Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-06
THE COMPANY FIRM.
IT DECLINES TO CEASE USING LOCO
MOTlvE-WORKS CASTINGS.
Chesapeake and Ohio Machinists Learning
That There Is n Years Contract Grace
fully Continue mt Work.

There was rumor current on the streets
yesterday morning that tho machinists
employed at the Chesapeake and Ohio
shops had gone out on strike because ol
the refusal Of the management to discon-
tinue the use Of castings made at the Rich
mond Locomotive Works.
This report, though very far from beng
true, was not without foundation, as Is
shown by the correspondence printed be-
low, which was posted on the bulletin at
that establishment Thursday afternoon.
The first OF these letters, which was signed by
Master-Machinist T. s. Lloyd and addressed "to
shop employees" read as follows:
Genuemen-I this morning received from
Measrs. L. N. Waring, G. II. White, and y. 3
engaged az the eseventeenth-street shops, n letter
For your information. as deem Il Important
that you should all understand the status OF the
case, hereby furnish You with an exact copy ol
them.
In cases Of this character IL sometimes occurs
that both parties are grossly misrepresented
This method prevents H.
REQUEST PROM THE MEN.
The following Is the letter that M. Lloyd
speaks OF having received Thursday morning
from Messrs Waring, White, and Flood:
"Sir,-In view Of the fact that the Chesapeake
and Ohio Company are having castings made al
the Richmond Locomotive and Machine-Works
where there is q strike existing az present
brought on by the company placing cheap labor
IN competition with skilled labor, thereby
ignoring the apprentice system therefore, we
the undersigned committee representing the
machinists OF the Chesapeake and Ohio ma.
chlne-shop, do most respectfully ask that nc
further castings be secured from this firm while
this trouble Is in existence. As the moulders In
the LocoRotve-Works through sympathy TO the
apprentices quit work sooner than be required
10 sacrifice their principle as skilled mechanics
We as mechanists, being desrous OF uphOldine
our principle as men and advocating the ap
premiership system, do request that this, oui
petition, be granted; and while We do not wisf
20 place ourselves In the attitude of debating q
our employers where they shall have theiI
work done we consider that as union mer
and members OF the International Assocta
20 our fellow-men which We think Is Justly due
them by continuing 10 work on those castings
without acquainting you with the true facts II
the case. Again hoping that this matter may re
ceive your attention, and we be favored with M
early reply, We beg leave TO sign ourselves" &c
THE MASTER MECHANICS REPLY.
The reply Of the Master Mechanic, which was
approved by Mr.. William Garstang, superlnten'
dent OF motive power, was as follows:
"Gentlemen-Your Communication Of this date
has been duly read and the contents therein
carefully considered. For your information
peake and Ohio Railway Company made con
tract with the Richmond Locomotiye-WOrks fol
what castings they might need on the division
east Of Clifton Forge for tho year 1891. This
contract was made In good faith between the
two companies, and long before the trouble
between tho Richmond Locomotive Works
and its employees existed. This company
cannot under the terms OF the con-
tract ignore any part OF il without laying, Itself
liable 10 a lawsuit and considerable litigation
which It does not propose 70 do; therefore en-
phatcally decline 10 concedc TO your proposition
viz, disseminating the ordering Of castings from
tho Richmond LocomOtiye-Worka 80 far as
am able 10 learn, the affairs between this com-
pany and lts employees are working harm0ni-
ously. and earnestly desire that they contlnne.
would therefore advise you to consider fully the
subject you have brought up before taking any
action which you might afterwards regret
"And If any Of you, after fully considering
the companys side Of the case in connection
with your own, still feel that you are sacrificing
principle by remaining In the service your re.
signation would then Of course be in order"
DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
The foregoing reply was perfectly satisfactory
"a the machlnists, OF whom there are seventy
five employed at the shops.
The result was letter written TO Mr.. Lloyd By
the men, stating that they wero not previously
aware that there was n contract between the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and the company, and thai
n they had known Of IL the request would moi
have been made.