p. 8 | DENNETT'S RESTAURANT BOYCOTT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 11, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 10.

DENNETT'S RESTAURANT BOYCOTT

By A. W. Dennett; S. R. Break

STATEMENT BY THE COMPANY

To the people of Oakland: We beg to make public our position with regard to the boycotting of our place of business at 1071 Broadway.

One week ago this day we took over the restaurant business on Broadway near Twelfth street, formerly known as The Surpassing Coffee Parlors. On the same day we were presented with an agreement from the Cooks and Waiters' Union for signature, which among other things provided that the company should identify itself with the union by accepting an identification card reading as follows:

"HOTEL AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES' INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AND BAR TENDERS' NATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMERICA, AFFILIATED WITH AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR."

The acceptance of which card of identification or membership would bind the company to employ only union help to the exclusion of all others, no matter how competent or worthy of work. On Thursday, February 19th, the Board of Directors met and passed the following resolution:

"Resolved, that, while this company recognizes the right of its employees to join labor unions if they so desire, it also desires to give equal freedom to those who, for reasons of conscience or for other reasons, cannot join a labor union; "And Whereas, the agreement as submitted provides that none but union help shall be employed; "And Whereas, the signing of such an agreement would deprive a number of its employees of their means of livelihood; "And Whereas, the signing of the proposed agreement would be an endorsation by the company of principles and practice the very opposite of that laid down in the Word of God by the Great Teacher, Jesus Christ; "And Whereas, this company has already committed itself to the carrying out of these principles by adorning the walls of its place of business with the same Word of God, and by the daily meetings held for the benefit of all employees, for prayer, praise and reading of the Word of Him who commands us to do good unto all men and render evil to none; "Therefore, be it Resolved, in view of the foregoing facts, that this company most respectfully declines to sign the agreement as presented, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the secretary of the union."

A copy of this resolution was sent to the union the same day, and the result was a boycott against the house the day following.

THE QUESTION OF WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR IS NOT AN ISSUE IN THIS BOYCOTT.

In addition to paying regular wages, the company has by resolution of its Board of Directors set aside one-tenth of all net profits arising from the operation of its business for distribution among its employees at regular intervals, over and above their regular wages, thus making it a CO-OPERATIVE company, having taken all our employees into partnership for profits with no liabilities for losses, besides which all employees of one year's standing or over receive one week's holiday each year on full pay—and further plans for their good are proposed at the company's expense which space forbids mentioning.

Mr. A. W. Dennett, the originator of the Dennett system of restaurants in the East, is Vice-President and General Manager of the Western company, and plans the establishing of a chain of restaurants on the foregoing co-operative basis for the Pacific Coast, of which the present business is one branch.

The Dennett Company is a friend of labor. It has always refused to join associations to fight labor unions. Its employees are happy and contented. We only ask for the freedom of conscience for ourselves and employees accorded us by the Constitution of the United States and immortalized in our national anthem.

My country! 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrim's pride, From every mountain side Let freedom ring. Our fathers' God! to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing; Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King.

As being very applicable at this time, we would like to add the following:

Our fathers' God, we pray Grant us the liberty We sing about. Turn back oppression's hand Now threatening our fair land, And may we boldly stand For God and right. Born in a foreign land Was ruthless oppression's hand Now pressing us. What would our fathers say, If here in mortal clay, To celebrate this day, George Washington's?

IN CONCLUSION, we beg to submit that the present boycott is un-Christian, un-American and inhuman, and unworthy of the support of the law-abiding, liberty-loving people of Oakland, irrespective of affiliation with any organization, be it church, fraternal society, labor union or political party, and whether we receive the necessary support to enable us to continue in business in Oakland or not, we shall by the help of God stand true to our principles.

A. W. DENNETT, General Manager. S. R. BREAK, Secretary.