That the price of refined sugar to domestic consumers has remained
lower than that prevailing in any foreign country illustrates how well
that responsibility is being met.
We also recognize our -responsibility as employers, and are main
Gaining as high a wage scale as that prevailing, class for class, in any other
great industry.
We believe that the wages paid by us and that the working conditions
in our refinery are fair to our employes, who, if left free from outside
agitation, would never have left our employment on strike or otherwise.
, ' We do not propose to hand oyer the control of this industry to any
- outside organization, no matter of what name nor whence it hails.
With the continued support of the citizens of the city of Philadelphia,
we propose to continue the operation of our refinery as our first and fore
, most duty to the public and to our loyal employes.
To this end we shall use all proper and lawful means, be the cost what
it may.
THE AMERICAN SUGAR REFINING COMPANY
nn -Mn EARL D. BABST, President
February 23, 1917
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