Headquarters for striking workers at Elmer

Headquarters at Elmer N. J. Workers in Insulator Department Compelled to Lease Ground and Erect Their Own Building for Meeting Purposes.

The above is a faithful reproduction of the building erected by the striking insulator workers at Elmer, N. J. Some months ago these men wrote the national officers that they desired to organize and an executive officer was sent, who at once proceeded to form a temporary organization. Secretary Dobbins went to Elmer on Jan. 8 and addressed the men, giving them to understand that no strike benefits would be granted until they demonstrated conclusively that they were sincere and were in the movement battling for principle and that they were not in it for the purpose of getting strike benefits. However, he stated that hall rent and necessary expenses would be paid by the national office.

The men went ahead on these conditions and tried to rent a hall for meeting purposes, but were unsuccessful as the company used their influence with the town people and prevented them from renting even a dwelling house, although several of them were vacant at the time. Executive Officer Ralph Barber, of Millville, was sent to the scene and he at once leased a plot of ground for a term of five years on which the workers proceeded to erect a building for their own use as shown in the above cut. The place has been fitted up in a cozy manner and contains a reading room. The strike has been on since Dec. 16. There are 19 members of the local, which is styled No. 118.