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Great Plains Quarterly Great Plains Studies, Center for

1988

"The Greatest Thing I Ever Did Was Join the Union": A History of the Dakota Teamsters During the Depression

Jonathan F. Wagner Minot State University

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Wagner, Jonathan F., ""The Greatest Thing I Ever Did Was Join the Union": A History of the Dakota Teamsters During the Depression" (1988). Great Plains Quarterly. 528. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsquarterly/528

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Studies, Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Quarterly by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. "THE GREATEST THING I EVER DID WAS JOIN THE UNION"

A HISTORY OF THE DAKOTA TEAMSTERS DURING THE DEPRESSION

JONATHAN F. WAGNER

During the Great Depression the Dakota 1972, "we have had cooks, retail clerks, bakers, Teamsters established themselves as the most confectionery workers, waitresses, butchers, important union on the northern Plains. 1 soft drink bottlers, grocery store employees, Their success involved struggle and sacrifice, and many others."2 So it was in the Depression with a full complement of setbacks and losses years. as well as advances and gains. From the 1930s Nevertheless, the Teamsters of North and on, the union has reflected certain of the South Dakota are also distinguishable from general characteristics of the parent body, the the International Teamsters Union and its International Brotherhood of Teamsters, locals in other parts of the country. The Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of distinctiveness of the Dakotas' Teamsters was America. Like the International, the Dakota conditioned by three major factors: the low Teamsters was always basically a truck drivers' density of population, the scarcity of laborers union, but also something more. As with the and the lack of a union movement, and the International, the concept of jurisdiction was problem of distance. The sparse population of elastic. "In our teamsters union," the Minot, the northern Plains decreed that absolute North Dakota, business agent explained in numbers of union members would always be a major concern. Whereas the locals in Chicago or Detroit could boast membership in the Jonathan F. Wagner, associate professor of history thousands, Dakota unions usually claimed at Minot State University, holds both the Ph.D. only a few hundred adherents, or fewer. and J.D. from the University of Wisconsin. He has Moreover, the low numbers meant that the published articles in such journals as Canadian union's makeup was more general than that of Historical Review, Central European History, locals in places such as Cleveland or Los Archiv fur Kulturgeschichte. and His book, Angeles. John King, an international organiz­ Brothers beyond the Sea: National Socialism er, explained: "We in North Dakota are too in Canada, appeared in 1980. spread out to have craft unions and too, we do not have a large enough population. Therefore [GPQ 8 (Winter 1988): 16-28] we must have general membership locals."] 16 DAKOTA TEAMSTERS 17

Dakota locals in the Depression were simply the problem of remoteness conditioned and too small to be concerned exclusively with one differentiated Dakota Teamster history as it industry. Thus, their business agents were did the fate of other Dakota institutions and called upon to negotiate not one or two movements during the Depression. contracts but many different work agreements. Modern Dakota Teamster history really Second, because the Dakotas were basically begins with the Depression. Although there farming and ranching states, their general had been earlier attempts at establishing the population in the 1930s was overwhelmingly union, such as the short-lived local founded in nonindustrial and not labor oriented. More Grand Forks in 1919, these efforts had fizzled often than not, Teamsters had to create out in the 1920s, and, as the 1930s began, sympathy and win converts among a popula­ there were no Teamster locals in either North tion at best ignorant of unions and at worst or South Dakota. Indeed, in the 1920s a rising hostile to organized labor. John King noted antilabor movement coupled with the false that in the Dakotas "measures used in larger prosperity of the times made unionizing of all cities will not work. "4 Unionizing was extra sorts difficult. As the open-shop movement difficult in an environment where, as organiz­ gained strength, union numbers declined ers realized, the general population "was not across the country. The problems of labor used to unions. "5 throughout the nation during the 1920s were Finally, the Teamsters in the Dakotas had mirrored in the Dakotas. Two specific devel­ to carry out their activities in the wide open opments, D. Jerome Tweton claims, worked to spaces. Potential members were "spread out" undermine labor's position in North Dakota as in few other areas of the country.6 The during these "Lean Years": the collapse of the distance between locals and between a local prolabor Nonpartisan League and the and its members often inhibited union activity onslaught of an agricultural depression, the and frequently forced the union to resort to impact of which was already being felt in the unorthodox procedures. For example, a busi­ first years of the decade. Since South Dakota's ness representative in Sioux Falls, South agricultural economy suffered similarly, its Dakota, later petitioned the International labor movement was also affected adversely.9 seeking permission for a mail referendum The 1930s would not seem to have been a ballot. He argued that it was physically impos­ propitious time for the Teamsters to make a sible for the business agent to contact the new beginning in the Dakotas. If the 1920s had state's me~bership in timely fashion because seemed bad, the early 1930s appeared worse. "the distance from Rapid City to Sioux Falls is The Depression was in many ways more about 360 miles, from Aberdeen to Sioux Falls devastating on the northern Plains than in the about 212 miles, Huron to Sioux Falls about United States as a whole. When severe 122 miles, and Watertown to Sioux Falls about drought and falling farm prices combined to all 112 miles plus several smaller towns from 50 to but destroy the ranchers and wheat farmers of 100 miles.'" Having to function in the wide the Dakotas, the ruined economies made life open spaces illustrates well what Elwyn B. for laboring people equally difficult. Money Robinson has labelled the problem of remote­ was scarce and jobs hard to come by. Launch­ ness in the history of the northern Plains.s The ing a new union movement required not only outspread union membership and the great great energy and dedication but also organiz­ distances between the various locals, and ing proficiency. Luckily much of the original between locals and the International lead­ organizing skill that would be crucial for the ership in Washington, made cooperation and success of the Teamsters on the northern cohesiveness much more difficult to attain for Plains was available in nearby Minneapolis, the Dakota Teamsters than for the brothers in where the Teamsters had proven the strength Chicago, New York, or California. Moreover, of their organization. 18 GREAT PLAI:\S QUARTERLY, \\I:--:TER 1988

FIG. 1. Three Sioux Falls Teamsters, 1939. From left to right, Harold Janzik (milk driver), Charles Jan lIce cream ma~er), Hotcard Rang (shipping clerk). Photo courtesy of Charles Jan. DAKOTA TEA\lSTERS 19

In 1934 Minneapolis became the setting of bv arming special deputies to force the trucks a dramatic clash between Teamsters Union back on the road. In the ensuing violence, Local 544 and a powerful alliance of Twin heads were broken and lives were lost until the Cities employers. Prior to 1934, 1\1inneapolis governor of Minnesota called out the National had been an antilabor, open-shop city, but Guard to prevent the escalation of class with the advent of the New Deal's National warfare. Finally, in the summer of 1934, under Recovery Act and its pro labor provisions, the pressure from both the state and federal truckers of Minneapolis moved to challenge governments, a settlement was reached in the city's antilabor tradition. In the late spring which, according to Ray Dunne, the union of 1934, Local 544, under the aggressive secured what it had "fought and bled for from leadership of William Brown and the Dunne the beginning."l,' brothers (Ray, Miles, and Grant), demanded The victory of the union in Minneapolis improved working conditions, increased strengthened an earlier resolve of the lead­ wages, and recognition of the union as bar­ ership to extend its efforts beyond the Twin gaining agent. The strongly negative response Cities and into the Dakotas, an organizing of the employers prompted a truckers' strike task for which the Dunne brothers in partic­ that shut the city down. Employers responded ular were well qualified. I! The Dunnes either

FIG. 2. The Dunne bromers at work. Photo courtesy Anchor Foundation. Reprinted by permission of Pathfinder Press, Inc. 2L1 CREAT PLAINS Ql'ARTERLY, WINTER 1988

belonged to or sympathized with the tradition to the Minneapolis overtures was so promising of left-wing communism associated with Leon that the Minneapolis leadership agreed in the T rorsky. ,: Although the rank and file with fall of 1934 to send Dunne to Fargo, where he whom they worked were clearly aware of their became business agent and organizer for Local left-wing sympathies, the Dunnes never 173.!i pushed their radical ideology to the point of According to the Fargo Forum, it was not alienating the membership. As efficient work­ until the arrival of Miles Dunne "that things ers and effective speakers, they were generally began to hum" for Local 173. 16 More precisely, viewed by the nonradical rank and file as this meant that in the fall of 1934 the union persons to be trusted.!; In the wake of the rapidly increased its membership to more than Minneapolis victory the Dunnes envisioned seven hundred members. Its newfound the establishment of a district Drivers Council strength prompted it to flex its muscles in a test to coordinate the activities of Teamsters case in November 1934. The creamery drivers throughout the upper Midwest. They turned of Local 173 struck the milk industry for, their attention first to Fargo, North Dakota. among other things, the closed shop, increased wages, a forty-eight hour week, and union recognition. The strike organizers skillfully NORTH DAKOTA rallied union members and their supporters, Several reasons explain why Fargo ap­ employing a new device: cruising picket assign­ peared a likely place to the Teamsters. Fargo ments of two or three men in a car or truck. As was a significant rail and trucking center with Sannes noted, this mobile picketing gave the a tradition of labor and labor organizing. More strikers several tactical advantages. They could important, Fargo had a Teamsters union by patrol for scab drivers on the streets and 1934. In October 1933, Clarence Peterson, a highways and quickly move reinforcements to barber, had initially contacted the Internation­ any place that trouble developed. The moving al leadership in Washington for help in pickets could continue to harass a scab driver establishing a Fargo Teamsters local. Daniel ]. as his truck proceeded along its route." Tobin, the president of the union, responded Although the police supported the employ­ positively by sending out an application for a ers and once arrested Dunne and several other charter. Peterson and William H. Cruden, a picketers, the Teamsters persisted. The city's milkwagon driver, went to work soliciting Trades and Labor Assembly supported Local members and soon secured commitments from 173's cause as did the Cass County Farmer's seven milk and coal drivers. They then applied Holiday Association. The governor of North for and were granted a charter as Teamster Dakota, Ole H. Olson, chaired the mediation Local 173 of Fargo, North Dakota, and committee that eventually broke the deadlock Moorhead, Minnesota. 14 between intransigent employers and deter­ In order to strengthen its position in both mined strikers. From a strike that had lasted states, Local 173 formed ties in February 1934 just over two weeks, the union emerged with Minneapolis Teamsters Local 574. Later triumphant, having secured bargaining agent that year, Local President Cruden and a Fargo recognition and substantial wage gains. delegation went to Minneapolis to assist in the The success of the creamery drivers truckers' strike. Impressed by the sincerity and prompted 173's leadership to confront the coal

dedication of the men from Fargo, the Minne­ industry. IS The Fargo Teamsters' coal strike of apolis organizers offered to teach the western­ 1935 remains one of the most controversial ers some strategy techniques. In May, 1934, and dramatic episodes in the entire history of William Brown and Miles (Mickey) Dunne the Dakota Teamsters. Coal represented life visited Fargo to lend advice and encourage­ itself in the midst of a bitterly cold winter. ment to the sister local. Fargo's initial response Stung by the success of the milk drivers just a DAKOTA TEA~ISTERS =1 few months before, the Fargo employers were Fargo to other cities in the Dakotas. In North determined to prevent any further union Dakota, Teamster locals appeared in Grand advances. Miles Dunne and the radical local Forks and Minot in 1937 and in Bismarck in leadership were equally determined that their 1939. All of these locals, as affiliates of the union be recognized. The resulting strike cut American Federation of Labor, associated off the delivery of coal to the city. City officials themselves with the North Dakota State Labor moved forcefully. The police harassed pickets Federation as well. Although variations and secured warrants for the arrest of Miles existed among these locals, the several centers Dunne and the union leadership. On 27 faced similar problems and tried similar solu­ January 1935, the city police, seeking to snatch tions. For example, Grand Forks, north of Miles Dunne, gassed the union hall, arrested Fargo, established Teamsters Local 581 in the some ninety-five union members, marched spring of 1937. The Grand Forks Herald report­ them off to jail, and charged them with ed on 9 May that the charter had arrived from rioting. 19 Although only a few of those arrested Teamster headquarters in Washington and were actually forced to stand trial, the raid had that the union would include "truck drivers in suppressed the strikers, dealing the union an the city and employees of wholesale grocery extremely bitter and disheartening setback. concerns, creameries, and coal and lumber Displeased with the union's role in the crisis, yards.":) In the start-up and first years of this International President Daniel Tobin revoked local, Minneapolis 544 was intimately in­ the charter of Local 173 in March 1935. volved. According to one long-time Grand According to Farrell Dobbs, the pretext Tobin Forks Teamster, the Dunne brothers often gave for revocation was nonpayment of per visited and "extended assistance whenever the capita dues to the International. The real local appeared to be in trouble."" William reason, Dobbs insisted, was Tobin's conserva­ Brown, the Minneapolis general drivers union tive disapproval of the increasing militancy of president, likewise appeared in Grand Forks to Local 173. 20 Disapproval from the center, help organize and to negotiate on behalf of the however, did not signal the end of the new local.: 5 Teamsters in Fargo. Like Fargo 116, Grand Forks Local 581 did In a little over a year, a new union, Local not hesitate to press for immediate advantages 116, was chartered to carryon where 173 had for its members. Directed by its business agent, left off.21 And it did. In October 1937, the Floyd Coverston, Local 581 followed Fargo's union called a strike involving about two lead and in mid-October 1937 moved against hundred men against six Fargo transport the city's transfer firms to try to force conces­ companies. The members pursued their object sions similar to those granted in Fargo. Al­ vigorously, even when that meant going though only one shipping company was outside Fargo. The Grand Forks Herald report­ actually struck, the union gained advantages ed that one resisting transport company em-' not unlike those won by Local 116.20 ployee "was halted near Hawley [Minnesota] More dramatically though, at the end of and struck in the face when he refused to the same month Local 581 struck the major accede to demands of men he said represented wholesale grocery firms-Grand Forks Mer­ the Fargo strikers." The settlement arrived at cantile, Gamble-Robinson, and Nash-Stone on 30 October provided much of what the Companies. This strike involved some forty union had originally demanded-a reduction employees and included the usual wage, work­ in work hours per week, a pay raise of between ing hours, and union recognition demands. 12 112 to 20 cents an hour, and recognition of Although for the most part peaceful, the strike the union's right to appoint labor representa­ was forceful. The strikers brought to a stand­ tives to negotiate with management. 22 still all truck movement at the involved The unionizing effort soon spread from grocery firms and decisively countered the 22 GREAT PLAINS QUARTERLY, WINTER 1988 actions of employers. For example, on 2 with a loading operation. The union protested November, when strike breakers working for loudly that the police had unfairly taken the the Grand Forks Mercantile Company sought employer's side, and the Teamsters continued to load a railway car with perishables, "the the picketing and resistance. On 26 August union men pulled away a gangplank reaching another twelve pickets were arrested, this time from the warehouse to the car, then pushed it for refusing to move away from a railway away from the loading platform. They also boxcar that was scheduled to be loaded, but refused to allow Northern Pacific railway men still the union continued the strike. After to replace the padlock with a seal." The seven weeks the union reached a settlement to employers asked Governor William L. Langer its liking. Local 581 members received a ten to intervene, but his government held off percent wage increase and recognition of their taking sides and the strike succeeded. On 4 seniority rights from Gamble-Robinson. 29 November, the Grand Forks Herald reported In Minot, North Dakota Teamster Local that workers returned to their jobs with "wage 74 showed a similar pattern of outside organiz­ increases of from 4 to 21 percent, reduced ers and militancy. In 1937, the American hours, seniority rights, vacations and sick Federation of Labor launched a major organiz­ leave with pay."27 ing drive in Minot with a recruitment rally on In late January 1938 the Grand Forks local the evening of 25 March. The impressive array struck the city's thirteen coal companies of speakers and dignitaries included North because the owners would neither recognize Dakota governor William L. Langer; Minot the union nor meet with its representatives. Mayor J. A. Peterson; Meyer L. Lewis, the The strike by the sixty workers who distrib­ national organizer for the A. F. of L.; Morris uted coal in Grand Forks never became as Erickson, secretary of the North Dakota emotional nor as violent as its Fargo and Sioux Farmers Union; Pat Corcoran, vice president Falls counterparts because the city administra­ of the Minnesota Federation of Labor; and tion quickly prevailed upon both parties to Farrell Dobbs, secretary of Local 544 of the accept a truce. On 1 February, union members Minneapolis Teamsters and Drivers Union. went back to work while their representatives The tone of the rally and subsequent organiz­ sought to bargain with the employers,28 but the ing activity was set by Meyer Lewis who acceptance of the truce had divided the assured listeners that "we didn't come to bring union's ranks. This helped stiffen employer to Minot or to the state a threat; ... we are resistance, and the ultimate settlement arrived not interested in causing trouble; we don't at under the auspices of the National Labor want people hurt. But sometimes that is the Relations Board was a compromise. The union price when people will not understand the received recognition but neither the wage problems of labor. "30 concessions nor the closed shop it sought. The following day the several labor leaders Six months later, on 16 August, Local 581 met with the city's existing unions, such as the launched a much more forceful and ultimately electrical workers, the bricklayers, the stage­ successful strike against an old adversary, hands, and the railway clerks, in an effort to Gamble-Robinson. When union and employer strengthen these unions. At the same time an could not agree on how to adjust wage and attempt was made to organize new unions, seniority rights after the expiration of the including what would become Local 74 of the contract struggled over the year before, seven Teamsters. On 1 April 1937, the Minot Daily drivers and eleven warehousemen went on News reported that Teamster recruitment had strike. On 18 August a scuffle took place at the gone well with the membership drive having Gamble-Robinson plant and three union enrolled about one hundred members.3! picketers were arrested and charged with The Minneapolis militants, led by the criminal conspiracy for attempting to interfere Dunne brothers, were as active in Minot as DAKOTA TL\\15TER5 23

Grand Forks Herald announced, "the first major strike in l\1inot since the railroad employees walk-out in 1922." Lasting only four days, the strike nevertheless created a great stir, for it threatened the city's supply of milk and milk products and affected some one hundred \\'orkers, including cream graders, churnmen, pasteurizers, buttermilk dryer oper­ ators, samplers, can washers, cleanup men, cream dumpers, tub and box liners, butter wrappers, milk bottlers, and city delivery men. Although shortlived, the strike involved enough violence that six union men were eventually charged \vith assault or malicious mischief. ,\1ost of the trouble involved efforts to interdict the transportation of milk and cream. Other labor groups supported the Teamsters, including representatives from the \'Card County Farmers Union. On 22 July the union accepted a settlement calling for "a minimum wage of 41 cents per hour, eight FIG. 3. Farrell Dobbs. Photo courtesy Anchor hour day, six day week, and a week vacation Foundation. Reprinted bv permission of Pathfinder with pay to emplovees who have worked for Press, Inc. the company at least one year."" The union demand for a closed shop was not conceded. Less than a month after the creameries strike, Local 74 struck again but with far less they had been in Fargo and Grand Forks. Also success. The strike, which began 11 August, present was Farrell Dobbs, one of the most involved fourteen drivers of the city's taxi and effective of Minneapolis 574's leaders. Dobbs, bus lines. The owners of the cabs defied the who combined organizing skills with ideologi­ strikers by driving their own cars, undermin­ cal radicalism, not only contributed to ex­ ing the strike from the beginning. In addition panding Teamster units into the Dakotas there were no acts of intimidation nor vio­ during the Depression, but he also was the lence. The November settlement gave drivers guiding force behind organizing over-the-road little of what they had originally sought. drivers in the upper lviidv/est. The extent of L1nion recognition, a major goal of the strik­ Dobbs's radicalism can be seen by his career ers, was not really conceded. Rather the after the Depression: between 1948 and 1960 settlement agreement stipulated that "a se­ he ran four times for president of the United niority list must be posted with no discrimina­ States on the Socialist Workers ticket. Dobbs tion for or against nonunion employees where employed his significant oratorical and per­ ability and experience are substantially equal" suasive pmvers to good effect in ~1inot. and "there shall be no discrimination bv the Once established, the :tv1inot Teamsters union against any employee because of lack of union did not hesitate to push for advances union affiliation." Drivers received at best nor to strike. On 19 July 1937, Local 74 struck token wage increases. \"\7 orst, only four of the the city's ten creameries when demands for original fourteen strikers were returned to wage i~creases, hour reductions, and union \\'ork." The failur~ of the taxi strike, due to recognition were turned down. This was, the employer intransigence and the limited num- 24 GREAT PLAI1'.:S QUARTERLY, WI~nER 1988 ber of union men involved, represented a momentary setback. By early 1938, the union's spirit and fortunes were once again on the nse.

SOCTH DAKOTA

South Dakota developments closely para leled events in North Dakota. By late 1936 Teamsters were unionizing in the state. Be~ tween 1936 and 1939 locals associated with the South Dakota State Labor Federation were founded at Watertown, Aberdeen, Huron, Rapid City, and, most important, Sioux Falls. From the start of Sioux Falls Local 749, "tv1inneapolis 544 \vas involved. Farrell Dobbs was present. As Charles Jan, one of the founding members of 749 recalled, all three Dunne brothers made appearances in Sioux Falls and contributed financial and organiza~ tional help. In addition, Happy Holstein and Jack Maloney, both Dunne appointees, were FIG. 4. Jack ?vialone). Photo courtesy Anchor specifically dispatched to monitor the new Foundation. Reprinted by permission of Pathfinder local's development.'- Press, Inc. In South Dakota the Teamsters worked militantly to better the lot of their members. Following the example of Fargo and Grand over~the~road drivers throughout the upper Forks to the north, Local 749 struck all twelve Midwest. Because of his experience, militancy, transportation firms in Sioux Falls on 13 and general organizing skill, Maloney was November 1937. The eighty~six strikers de~ assigned in the fall of 1937 to help the leaders manded union recognition and better wages, of the newly chartered Teamster Local in and they set up pickets at the loading depots Sioux Falls, who, according to Farrell Dobbs, and on the roads leading into the city, had specifically requested Maloney's pres~ effectively shutting down the transport busi~ ence. ness. Sioux Falls owners were particularly Although the strike started out peacefully upset with the involvement of so~called "out~ and remained so for about ten days, it turned side agitators" and initially refused to confer violent on 23 November, the day after the with any but local men. operators threatened to hire new men to One of the prominent "outside agitators" replace any truckers who stayed on strike. The \vas Jack Maloney. Born of immigrant Irish union's spokesman, Happy Holstein (another parents and raised by a Teamster stepfather in "outside agitator" who had been sent by :v1innesota, Maloney was radicalized early. As tv1inneapolis 574 to Sioux Falls), responded by a young man, he became a union representa~ charging that the owners' ultimatum was "an tive in the Minneapolis drivers' strike of 1934, attempt to break the strike and means that the staving on after the strike as part of Local 574's men will have to go out on the streets and fight organizing staff. He was a member of the group for their jobs. We do not want this but we will that initiated the Central District Drivers not see strike breakers on our jobs." Violence Council, the successful effort to organize the flared up when fifty strikers sought to prevent DAKOTA TEA:tv1STERS 25 about the same number of strike breakers from yards, called for increased wages, union recog­ unloading a railroad carload of furniture. The nition, and reduced working hours. With police had to break up the resultant melee with emotions running high, the affair soon turned tear gas and clubs. "A dozen on each side," it nasty. Already by 1 February, the second day was reported, "emerged with black eyes and of the strike, strike breakers and strikers \\'ere bleeding noses." The strikers held on, howev­ squared off. The Sioux Falls Dail) Argus Leader er, and on 28 November an agreement ending reported that "A glass window in a coal truck the strike was reached. The settlement pro­ cab and the window of a striker's car were vided for union recognition, collective bar­ smashed as coal drivers and pickets hurled coal gaining, seniority rights, and a wage increase, at each other." In response to the union's but no closed shop. determination the city government itself stiff­ For Local 749, a less successful but even ened, ordering thirteen special police added to more dramatic confrontation than the transfer the force and coal deliveries escorted by police companies' strike occurred the following win­ cars. The violence did not cease, however. ter when the Sioux Falls Teamsters struck the Union men did whatever they could to stop coal industry. Here again, as in Fargo and the coal trucks, including, according to the Grand Forks, a raw nerve had been touched, local paper, scattering nails in a number of coal for the threat to the city's source of heat in the yards and taking offending drivers to union depth of winter vitally concerned everyone. headquarters where they were forced to join The strikers, including the coal haulers and the union. As the strike dragged on into its yard \vorkers in all eighteen of the city's coal third week, the violence increased. At one point, strikers and police were engaged in hand to hand fighting. "Eight officers," the Grand Forks Herald asserted, "responding to a disturbance call, reported they found four men attacking three others who were manning a coal truck. The four turned on the officers but were soon subdued after a brief fight. "": In the end Sioux Falls Mayor Graff and District Attorney Barron prevailed over the strikers because they consistently pursued a hardline, no compromise policy. From the beginning, the police frequently arrested strik­ ers, jailing as many as seventeen in one day. The prosecutor's office and police required little pretext to act. The Argus Leader reported on 18 February that District Attorney Barron would "file a charge of assault with a danger­ ous weapon against Phil Johnson ... [because] Johnson had bound his fists with black tire tape." By the end of February the strike was virtually over; union drivers had been replaced at the coal yards and normal coal deliveries had been resumed. During the bitter con­ frontation, however, the Teamsters had won FIG. 5. Happy Holstein. Photo courtesy Anchor the sympathy of their fellow Sioux Falls Foundation. Reprinted by permission of Pathfinder workers. Throughout the strike's course, the Press, Inc. Sioux Falls Labor Assembly soundly con- 26 GREAT PLAINS QUARTERLY, WINTER 1988 demned the mayor and the district attorney in one of the coldest parts of the country), and for their "persecution" of the union coal the general provisioning of the population. driversY Because of the crucial nature of the industries Although the Teamsters clearly lost the and businesses struck, the small number of coal strike, the South Dakota union re­ strikers often did not greatly matter. The bounded. Locals in Sioux Falls and elsewhere Dakota Teamsters won as frequently as they continued to seek better conditions for their did because the services they provided were members and pursued successful strikes in the essential for the economy of the northern summer of 1938. In August the bakery drivers Plains and for the people living there. in Sioux Falls and Teamsters working for From the beginning, the Dakota Teamsters Gamble-Robinson in South Dakota walked off exhibited another of Elwyn Robinson's themes the job. Both strikes won the union workers of Dakota history, namely dependency on increased wages and recognition of seniority outsiders. Although Sannes has described in rights. Writing about the South Dakota Team­ detail how local Dakota leaders played impor­ ster experience some years later, the Minneso­ tant roles in the evolution of the Teamsters on ta advisor Farrell Dobbs claimed that, overall, the northern Plains, influences from outside the strikes strengthened the union. the Dakotas were crucial. As noted, William Brown, Farrell Dobbs, and the Dunne broth­ CONCLUSION ers from Minneapolis 544 supervised the establishment and evolution of the Dakota At the end of the Depression the Interna­ locals. Dakota Teamsters relied upon these tional Brotherhood of Teamsters had clearly leaders for their experience and know-how. established itself in nine centers on the north­ From the first milk and coal strikes in Fargo in ern Plains: Fargo, Minot, Grand Forks, and 1934-35, Minneapolis 544 was the model to Bismarck in North Dakota and Sioux Falls, which Dakota Teamsters looked. In the years Aberdeen, Watertown, Huron, and Rapid that followed, this dependency continued. City in South Dakota. These Teamsters locals As the Depression ended, new problems had associated themselves with the larger labor and pressures faced the Teamster locals in the federations in both states. By national stan­ Dakotas. Although membership increases and dards, the Dakota locals were small and fragile. militant activity all but ceased during the war, Watertown, South Dakota, Local 277, for the union expanded rapidly in the prosperous example, had only 23 members in 1937.44 postwar years. Even the antilabor mood of the Nevertheless, these unions had developed an late 1940s, which saw open-shop statutes elan of camaraderie and cooperation during become law in both Dakotas, could not arrest the Depression. As one old timer put it, the union's growth. By the early 1950s a "Everybody was behind everybody back in movement was underway to consolidate them days."45 Time and again these green Teamster union growth in the Dakotas, result­ locals proved themselves unafraid to do battle ing in the 1952 formation of a Joint Council for their rank and file. Of the thirty-four for the Dakotas that would run the affairs of strikes in North Dakota between 1936 and the scattered locals. This move to amalgamate 1940, the Teamsters had the largest share.46 illustrates yet another of Elwyn Robinson's Most Teamster strikes were effective. For themes of Dakota history-the Too-Much one reason, the strikers showed dogged deter­ Mistake and the subsequent necessary adjust­ mination, standing up to employers, strike ment to compensate for the original overindul­ breakers, and the police. Many of the strikes gence-but it also illustrates the union's involved violence and arrests. Second, the flexibility. Clearly in the enthusiasm of the Teamster strikes involved vital industries: Depression years, Dakota Teamster organizers food, dairy products, coal (the source of heat had not been overly concerned either with DAKOTA TEAMSTERS 27 numbers or with economic viability. Joint in this expansion. How much so and to what extent Council 82 sought to remedy this. remains to be explored in another article. By the formation of the Joint Council in 10. Thomas R. Brooks, Toil and Trouble: A History of American Labor (New York: Dell Pub­ 1952, the modern Teamsters union had been lishing Co., 1964), p. 169. See also Philip Taft, in existence in the Dakotas for nearly 20 years, Organized Labor in American History (New York: and the reasons for its viability lay in its Harper & Row, 1964), pp. 445-56. Depression successes. During the 1930s the 11. The Militant, 10 November 1934, p. 1. Teamsters' determination and imagination 12. Walter Galenson, The CIO Challenge to the AFL (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press, confronted the particularly Dakota problems 1960), p. 478. of sparse population, wide open spaces, and 13. Author's interview with Charles Jan, Min­ anti-union sentiment. In the course of the ot, N. Dak., 8 August 1986, and Arthur Carlson, second half of the decade the union had Sioux Falls, S. Dak., 8 July 1986. acclimated itself to the northern Plains and 14. Erling Sannes, "There Is Power in a Union: Organizing Milk Wagon Drivers in Fargo in 1934," proved its will to survive. The lessons learned North Dakota History 54, no. 2 (Spring 1987): 4. in the 1930s and the successes enjoyed enabled 15. Ibid., p. 5. the Dakota Teamsters to exist until the 16. "Truck Driver Slugged as He Delivers Load amalgamatiQn of 1952 and to move ahead into of Coal," Fargo Forum (hereafter cited as FF), 31 the succeeding decades. January 1935. 17. Sannes, "There Is Power in a Union," p. 8. 18. Henry Martinson, History of North Dakota Labor (Fargo, N. Dak.: Labor Temple, 1970), p. 29. NOTES 19. "95 Jailed After Strike Riot," FF, 28 January 1935. 1. Quotation in title from Morris Sletmoe, long­ 20. Farrell Dobbs, Teamster Power (New York: time Fargo, N. Dak., Teamster. Author's interview, Monad Press, 1973), p. 49. Existing Teamsters 24 June 1986. Union records do not contain the reasons for the 2. Sylvan Hubrig, "Someday We've Got to Get revocation. Author's conversation with Erling Organized," (New York: 1972), p. 70. Sannes, Minot, N. Dak., July 1987. 3. Joint Council Minutes, Fargo, N. Dak., 20 21. Martinson, North Dakota Labor, p. 34. March 1949. 22. "Fargo Trucking Halted by Strike," Grand 4. General Membership Minutes, Bismarck, Forks Herald (hereafter cited as GFH), 14 October N. Dak., Local 123,4 April 1949. 1937; "Continue Parlays on Fargo Strike," GFH, 22 5. Author's interview with Ray Scheile, Grand October 1937; "Settle Trucking Strike at Fargo," Forks, N. Dak., 1 July 1986, and Anthony Goetz­ GFH, 31 October 1937. fried, Bismarck, N. Dak., 17 June 1986. 23 . "Charter Arrives for Drivers Union," GFH, 6. Author's interview with Gene Willits, Fargo, 9 May 1937. N. Dak., 24 June 1986, and Anthony Goetzfried, 24. Author's interview with Howard Norman­ Bismarck, N. Dak., 17 June 1986. din, Grand Forks, N. Dak., 2 July 1986. 7. Greg He! vig to James R. Hoffa, 10 April 1961, 25. "Elsholtz Division Strike Here Settled," Teamsters Union Papers, Sioux Falls, S. Dak. GFH, 3 November 1937. 8. Elwyn B. Robinson, The Themes of Nort~ 26. Ibid. Dakota History (Grand Forks: University of North 27. "Union Pickets Halt Perishables Loading," Dakota Department of History, 1959). Robinson's GFH, 2 November 1937; "Business Normal After suggestions about North Dakota have been applied Strike Here," GFH 6 November 1937 (quoted). in this paper to South Dakota as well. 28. "Truck Drivers of Coal Firms Here Strike 9. D. Jerome Tweton, In Union There is Strength Today," GFH, 28 January 1938; "Seek Settling of (Grand Forks: North Dakota Carpenter/Craftsman Dispute in 15 Day Period," GFH, 1 February 1938. Heritage Society, 1982), p. 49. Because oflimitations 29. "Gamble Robinson Strike Continues," of space, I have not dealt with pre-1930 attempts at GFH, 17 August 1938; "Arrest 3 in Fruit Firm establishing the Teamsters on the northern Plains. Strike Here," GFH, 18 April 1938; "12 Strike As T weton indicates, a labor movement had begun Pickets Bound Over Here," GFH, 27 August 1938; to develop in the Dakotas by the end of the "Gamble Robinson Strike Ends After 7 Weeks," nineteenth century and experienced considerable GFH, 5 October 1938. prosperity and rapid growth, particularly during the 30. "Local Leadership in Labor Organization war years. Apparently the Teamsters were involved Drive Pledged By Speeches at Minot Rally," Minot 28 GREAT PLAINS QUARTERLY, WINTER 1988

Daily News (hereafter cited as MDN), 26 March 39. Dobbs, Teamster Power, p. 155. The Minne­ 1937. apolis Local carried, at various times, the number 31. "Truck Drivers Climax Membership Drive 544 and 574. with Rally Wednesday Night," MDN, 1 April 1937. 40. "Crisis Expected Tuesday Morning in Truck 32. Author's interview with Ernest Mertens, Strike," AL, 22 November 1937 (quoted); "Violence Fargo, N. Oak., 24 June 1986. Flares in S. D. Strike," Bismarck Tribune, 23 Novem­ 33. "Strike Called at Creameries," MDN, 19 ber 1937 (quoted); "Sioux Falls Truck Strike Peace July 1937; "Seek Settlement in Minot Strike," GFH, Agreement Reached," GFH, 28 November 1937. 21 July 1937 (quoted); "Agreement Ends Strike in 41. "Violence Seen on Second Day of Strike," Minot," GFH, 24 July 1937; "Strike Called at AL, 1 February 1938 (quoted); "Police Blame Creameries," MDN, 19 July 1937; "Strike Ended at Strikers for New Violence," AL, 4 February 1938; Creameries," MDN, 25 July 1937 (quoted). "Sioux Falls Police Fight Coal Strikes," GFH, 18 34. "Minot Cab Owners Operate Taxis as February 1938 (quoted). Drivers Strike," GFH, 13 August 1937; "Strike of 42. "Officers Jail 17 Strikers in Sudden Thrust," Taxi Drivers Settled," MDN, 3 November 1937 AL, 11 February 1938; "Felony Charge to be Filed (quoted). in Strike Case," AL, 18 February 1938 (quoted); 35. Author's interview with Ernest Mertens, "Labor Assembly Condemns Graff and Barron in Fargo, N. Oak., 24 June 1986. Strikes," AL, 15 February 1938 (quoted). 36. "Fight over CIO May Bob Up at AFL 43. Dobbs, Teamster Power, p. 155. Gathering," The Daily Argus Leader (hereafter cited 44. Expenditure and Receipt Record for 1937, as AL), 7 August 1937. Watertown, S. Oak., Local 273. 37. Author's interview with Charles Jan, Min­ 45. Author's interview with Gene Willits, Far­ ot, N. Oak., 6 August 1986. go, N. Oak., 24 January 1986. 38. "Truck Strikers Block Highways; Tie up 12 46. Tweton, In Union There is Strength, p. 64. Firms," AL, 13 November 1937; "Operators Object to Dealing with Minneapolis Men," AL, 16 Novem­ ber 1937.