Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-21
STRIKING IRONY
BETWEEN 500 AND 600 OPERATIVES
WITH THEIR HANGS IDLE.
The Vulcan Employees Insist Upon Two
Pay-Days Per Month-The Looomo-
tive-woris sraehiplsts Endorsed.

toIy arrangement WITH tber ineu TeBhiu-
ING the frequency of pay-days.
1t seems that from the time these works
started until last December the men were
paid monthly. AZ that time the workmen
made demand for fortnightly payments
and this was acccded TO.
For several months past there has been
a marked depression in the iron trade, ana
The vulcan people along with others IN the
bus ness found themselves becoming over
stocked rais cOEpanY. while doing q
general iron business. such as casting,
moulding, and the Ike, make specially oi
bolts OF various kinds.
PAID MONTHLY.
Understanding that it was the custom Of
Others in the same line to pay only once
month, tho management of the company
last Wednesday notified the employees
that they would. in view OF the fact that
they We're simply running 10 keep the men
al work, return t. their old plan OF
monthly payments during the dull season.
They told them, however, that any time
the men needed money they could have 1t
advanced.
The company also informed the men that
unless tho arrangement was satisfactory 70
them they would shut down thursday
picht.
About O'Clock Thursday tho employees
held q meeting. aud after brief session
decided that they would not agree TO the
change and appointed q committee, con-
sisting OF Nessrs. A. q. MGyes. James Gray,
and +. Il. PHILIPPE, to inform the manage
ment Of that fact.
The committee performed its mission
and that night the works shut down.
The company has such "A large stock Of
manufactured goods on hand TINT stop
page of some time would N no Wise affect
them.
There were forty or fifty colored hands
employed az laborers and helpers. The
operatives will be paid of to-day and i
may be that an adjustment of the dlt-
ference can be accomplished.
The Works Strike.
The machine shops at the locomotive
works We're comparatively idle yesterday
only the laborors and apprentices being at
WORK.
When the night shift OF machlnists came
on Thursday evening and learned Of the
strike Of the day force portion of them
declined TO 90 to work.
AZ 3 O'Clock yesterday afternoon the
striking machiuists held a meeting at Odd
Fellows Hall. corner Of Mayo and franklin
streets. There were in attendance about
leo mon. and the proceedings were of an
extremely business-like character.
q committee was appointed to furnish 2
DDpAIcI reporter who WAS present such
information rs was desired and discharged
Their duty very cOurteuusly.
Besoluhons were drafted. in which the
men declared their intention Of standing
up 70 what thev bad done They appeared
perfectly satisfied with the status of affairs
AM pos lyeiy asserted that they would
make 10 oycrtures.
The committee appointed Thursday
morning 60 lay the complaint OF the Ope-
Tatyts before General-AIanager Davis, who
declined 70 accede 10 their demand tbBi
hr. Hansford be taken from the machine
that he had been placed in charge Of. was
continued and empowered 70 consider an)
proposals that might be made by the man
asement. n
TAEgS TO TIE UNION.
r was also decided to bring the strike tC
the attention of Richmond Lodge. No. 10
National Association of Machini3ts, anC
Thus make an union ngtter OF what hac
previously been simply a shop Giiair in
yolviug principle.
fir. Hansford, who Wnsthe indirect caus,
OF the strike. was, the men say. taken ron
an aXle-lathe and put on an engine. IheJ
did not openly object % his running tht
former. which requires no great degree o
skill in its manipulation, but strenuOusly
opposed his operating the latter machine
which demands the most skilful manage
ment Of any IN tho hop.
The men declared that they had eXer
cissd a great deal Of fcrbearance in con
seutlng to work alongside of non-unio-
hands. which they say shows no spirit Of
captiOusuess on their part.
THE STREE ENDORSED.
A committee OF three. representing the
strikers. brought the case TO the attention
Of the Machnists' Union at the meeting
held in Odd-Fellows' Hall last night, and
after hearing the statement Of facts the
organization, by q unanimous vote, adODt
ed q resolution endorsing the course OF the
wCrkmen and promising them the cordial
sympathy and assistance OF the union.
The machnists will have another meet
inc next Monday morning at 10 O'Clock
The probabilities are that If some recon
citation is not effected by that time q
large portion Of them, who are northern
end western men. will make arrangements
for obtaining work elsewhere. About
twO-thirds Of the machinists came here
from the North aud West.
The understanding Of the machinists is
that the action OF the Richmond Union IN
endorsing the strike binds the National
Union. which having about 5000 members,
can render considerable financial support
if needed.
wRiE GOING OUT ANYHOW.
General Manager Davis, of the Locomo.
tive Works, last night said there was nc
decided change in the state OF affairs at
those works from the preceding evening.
During the day he had succeeded IN get
ting several new hands about half a
dozen-and he understood that others
were coming from the North and West.
II speaking Of the action Of portion OF
the night-shift in returning home Ihurs-
day night Mr. Davis stated that the men
WHO quit work then were 70 have lett yes
terday anyhow, and that the force at work
last night was exactly the same rs it would
have been had there been 10 strike.
Belle Isle Men still Ont.
Mr.. John ID. Baird. assistant superin.
tendent Of the Old Dominion IRON and
NaiLWorks. said last night in converse
tion with DISPATCH reporter that nothing
had been done by his company IN regard
to the puddlers who withdrew from the
works last Saturday.
We are so situated" said he, that we
can afford to wait for the men, as we have
an abundance Of material on hand, which
we were LAYING up for tho summer when
the weather is too warm for the operatives
For some reason the puddlers here do not
seem 20 have been able 70 gain any infor-
nation regarding the action taken by the
Harrisburg Pa operatives, and l suppose
they are waiting TO get news from them.
THERE Is NO COLLISION.
Hr. Baird, who Is a man Of great expe-
rience and thoroughly understands the
situation in the iron market, said tnat ne
did not think the strikes here were caused
by a collusion. Each body Of operatives
who had stopped work had their own grie-
vences, or supposed grievances, and there
did not seem to have been any concert Oh
action between the workmen at the dlher
ent Establishments.
The puddlers at the Belle Isle Nail,
Works, be said. were stcnding somewhat
IN their own Light by stopping work while
they were waiting for the news from lar.
risburg. as nothing could be gained by
this.
no CONCESSIONS MADE.
When asked whether the company hac
made any concessions 70 the puddlers Mr.
Baird said that they certainly had not, anc
that matters now stood inst as they diC
last Wednesday when the reporter VISITED
the island.
Mr. Arthur b. Clarke. president Of the
Old Dominion Iron and Nall Works, - nov
out Of tine city on business, though II II
not known that his trim has any references