Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-26
BOTH HOLDING OUT.
NEITHER COMPANY NOR STRIKERS
SHOW SIGNS or YIELDING.
The Men Independent and offered Work
Elsewhere--sympathy and Assistance
Given-some Statements Made


There was no decided change in the
status Of affairs yesterday at the Richmond
Locomotive and Machine Works.
As on Tuesday operations were going on
in desultory manner. but the usual vim
and hustle was lacking.
SO far only the machinists, moulders,
and carpenters have struck. hut it is
thought that the operatives in other de-
partments will take the advice OF the
Trades Council and go out unless conces-
sions are made by the company before oa'-
urday noon.
THE sTBrKERs MEEr.
The machinists. moulders, and carpen-
ters who had quit work met at 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning. Exactly how many
were present could not be sscertained, as
the room was so full and there was so
much moving around that they could, not
be counted, but there we're over two nun
dred.
The Vigilance Committee reported that
no new men had gone TO work during the
preceding twenty-fOur hours.
Several hours were spent in discussing
details. financial and otherwise.
The Finance Committee stated that they
had a good fund on hand received from
the various unions, which would be DIS
trlbuted among such of the men as need
ed il.
Statement in Regard to 8Ir. Hansford.
The PreSS Committee submitted the fol-
lowing statement, which was unanimously
approved. As will be seen from ITS tenor,
1t was prepared IN behalf of the machinists:
IAN interview has been reported IN recent
Issue of tho DISPATCH In regard 70 Mr.. uansloru'
In which he claims % have worked at the Dusl-
ncss nearly four years. BY investigation we
found that in November or December, 1887, Mr..
Hansford was employed on the night-gang ~ the
Chesapeake and Ohio shops as laborer az the
rate oi 81 per day His duties were 70 sweep
the shop and do such laboring work as he was
called upon 10 do. lie continued In that capa'
city for from four 20 six months. About this time
the night-gang was taken on and Sr. bansioru
was employed In the same capacity on the DAY
force until the following winter when tho nlghl
work was resumed. MIR. Hansford went on night
work again in the same capacity OF shop-sweepei
and labOrer. At this time a laborer was boring
car wheels, which Is the class OF WORK designated
by the writer In yesterdays IImes anu stat'
who signs himself " Fair Play" When II 40 hap
pened that this man was absent for d night Mr.
Hansford was put In his place.
PICKED Up LITTLE.
ale continued to run this machine when this
man was out, and I'm this way picked up little o
the rough part of the business. When this man
q labOrer himself left the shop, Mr.. liansiord
was put In charge Of the machine. About thls
time some Of the machinery was brought IRON
the Richmond and Allegheny shops to the Chesa'
peake and Ohio: among this lot being an axe
lathe. Mr.. Hansford was put in charge OF TINS
machine, II being n laborers work: he rai
this machine until he left for tho locoino
tive works, where he was assigned
similar work. Tc this the men did not object
but when he was placed On machine run by
mechanic the men objected, It being fact thai
be spoiled most Of the work and 10 coming 10 th'
skilled men for further work caused untold IN
conveniences and expense.
This statement can be youched Tor by every
mechanic working at the Chesapeake and OhiC
shops, and the Richmond Locomotive and Ma
chine-Works, notwithstanding the statement tC
the contrary.
"scABs" NOT EMPIoYED.
"Thls samo Fair Play says that IT is custom
airy to put lnDOrers on mechanics work. we car
say from personal experience, having worked II
the largest shops In the country, that they do II
no instance employ 'scabs' 10 do machinsts
work. 1t would greatly depreciaio the merits o.
the goods manufactured by the firm doing this
The statement made by Fair Play that the up
holding by mechanics Of their principles VII
keep and drive away capital Is absurd, as caI
readily be seen.
ain all successful shops in the country there
exists a healthy rivalry among the mechanics II
regard TO the excellence Of work done: 80 It 4
apparent that this Is point In favor OF the non
concession Of the management"
The Moulders Mako an Explanation.
It being understood that there was con
siderable disposition to criticise the actor
of the moulders in going out tho following
from the same source as the former state
ment wns submitted 10 the meeting anC
endorsed without dissenting vote:
Some six or eight months ago tho Richmond
LOCOMOTIVES and Machine-WOrks engaged th'
81 -.
the entire works. Il has been his boast since rs
suming control Of the works that no would no
necognIze trades unions Of any kind, and that h'
had broken the backbone Of the hachinis.s
Union I'm Richmond and that he would do th'
same with the mOulders. Matters worked salts
factorily enough with the mOulders until three OF
four weeks ago, when n grievance was hled by 2
brother workman In our shop. a committee wal
appointed to Inquire into the AFFAIR
WOULD KICK THEM OUT
This committee called Oh the foreman the neZ
day TO talk the matter over, and not getting AM
satisfaction told him the foreInan) that they
would call the next day to SEQ Mr.. Davis. H'
thc fOreman) told them 10 would be useless TO go
az Mr.. Davis had said TO him that he would kici
any committee Of union-men out OF his ofilce.
The committee continued 20 investigate th'
grievance as best IL could, so as u
be able to make a report ON the cas'
In manner that would be Just Z
all parties. Before the committee conld hnisf
their investigation MI. DdNls MAUI HiF Win tu'
machinists by putting labOrer on one OF the
lathes. When asked TO remove him he positive
" refused 10 do 30 and told the committee
"they were barking up the wrong tree The
machnists left the works at once. our union
l. g., the MOulders Union, No. 12S-was waited
upon by the committee from tho Machinists
Union asking US to assist them in their strug
gle for right and union principles.
HELPED THEIR FELL0w-w0RKNES.
"Their appeal was listened to with great dea
OF interest and sympathy. A resolution was i'm
mediately passed TO assist our struggling brother
by refusing 70 make castings 20 be fitted up by
sscabs' who might be employed 10 take theil
places. On going 10 work Monday several scabs
were found IN the machtne-Shops- In accordance
with the resolutions passed at our meeting
the committee was appointed TO ask Mr.
Davis 10 remove the 'scahs,' which h(
positively refused to do. Knowing that ht
had instructed our former foreman TO WORE
cheap hands on certain classes OF our work, th'
question was asked him, Is II your Intention II
the future 10 put laborers or nnskilled men II
places OF skilled mechanlcs! His reply was tna
he considered the query very impertinent, anC
he declined TO answer u. On being asked tn'
question a second time ne said he claimed TN
privilege 10 work whom no chose. He also sait
he would run the shop in any manne
he thought proper regardless Of any union or IL
laws. The committee having called au the mould
ers in the shop 10 listen 10 his talk and hndinI
him not willing 20 accede 20 the slightest term
of concession, quit the shop at once, TO re
main out till the matter was adjusted To the sat
isfaction OF the men.
Work at Newport News
What the machinists regard as one o
the most favorable developments in th'
case" said one of them yesterday, u
that several of their number have secured
positions with the Newport News Dry-Docl
and Steamship Company. which mad as
sured delegation from Richmond that II
three weeks they will be able to give em
ployment to all of the skilled machlnist
who are on the strike"
Very few of the men," continued tn
DISPATCH informant. will draw any none.
from the relief fund. All have a right Z
| do so, but only those who need the assist
ance will be likely to accept 1t. Quite
number of the machinists, in fact the ma
| jority of them, are independent. Most
them can get work and then there ar
many who have accumulated snug littl
| fortunes and will not come 10 want IL the.
never work another day.
mot few of them own property, AM
strange as it may seem. one OF the me-
| who up TO last Thursday worked steadll
at his machine every day is worth 500 ,OOc
| These are not exactly the same KIND
men that Mr.. Davis has been used TO deal
ing with in the past"
The men say that they appointed com
mittee to ask Mr.. Davis If he would o
willing to submit the whole matter &
arbitration, and that a negative answe
was given them.