Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-20
.FORTY-EIGHT HOURS.
Machinists Desire a Reply to Their
Petition in That Time.
sIXTY-THREE SHOPS CONCEDED.
Pittsburg Capital Invested to Make Tin
> Plate Machinery.
LOCAL KNIGHTS OF LABOR THRIVING

An important move was made in the
machinists' strike, yesterday, which is ex,
pected to result favorably to the men to-
morrow. A committee representing the
Executive Board of the strikers conferred
with the shop committees at both the ALLIE.
gheny Airbrake and Union Switch and
Signal plants, and succeeded in getting
them to present petitions to their respective
superintendents, asking for shorter hours,
the answer to be given not later than Thurs
day morning.
Should the answers of the companies be
unfavorable it is said the men will strike.
This plan was adopted in order to strength
en- the position of the machinists, who say
the fight is won for them if their people will
remain firm. Chairman Kirk, of the Execu-
tive Committee, said that 63 shops are now
working nine hours on ten hours pay, and
the Pittsburg Bridge Company conceded the
demands of the men yesterday, to take ef-
feet September l. About the only firms that
hold out against concession are the Lewis
Foundry and Machine Company, Oliver &
Roberts, the National Tube Company, the
Pittsburg Plate Glass Company and the
Fisher Foundry and Machine Company.
ALL IN GOOD SPIRITS.
A meeting of the strikers was held in
Lafayette Hall in the afternoon. 1t was at
tended by several hundred, and all ap-
peared to be in good spirits. 1t was re-
ported at the meeting that the petitions had
been presented in both cases. The men re-
newed their determination to stand firm for
their demands. Another meeting may be
held tonight. tits not expected that much
of importance will develop until after the
result of the petitions is known. Whether
or not the employesof the airbrake company
will demand shorter hours is a matter Of
considerable speculation, although the rules
of the various organizations to which the
machinists belong require them to come out
if called upon to do so.
Chairman Kirk said a great number of
the employees of the Allegheny shops are not
proficient mechanics, and that they might
oppose any move that would possess pos
sible tendency to throw them out of work.
They make from So TO "a 30 per day and
they are not required to be skilled in any
but one branch of the business. 1t is for
the workingmen that gets but 81 30 to 81
per day that the fight is being made now,
but the fact, as stated by the companies, that
many of the employees are members of no Or
ganization and that new men can be found
who can in short time familiarize them
selves with the business, places the com
panies in better position than either the
Westinghouse Electric or Machine Com
panies.
IT MADE HIM LAUGH.
Chairman Kirk laughed at the report
that 250 men are at work at the electric light
plant, and said the men at work there, in
cluding foreman and clerks, only number IL.
Mr.. Kirk was also somewhat amused at the
report that Mr.. Westinghouse would re-
move his electric plant to New Jersey in
preference to granting the demands of the
men. 1.-THE machinists all over the coun-
try are watching u.s." said he, "and
whether we are successful or not Mr.. West
inghouse could not get cheaper labor In
New Jersey than he can here. If we win,
then the movement will spread all over the
shorter hours will be made"
An effort was made to learn what reply
the Air Brake and Union Switch and Sig
nal Companies would make to the petitions
of their men, but nothing definite could be
gained. The striking employees of the Fuel
Gas Company will hold a special meeting
this morning at o'clock.