Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-04
SAN FRANCISCO STRIKE.
over Eight Hundred Ironmolders Walk
Ont of tho Iyoundr;as

SAN FRANCISCO, March 3d.-The expected
strike of the Ironmolders' Union in this city oc-
CURED this morning, and between 800 and 1000
men are out of employment. The number of
men who have stopped working does not in
clude molders entirely, but leborers and case
makers who are dependent upon the molders
for their livelihood. The cause of the iron
molders' strike is due to the fact that they
passed certain laws limiting day IS work TO so
many hours, limiting the amount of work to be
done in that time, and also regulating the ap-
prentice system. The Engineers and Foundry
mems Association refused TO concur in the views
taken by the Union. Renee the walk-out and
the beginning of struggle. which. when mar
rowed down, means the destruction of either
the Onion or the Association. Each side is con-
fdent that it can come out on top and 1t is diff
cult to tell how long the struggle will last.
The molders are backed by strong forces, and
President Valentine when spoken to this morn
ing, stated that he had not a fear in the world
of any of the men becoming backsliders. He
candidly admitted that the personal relations
of employers and employees was not disturbed in
the least, and the strike was TO solve the ques-
tion as to which organization was the stronger.
1t is not quite clear where the strike will stop.
and if the trouble is not settled in some way in
a short time it will undoubtedly involve every
small machine shop in the city and cause sus
pension of work in those places that require
castings to be made by the foundries engaged in
the difficulty
The foundries involved in the trouble number
fourteen, as follows: Union Iron Works, Pacific
Rolling Mills, Lewis & O Connell, Golden State
and Miners Iron Works. Pacific Iron Works,
National Iron Works, Fulton Iron Works, Byron
Jackson, Garratt's Foundry, Industrial Foundry,
Occidental Foundry, Kisdon Iron Works, and
the Vulcan Foundries, and 2.
Many of the proprietors of the foundries were
in attendance at their works to-day. and when
asked for a statement as to how many men were
involved by the walk.out readily gave the de-
sired figures if they could be obtained, and
talked freely upon the situation as 1t exists
to- o-day. The general opinion was that 1t would
lNaf oil
the abolishing OF dictatory rules that give the
Union all the say and the proprietors little, if
any.
Mr.. Cantrell of the National Works, in recly
to questions, said You ask me what we intend
to do? l know what l shall do and that is,
stand by the Association. The Union has kept
forcing us until we have been crowded to the
wall and we can go no further; and we intend
to remain in that position with open claws. l
have submitted time and again to the demands
OF the Union, ard / am unable to do so any
longer. If the fight holds out shall be found
on the side of the Association. The demands OF
the Union are not fair. 1t is simply case of
might against right. They had us in their
power and commenced to tighten their grasp
until now they desire TO strangle u.s. and we do
not propose to sanction the carrying out of that
programme. Personally, l have no enmity to-
ward any molder whatever, and l do not be
lieve any member of the, Association in this
struggle has, but we have enmity for the Union;
that is, if we can exist and crush them we will
do it. On the other hand, If they can live and
break us down they will do it. That is the
whole situation. 1t is not question of wages.
but we do not think that when the Union says
we shall not exact fair days work for fair
days pay then it is unjustly assuming as right
that which is wrong"
On the different corners in the vicinity of the
foundries the molders were gathered in small
groups, discussing the situation. they were all
very orderly, and readily discussed their side of
the struggle, and asked that the newspapers
give them equally as fair show as the side of
the Association. Every one of them had a
pleasant word to say for the proprietors of the
shops in which they bad formerly worked,
and would quickly go back if the stand of the
Union is acknowledged to be Just.
A meeting of the Foundrymen's Association
will be held this evening and some definite
action taken regarding what shall be done.
Some of the members OF the Association are in
favor of sending all work East and having the
casting done there and shipped out here, and
others believe in securing as many intelligent
boys as possible and apprenticing them to the
molders trade.
This evening at Irish-American Hall. on How
srd street, a special meeting of the Union will
be held to consider matters of importance con-
nected with the present difficulty and which
the Executive Committee do not ieel at liberty
to take upon themselves to perform.
Already the Union has placed their men about
the different shops, III the hope of preventing
any persons who may desire to go to work from
accepting ii in any of the shops that belong to
the FOundrymen's Association