Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-31
THE STRIKERS FIRM.
THEY HAVE A LARGE MEETING AND
RECEIVE OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE.
Many Getting Work Away from Here
New Hands Coming-Brickisyeu
to Join the Union.

to Join the Union.
One hundred and seventy-two OF the
locomotive Works strikers answered to
roll-call in their meeting at 0dd-Feilows'
Hall yesterday morning.
The session, which lasted for several
hours, was perhaps the most satisfactory
one yet held.
The men were cheerful and confident.
having especial cause for encoursgement
in the matter of finances. The Committee
on Ways and Means reported that they had
collected fifty dollars IN cash yesterday
morning before going INTO the meeting'
They had also received several checks,
some of them for quite snug sums.
The chairman also stated that members
of the committee had been approached oy
public men and the friends of such and
asked to whom the contributions should
be handed. This information. which Il IS
understood, was sought chiefly by those
representing gentlemen desirous OF politi-
cal preferment. either now or hereafter,
was promptly given.
Asa whole they said their finances are in
better condition than at any time since
the beginning of the strike.
ARE NOT wEAKEsINo.
Members of the Press Committee and
others of the strikers ridicule the idea that
any OF their number have weakened or feel
at all so inclined. They assert their de-
termination to fight the matter ont on the
line of the principle which caused them to
| leave the works.
There were no weakened men at tho
works on Saturday" said a member OF tho
committee. Those whom the DIsPATcH
| reporter saw seeking an interview with
Mr.. Davis wanted to see him about mis-
| takes made in the amounts due them or
| on some other business. Not one of them
wanted him TO take them back. In our
meeting his morning every man present
was firm, and we know that none are
| giving in"
WOULD NOT 90 THERE.
Tho strikers have gotten an idea that
| the company has been advertising tor men
| as the Davis Company. There was at their
meeting Yesterday, they say, q German
who came down from Midlothian TO accept
n place in the macnine-shops. He had
even had boarding place engaged for
| him. He could not speak English at all,
| but TO some of the workmen who under
stand German he said that he came here
expecting to go to the DAVIS works, ana
|
occurred.
The men think similar misunder-
standing accounts for the number or ap-
plications for work received by MIR. Davis,
and that as soon as the operatives from
elsewhere learn that they are 10 take the
place of striking union-men they will re-
! fuse to go to work. Members OF the
| Local Committee also said they were IN re-
| ceipt of information TO the effect that one
or moie of tho railroad companies are
| lending the works q helping hand IN the
matter of securing hands to fill the
strikers places.
SORRY HE DIDN'T STRIKE.
| Ono of the two union boiler-makers who
refused TO 90 out Saturday rose in meet
ing Yesterday morning and said he was
sorry he had not done so. He then asked for
and obtained permission TO remain in at
| tendance on the meeting. giving. ms
assurance that he was now one OF the
| strikers.
One of the machinists in speaking to Z
DISPATCH reporter yesterday said that one
of his fellow-workmen had gotten q situa.
ton at Sparrow Point. Nd, and had
written back that Jobs were open there fol
| q number of men. Several of the me-
chnists have gone to work at Newport
News.
A committee of strikers, including two
of the Press Committee, expect TO go &c
Philadelphia tomorrow. They will re.
turn saturday.
| The men say that as soon as they struck
they published a statement of the facts II
the case in the leading labor papers, anc
that therefore union people Will not ID
| likely to come here to work.
MB. DAVIS coNTBADICrs.
General Manager Davis was questioned
Yesterday afternoon by representative o
| this paper as to the correctness OF the fore
| going facts. most of which he denied
| Things were rather quiet at the works, h'
said, owing to the fact that most OF th'
operatives were taking an Easter Monday
holiday. He explained that he did not un
| derstand the tenor of the Dispatch man'i
question Saturday when he asked hin
how work was going on?" His reply
was, "The same as when you were las
here" Tuesday.
This was construed by the reporter &c
mean that the same number OF hands wer'
at work as on Tuesday.
Mr. Davis says the idea he intended u
convey was that there was no suspension d
operations.
There has not been. he affirms, day
since the beginning Of the strike that h'
has not taken on new men.
| THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS.
There was not, he positively asserted
| any truth in the statement that he was ad
| vertising for new men under the name o
the Davis Locomotive-W Works: All OF th'
lads" bore the signature OF the hichnoht
LOCOMOTIVES Works. What may have lee
TO the impression was the fact that in re-
plying to applications for work he wrot'
on the comDanys letter-heads and signed
| his name as general manager.
| As to the Chesapeake and Ohio snop
getting workmen for his company, DIR
Davis disclaimed all knowledge OF an
| such transaction.
BRIBfD TO LEAVE.
During the course of his conversation
Mr. Davis said he was sure that two Of th'
moulders who had come to work for hin
lsst week had been bought off by tn
strikers TO leave. While not absolutely
certainly of it, Mr.. Davis claimed that Their
was no doubt in his mind on that score.
Mr.. Davis said he was steadily receivin!
applications from mechanics who wanted
work. A good many had come and ther
would in all probability have been NOR
of them but for the fact that they wer
afraid of the strikers.
Answer to Guide Rod"
Yesterday the DISPATCH was requested b.
the Press Committee to publish the follow
ing:
Il is very evident that he who signs him
self Guide Rod" IN referring to tn
strike at the Richmond Locomotive an'
! Machine Works, does not know exactl.
what he is writing about. Had he troubles
himself to have read the. manifesto re
Gently published in our leading daily 9TH
DIspATcH) by the strikers he would b
slightly conversant with the. facts o
the case. and on this subject hi
pen would be silent. That there /
no similarity between the tea-ta
case of Revolutionary days and the presen
instance is apparent to every one who
even ordinarily blessed vita intelligence
"Guide Rod" leaves the impression tina
he Is a Richmond man and q mechanic
| Might we inquire to what extent he is &C
ouainted with similar institutions In tn
North?
LIMITED EXPERIENCE.
1--WE are of the opinion that the experienc
of this writer is limited in regard to thes'
matters. -,
| {. prt tba cIarnor of tha leaders and th