The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-03
BOTH SIDES FIRM.
4 TALK WITH MILL OWNERS.


There were but few Developments in the
strike Of the mill men yesterday. The
strikers showed . solid front and did not
80 near the factories at al. They claimed
that nearly all the machine and bench
hands in Ill the Woodworking factories in
the city were out, with the exception Of
those employed in r. W. Woodaman' B and
McCombs 4 Buchanan's factories. In
those shops the demands Of the men were
acceded to before the strike occurred and
they continued ct their posts. The strikers
claim that there are over $50 men out
altogether, but the mill owners fx the
number ct about half Of that. Judging
from the attendance ct the meeting Of the
union last night and the night before, the
number viii approach l50
Most Of the larger factories were Grip
pied 80 that they could do but little yes
terday. and the Rainier mill was shut
down altogether, but all claimed that they
had sufficient men engaged to run on Mon
day, and expressed , determination to
hold out. They claim that the strike il
unwarranted. a. trade Il bad and the mills
can barely keep running and pay the
former scale Of wages.
Edwin Louderback, president, and Rich
ard N. Hurd, treasurer, of the Mechanics
Mill and Lumber Company, said: "Seven-
teen of our sixty-five men walked out and
We paid them of. OF those who remained
number are union men. Yesterday
We hired ell the men we want, and have
. full crew for Monday. It seems
to M that . most inopportune time has
been chosen for beginning the strike. for
few Of the mills were making money, and
tho main object in keeping them going is
to hold the men together and pull through
until the market is little livelier. At
this time any OF the mills could shut down
without suffering any serious loss. All
our contracts for material to be supplied to
tingencies as this, 50 We could not be
crowded."
One Of the officers Of the Western Mil
Company was seen, and said that about
twenty men had quit and the company i'm
tended to discharge them; that there were
plenty of men ready to take their places.
The strikers complain bitterly of the
treatment the employees Of the Mechanics
Mill and Lumber Company received FRI
day. They claim that four of the union
men were discharged in the morning on
the ground that they were ''agitators" and
that this was done to frighten the others,
but that it had the opposite effect, and
several men who contemplated remaining
walked out for that reason alone; in addi-a
ton to this. notice was posted in the.
factory to the effect that any man quitting
before the regular time should take his
tools and stay away; that nearly all tho
machine and bench hands struck, and that
each man, as he passed out, was given .
time check not payable until May TO- They
seem to think that this company is chiefly
responsible for the refusal Of all the other
companies to concede the demands.
Another large meeting Of the strikers
Was held last night and it was reported
that nearly all the men in the Pacific
Manufacturing Company's factory struck
yesterday at noon, and the Skookum
Manufacturing Company contem plated
the establishment Of an eight-hour day.
In this factory the men work by the
piece, 20 Il makes but little difference to
the company.
The sentiment at the meeting last night
was In favor Of remaining firm to the end.
The union passed resolution thanking
F. w. Woodaman for his fair considera-
ton Of the demands.
The status of the painters strike was
unchanged yesterday. The union held
another meeting last night and the
strikers expressed determination to,
hold out for their demands. They think
the meeting Tuesday evening with tho
bosses may result in an understanding
being arrived ct.