Syracuse Manufacturing Co. (1900-    )

Source: North Manchester Journal, June 19, 1902

A RATHER PECULIAR STRIKE.
Employees of Syracuse Manufacturing Co. Tie up the Plant by a Sympathy Strike.

North Manchester seems to be right in line with some cities of greater pretentions and has labor troubles of her own. About two o'clock last Saturday the fifty or sixty hands employed in the Syracuse Manufacturing company's works laid down their tools and walked out. It was not a strike for higher wages or shorter hours but a so-called "sympathy" strike and as such is one of the most peculiar, if not amusing, on record. At least if there was ever a strike just exactly like it we have never heard of it.

The strike is peculiar because the strikers quit work on account of a sympathetic interest with one of their employers and bosses. Usually strikes are made against the proprietors and not with them. After the hands had quit the factory a public meeting was held with all the proprietors of the concern and after a very wordy discussion of the matter it was agreed to leave the matter to arbitration. Some thought that Mark Hanna ought to be sent for but it was finally decided the matter could be settled without his intervention.

The situation of affairs is something like this. The Syracuse Mfg. Co. is a stock company in which J.A. Browne owns one-half the stock, D.C. Lamb one-fourth and Win Runyan one-fourth. Mr. Lamb is the general manager of the business and superintendent of the factory at a salary of $1,000 a year. Mr. Runyan is the general traveling salesman at the same salary with expenses. Mr. Browne receives a salary of $500 without devoting any considerable amount of this time to the business. It appears that Mr. Lamb thought that he should receive more pay and made a request for a raise of salary to $1,500 a year, coupling with it the statement that if his request was not acceded to he would resign the position. The other members of the company refused to grant the raise and accepted his resignation.

When this fact came to the ears of the employees of the factory quite a hubbub was raised. Mr. Lamb has proven a very popular man with all the people employed in the concern and there is not one but thinks him a fine man to work under. The employees therefore decided to demand his reinstatement and enforce it by a strike. Mr. Lamb thinks he is justified in asking an increase in salary while his partners claim that the financial condition of the concern is such that it does not justify paying more at this time. So far as we can learn Mr. Lamb has proven an excellent man for the place and his work has been satisfactory to his partners. The stand the employees have taken shows his popularity on that score and is quite complimentary to him.

The strike, however, has been the means of bringing the company's affairs into pretty prominent public notice and discussion. Some funny stories are told and withal a few insinuations that some of the stock holders had not been playing fair. As every story has two sides these reports seem to be a matter of opinion, and the JOURNAL having no interest in the matter does not propose to enter into any discussion of the subject, especially as the affair will be referred to an arbitrating committee who will probably arrive at a just conclusion and make their finding public. And if the company's affairs are not pretty generally understood by the time the racket is over it will be because most of the talk going around has no foundation.

All day Monday was spent by the warring elements in getting together on an agreement for arbitration. A contract was finally signed up embodying the points at issue and the matter to be referred to a committee of three disinterested parties, Mr. Lamb to choose one, the other stockholders one and the two to pick the third. All parties have bound themselves by contract to accept the decision of the committee as final and to abide by it for a period of one year. The principal point to be arbitrated is whether the company is justified in raising the salary of Mr. Lamb. We understand some experienced manufacturers from other places will be asked to serve on the committee and if possible have them hear the evidence and render their decision today (Thursday).

As yet no work has been done at the factory but as all parties have agreed to stand by the decision of the arbitrators work will be resumed as usual next Monday morning. The hands are feeling quite jubilant over their victory in retaining Mr. Lamb as the superintendent of the factory. The Syracuse Mfg. co. has been in business here for about two years past and has to all appearances been doing a very large and prosperous business. However, the controlling stockholders state, as a reason for having refused a raise in Mr. Lamb's salary, that the concern is still pretty heavily in debt and is operating on borrowed capital. It is not likely that this affair will have any effect upon the company's business unless it be to cause future friction between the owners.

Source: North Manchester Journal, January 7, 1909

E.E. Chapman, superintendent of the Syracuse factory, started on a trip through Canada and to New York city in the interest of that factory. He will sell goods and learn something of the new styles and wants of the people in grill work.

Source: North Manchester Journal, September 2, 1909

Wedded at the Parsonage. A very quiet wedding was celebrated Tuesday afternoon when John A. Snyder and Miss Ethel A. Shaffer drove to the Methodist parsonage in Mr. Snyder's automobile and were married by Rev. A.H. Backus. After the ceremony they in company with O.V. Lautzenhiser and wife took an automobile trip, returning to this city in the evening. Wednesday Mr. and Mrs. Snyder started for the Pacific coast where they will visit a number of the principal cities before returning home. Miss Shaffer is the daughter of W.E. Shaffer and wife and has taught in the North Manchester schools for a number of years, giving excellent satisfaction. She is a popular young lady liked and respected by all who knew her. Mr. Snyder is the son of Charles Snyder and wife, and is a salesman for the Syracuse Screen and Grille company, and is also interested in the Caswell-Runyan company at Huntington. He is a good business man, and his many friends congratulate him on having won so fair a bride.

Source: North Manchester Journal, July 18, 1912

SYRACUSE FACTORY IS MAKING CEDAR BOXES
Within the past few weeks the Syracuse Screen and Grille company has added a new line to its output, and is preparing to push the sale of the new goods. The line consists of a large assortment of matting covered cedar boxes, the boxes that are moth proof, because the moths do not like the smell of cedar wood. There is a great demand for these boxes, people using them not only as storage places, but as articles of furniture. For some time this company has been working on designs for these boxes, and now has about forty different styles. These boxes have been displayed in the furniture show at Grand Rapids, and though new, their line has shown well by the side of some that have been making boxes for a long time.

Source: Aurora (1921) Ad:

A Genuine Tennessee Red Cedar Chest
Will Protect Valuable Woolens and Furs from Damage by Moths, Mice and Insects
When you select a Cedar Chest ask your dealer to show you
The Syracuse Line
MADE BY
Syracuse Screen & Grille Company
North Manchester, Indiana