Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-03-18
rs TT AN UNDrRsrANDrNe ,
state Of the Negotiations Bctsvecs,
the knights OF Labor and the
LAlhann AZ Eharn ain.rannsa

state Of the negotiations Between
the knights OF Labor and the
Jackson * sharp Company.
There have been many rumors afloat
for several weeks past regarding the diff.
culties between the jackson % Sharp Co.
and Its employees and the Knights of
Labor. Like most unauthorized and
patched-up versions Of any transactions,
these rumors have been for the most part
greatly exaggerated or entirely wide Of
the mark. Yesterday IL was stated that
dob II. jackson had given notice
on Saturday to the mill hands, blacksmiths
and helpers, and laborers in his employ
that their wages be increased to-day. In
regards TO this matter the following state
ment was made in the Morning Ne,os
Monday morning upon the authority Of
Mr.. Jackson;
Some changes in wages were made at the
works OF the jackson q Sharp Company on
Saturday. During Mr.. Jackson's address
70 MS workmen week ago last
Saturday It was represented to
him that the hands in the mill
department were working harder than
usual, owing to q press upon them for
material, and Mr.. jackson said that II this
was the case they should be paid proper
matter, and, finding that there was Justice
In the case, he remedied the inequalities by
advancing the pay. In his address he
declared that II his men had grievance,
and would come to him, he would always
do his utmost to remedy the matter. His
action on Saturday was merely In oompli-
Hnce with this promise, and the entire
arrangement was wholly between him and
his men.
Thus it will be seen that the only raise
has been in the mill department, which
Mr.. jackson says is because OF an un-
usually heavy rush of work in that
department. There has been no advance
among the blacksmiths or laborers.
A GAZETTE representative called at the
Office of the jackson q Sharp NOom-
pany this morning. Job II. jackson had
gone to New York. The reporter spoke
to Elwood O. Jackson, his son, who dis
claimed any authority TO speak upon the
subject in the absence Of the senior
member of the firm. He denied
that there had ever been a
conference between Mr.. jackson and
any committee of worlingmen or Knights
OF Labor, except men employed in the
shops. He said Mr.. jackson would not
Z hear any delegation except one from the
men directly interested in any grievance
that is, would not tolerate interference
by third parties. The only arrangement
that had been made with any of
the men, with the exception of this
one with the mill hands, was that
with the workmen who had contracted
for building the Woodruff sleeping cars
several weeks ago. That contract had
been finished and all the men who had
worked on it made from $15 to $18 per
week, men in these hard times, when at
day work they would hardly have made
$40. The arrangement with the mill
hands on Saturday, he said, was not of a
general character, but covered only the
cases of few individual workmen.
In regards TO the rumors that the mill
work of the company had been ordered
boycotted in Philadelphia, he said no such
action had come TO its knowledge. He
finally declared that there had been no
arrangement or definite promises made to
the employees, but that Mr.. jackson had
told them in a general way that he would
endeayor to get the contracts at as good q
margin as possible, and would increase
wages as soon as that margin would war
rant it.
Matthew Colwell, one of the principal
executive officers of the order of Knights
of Labor in this city, was also seen
by GAZETTE reporter. He said there
had been raise among the mill hands at
the jackson d Sharp Co.'s, which had
been obtained without special interven-
tion of the Knights of Labor. A COM
mittee of the latter had called upon Mr..
jackson twice. The first time, before
his speech to his men, he had refused to
see them. The second time he sent for
them himself. The committee was COM
posed of local members. Its demand
was for an average increase Of 10 per
cent In wages throughout the shops. The
subject was discussed, Mr.. jackson
showing that it would be hard to
comply with this demand, as the
present contracts were made upon the
basis Of the present rate Of wages, and
would result in loss TO him should he
have TO raise wages in the middle of their
fulflment. The committee considered
this reasonable position and agreed
that the men should continue ut
work at the present wages until
the existing contracts are filed, but de-
manded that in all new contracts the
price should be based upon 10 per cent
Increase in wages. To this, Mr.. Oolwell
says, Mr.. jackson agreed, and with that
understanding work is going on regu-
larly and quietly, without any immediate
prospect of unhealthy friction.
Mr.. Colwell said in regard to the Wood
ruff sleeper contract, that the men de-
manded $l75 per car, and that the com
pany paid them $3.50, but had what
amounted to $50 worth of work on each
car done by day hands, so that the men
received for the work they did really more
than they had demanded. This gentle
man also said that there was no truth in
the report that boycott had been laid on
the company's work, and stated that any
thing of that kind would have to come
from the district executive committee in
Philadelphia. Everything has been ami.
cably arranged with the jackson q SHARP
Company for the present, and there is not
the least danger of q strike or any out
break of that kind.