Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-23
THE BELLE-ISLE BOYS
rE1Y ADOPT A RIsoIuTIoH 10 -
BACK TO w0RE. "a
When. However, Nails 90 Up In Prize
They Expect Their Pay to b Cor.
respondinRly Increased.

A meeting Of tho nailsrs and feeders
on Belle Isle who struck on the 18th
Of June was held st Hsidsr's Hall, IN
Manchester, at 3 O'Clock yesterday aftsc-
noon. Tho attendance Was good, en-
bracipg many Of the men who live n
Richmond and some who we're connected
with the nail works, but not directly
connected with the strike. Entire haf-
mony prevailed, and the action Of the
meeting was unanimous. The resolu-
ton which was offered at the meeting
held in Richmond Monday afternoon
was adopted, and committee appointed
to wait on Mr.. r. Z. Blankenship, pre-
sidsnt Of the company, and inform him
Of the fact.
The resolution, in effect, provides that
the men will return to work ct the re-
duced wages, and continue to work fof
them IS long a. the prices Of nails re.
main as low as at present, provided the
president Of the company will sign an
agreement that when the prices Of nails
advance the wages Of the men shall be
increased in proportion.
The committee will wait on Mr..
Blankenship this morning, or, in his
absence, on Superintendent Baird, and If
the matter can be satisfactorily ar.
ranged the men will return to work on
Monday.
The facts IN relation to the strike are
these:
Saturday evening, June 10Th, the men
stopped work as usual, and the Monday
following whit Monday being . legal
holiday, they did not return until Tues
day morning. When they did return
notices were found posted in tho nail
department--both plate.mills and cut
ting.room-,hat after June Goth wages
in that department would be made to
conform to those paid at Harrisburg,
Penn. This was equivalent to . reduc-
ton Of 10 per cent. The nsil.cutters,
upon reading the notice, without making
any inquiry concerning it, unbelted their
machines and went out on strike.
The nailers were all opposed to stop
ping before working out the two weeks
notice. but the cutters would hear no
such talk. and refused to work. The
nailers, consequently, were compelled
to 20 with the strikers. The mon in the
plate.rollipg works, about thirty in
number, continued to work for several
days after those in the cutting room
vent out. The weather then became
very hot and oppressive, and Superin.
tendent Baird went to the employees at
work and told them that it was useless
for them to continue preparing the ma.
terisl with no men TO work it up. This
made the number Of men thrown out
there about $50.
The company claims that the prices
here have always been regulated by
those at Harrisburg, which are as high
as those paid anywhere east Of the Al
!, ghsry FOUNTAINS, and the present
price Of nails. which is as low, or lower,
than ever before, will not justify con-
iinuir to make them at the present
cost.
The employees claim that they have
been receiving very small remunera-
ton for their labor, and cannot al
ford to work for less unless with the
assurance that their wages will be in-
creased as the price Of nails advances,
which they think will soon be the case.
The men engaged At the pudding
mills aud other departments on the
island are still at work, and it is to
be- hoped that the existing differences
may be adjusted and lie. all the men
Ie.uIn to work.