The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-08
Strike at the Studebaker Works.
Special to the lndiauapolis Journal.


SOUTH BEND Ind, March 6-At 2 o'clock this
afternoon from 900 to LOO men in the Stude
baker shops laid aside their tools, dotted their
aprons, doned their coats and hats. and walked
abreast filed down Michigan street to the Knights
of Labor hall. The reason for this wholesale
quitting OF work was given to a reporter by one
of the men, who said:
There are many of US who are working for
wages that we cannot live on, no matter how
close wives economic. We have been
cut time and again, and we think it more
than fair that we have some advantage We don't
want the advance of Is per cent for all, for some
are getting enough now; but lots of us are get
ting less than 81. Is day, and God knows we
cannot live on that. want to see wages equal
ized and have gone out with the rest in the
hopes they will be-"
Another said that on Monday committee of
the Knights of Labor consisting of three en-
ployes of the Studebakers and three Knights rep
resenting three of the local lodges, waited
upon Mr. Glenn Studekaker, the president of the
company. and Mr.. Cartwright the superintendent,
and submitted proposition whereby the wages
were to be increased % per cent. throughout.
This the company refused to grant. Since that
| time the committee had waited upon the COM
pany several times. and had submitted various
propositions which were notifications of the
| first The men claimed that the Studebakers
| had finally refused to grant them raise of even
5 per cent He further claimed that some of the
| men who have families to keep were work
ing for sixty-five cents day, and a
large number for eighty five cents day. He
said he did not doubt but some of the men were
getting as much, and some of them more, than
they earned, but that the MAJ GRITTY were not get
ting enough to provide the necessities of life. In
reply to further inquiries he stated that he did
not think there were more than thirty men in
both works who are not knights of Labor and
these few very readily followed the Knights
when they quit and left their benches this after
noon.
AZ - $50 l..AT
s. Marsh. the company's correspondent and
private secretary was seen, and stated that the
strike was surprise to all in the Office He
knew that committee from the Knights of
Labor had been in consultation with the COM
pany for the past week, with reference to gen
eral advance of 25 per cent. in wages, and that
| the company would not agree to q general ad-
vance. Mr.. Studebaker said if there were any of
| the men who were getting too small wages they
| should advance them SO that there would be a
satisfactory equalization of matters To this end
| general schedule of all the mems pay was being
| prepared. and Mr.. Marsh said that he, with the
! foremen of departments, had been at work night
and day on this report, and it was the under
| standing between the committee and the COM
pany that it should be submitted for final set
| Element on Tuesday next In answer to an in :
| quiry as to what course the company would pur-
| sue in the matter, no one about the Office could
| tell. Nothing will be done until the return of
Messrs. Glenn and p. E. Studebaker from
| Chicago.
WHAT p e. sTUDEBAKER SAYS.
| To the Western Associated Press.
| CHICAGO, March 6-Referring to the strike.
| this afternoon, of over one thousand men en-
| ployed by the Studebaker Bros, wagon makers,
| at South Bend, Ind, Mr.. P. E. Studebaker said
| to an Associated Press reporter tonight:
"When our men discharge themselves, they
| do what we never did by them Our works
| have been in operation for thirty-four years, and
| have never shut down except on legal holidays
| and for repairs We have never asked our men
| to work half time, always having believed it bet
| ter policy to pay dollar and a half
for days work than to pay dollar for half a
days work. We do not anticipate any serious
| trouble. A few of the men have decided to de-
mand an advand of % per cent, and have sue
| ceeded in inducing those inclined to be satisfied
| to 90 over with them. They hold meeting
tonight and may conclude to return on Monday
| morning"
| The employees sent a committee to the firm
| last Monday, making the demand mentioned.
| The firm decnned to grant the demand, but
| promised to review the situation personally with
1 thair audants and andaovor IN adinet a