Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-03-03

hope that this affair VIII moi |
cause general trouble in Springfield. (
TIIE rHE>~ uN THE SITUATION.
The wires were kept red hot with specials !,
going tn papers all over the country last +
night, on the great l"ck-outs. The Chicago !
Papers ordered full accounts of the affair. +
showing the great interest felt there in the
subject The Cincinnati papers Of this
morning report the situation fully. In ad-
dition to an interview with William y.
Whiteley, the Commercial GaLctte has the
following:
The widest excitement rcignS in this
city tonight over the labor situation. \
large force of Knights of Labor was dis
charged from the Fast Street Champion
Reaper Works tonight The number Of
men discharged is claimed by the men them
selves To he between 800 and 200. This
number with the 425 men discharged by
the Champion Malleahle Iron Works Satur-
day night, makes over one thousand men
thrown out ot employment dur
ing the past few days. The men
state that the fOremen in the shop
came Ia each man personally today and
asked him whether he was a Knight of
and his answer placed opposite to it. When
the time came for quitting work the Knights
of Labor were told that they were II" long
er needed. They were either paid off at
once or directed t0 call in the morning and
get their money. The men were daZed b!
this sudden move. which came upon all of
them like bUmbShell. 1t has been known
for some time that William y. Whiteley
has been dissatisfied with keeping the
Knights of Labor in his works, but it was
hardly believed that he would dismiss SIy-
eral hundred men i'll this summary manner.
The sin lodges of the Knights of Labor
held meetings at their halls tonight and dis
/ cuSSed the situation, but took no hnal ac-
tiOn. The order is very strong in this city,
numbering probably $500 men. If they
decide to draw all their men out of the
shops throughout the city the situation will
be- decidedly serious. There Is con-
I siderable excitement in the city to-
night. but no trouble or. violence
/ The situation of the Champion Malleable
. lockout remains the same. The men have
held open meetings all day. but there is no
prospect of a settlement. The prOprietOrs
will not take any Of the men who demanded
ten per cent advance back. and announced
their determination TO tll their places with
other men. 1t is rumUred that the East
street shops have concluded a contract with
the West End malleable shops for five hun
dred tons of malleable iron. Ii is also ru-
mOred that VIM. \. Whiteley said this
morning that there might BE- three thousand
men out of employment in Springfield by
! Saturday night.
The hotels were crowded tonight by men
talking over the situation. and the assembly
. hal of thu NIGHTS of | ahnr crowded
to sutfocation.
/ 1t had been intended To hold a business
mems meeting tonight 10 discuss the lock
out and suggest measures for a settlement
of the difficulties, but the news of the
wholesale discharge of the Knights pre-
vented
VIM. y. Whiteley, who is at the head of
the East street shop. is known aS the Reap
er King" The East street works are the
largest agricultural implement works in the
world. and cover many acres. The one
thousand men dismissed in the past two
I DAYS have no resources. and il Is feared that
sad deStitutiUn will soon result.
II the affair develops into general wal
between the Knights of Labor and the man
ufacturers, the conflict will be- a gigantic
one.
The other manufacturers take a hopeful
view of the matter. and believe there will
be no general strike in Springfield.
/ The Enquirer says:
Mr. Whiteley was asked tonight the
reason why the discharge of men was con
( fined almost, if not entirely, 10 the Knights
of Labor. His reply was that, from eXper-
/ fence in other cities. il seemed that their
/ course was one which often resulted in ter
ror intimidation and violence. and that he
1 mad preferred that none of his employees
should belong to that organization. 1t Is re-
ported that there were at least eight hundred
Knights Of Labor in the East street shops.
and that if they did not come out tonight
they probably will dO 50. and that the
trouble is likely now TO spread to other
large shops where hundreds Of the Knights
are employed.
The labor troubles are, of course, the
only topic of conversation i'll this city to-
night The scenes on the street all evening
are novelties here. Large crowds are seen
moving 10 and fro, who are ordinarily home
with their families. Knots of wOrkmen are
seen on almost every corner earnestly talk
! ing over the situation. while every one OF
/ the leading assembly rooms of the Knights
is crowded, with the Railways and sidewalks
full of the sturdy one thousand or more
workmen who suddenly find themselves
idle and the snow not Vet off the ground.
Everybody admits that the situation
i 4 very gloomy one, While
the Knights naturally feel very
sore over the summary proceedings,
they are conducting themselves with cred
table order. and the large meetings tonight
passed off with praiSewurthy quietude. OF
course the doors were strictly closed Ia out
Z IL ht- ,iar that M Hatipif.a AZ
tion was taken. and their case is now in the
hands of higher power in their order.
/ The opinion is freely expressed tonight that
/ the shops have their years work 80 far ad-
vanced that it is immaterial to them if they
. shut down tomorrow, and that this is really
the main reason for the startling action
taken With the immense facilities now
in the way of buildings tind machinery the
work is hustled out in a few months and
multitudrs of wuTkmen are compelled Ia
/ lie idle for several months, whereas in wears
gone by with smaller shops the men had
work about all the year round.
/ Orders were issued this morning in the
East street shops that ali the discharged
men be- allowed free run of the shop, and
the workmen still at work and the dis
charged men We're allowed 10 converse
freely together. The discharged men talked
with the hands already at work. and. it j.
said endeavored to persuade them Ia :,
nut. There has been no violence.
When GLOBE RErUTIIC reporter went
to the East street works this morning. the
surroundings presented no unusual appear.
ance. A number of men We're at work a>
usual. and much Of the machinery was
running.
John W Bookwalter was interviewed on
he situation and said Il never ask
one of my men whether they belong
to the Knights of Labor OF any
labor organization. and shall not do 50 in
the future. There has been no concerted
action 50 far a. know on the part of the
Springfield manufacturers Ia discharge
those of their hands who are Knights of
Labor. Many of the men in our works are