New-York tribune., 1886-05-05
SOME OF r. HOE & CO.'S MEN STRIKE.

srx Kindred MACHINIsrs WANT FEWER HOCRs
AND MORE PAY-NO TROUBLE FEABED
The machinists in the employ OF K. Hoe Il
Co. OF No. 50I Grandst the weil-kuown manufacturers
Of printing presses went strike at noon yesterday
They number about 600 and boys aud include
about two.tbirds OF the in the firms employ Ihs
men did not make their wishes known before str king and
thar action WAS III the nature OF surprise 10 the nrns
who had o anticipated anything Of tue xn During ths
fifty years that this firm has been In business the men
have only quit work on strike, ana then tey h
no grievances stopped work because they wer' or
dered by the committee OF tue aO'r ORGANIZE
ton TO which they belonged. THIS was fourteen years
AGO and not the sign Of complaint has ben seen IN ths
large shops since
The men held a meeting at l u. and nearly ali the
employees in the machine shops were present Inc pat
ernmakers aud the foundymen have not Joined in tho
strike. A COMMITTEES Of the worknen was appohtea ~
wait upon Richard NJ Hoe aud state the position
which thew had taken. They also were III COM
vun,caton with the Central Labor Union. and
a committee from tho union attended tho
meeting and sent to the Hoe Company ohces Do
fore the committee OF workmeD went Mr. Hoe met the
Central Labor Union representatives cordially. pus
FIRMLY insisted that they in his employ ana that
he did not see how he could have any business dealings
with them They persisted the attempt to gain reco.
nition but Mr. Hoe told them that lie would deal with
the workmen any time they might appear during bnsi-
ness hours and II there anything 70 ADJUST that was
reasonable he would adjust II with them. When tho
committee OF working came they were taken into
the private office OF Mr. Hoe. They stated that they
the striking workmen and had authority -
make any arran cement which could De mutt uay agreed
upon They demanded reduction OF the working hours
10 utne day also increase In wages ropOtionate
TO the pay OF each Individual Tho discussion "hcn
followed friendly aud frank on ooth soes. aht w
Hoe agreed to grant them the decrease IN tine number o
working hours. There split on the question OF
wages, The wages OF q number OF the machihlss
wcre increased during the last month voluntarily
nv the firm The position taken by Mr Hoe was hnsL
Jie stated that he would deal with every man inividi
ailv and personally but would not make any arrange
ments with them In body II II was believed that
man's ability entitled him TO an Increase IN wage, s
would be given, but there would be no general "hoe-
sal raise. The committee OF workmen went away sat-
isded that the fam Is willing to act fairly by them
several OF the workmen were seen by IkiBtNE re-
porte. and said they satisfied with thcr pay,
and only because they were forced to ana soa
mot bear the terrible Of "scab." IL - probabe
that an agreement will be reached today Mr. Hoe s,
10 the reporter tho workmen who had gone out were
an unusually intelligent body OF men aud were asposeo
TO he entirely reasonable IL had always been the hr
practice treat the men fairly and they have been told
II they had any fault rd. to come 10 headquarters
and il would listened to and corrected II necessary
lie ed on therntegence not TO nJure the business
in any way Times being dull tho nrn WAS Wiling u
grant the decrease In hours Mr. Hoe was pleased "a
stafe that tho machinsts engaged IN moving several
large plants the city had not been called on by tns
| workInen who had struck.