The Newtown bee., 1892-08-05
The Rubber Strike.

!
 The Rubber Co. introduced new time
 check system, to commence August l.
 The old way was for the foreman to set
 down the time on time sheet, which IS
 considered behind the times, as nearly all factories through the country now nave
 this check system, or one similar, Tor
 keeping time and, it is such a simple
 matter, that it was foolish for the men to
 strike before giving it trial. Saturday
 afternoon, the checks were put into each
 department for the men to take home
 with them, so as to commence this sys-
 tenn, Monday morning. Before all the
 cases containing the cheeks were distrib-
 uted, the men quit work and went out of
 the factory on the green, about $50 in
 all. A committee went into the office, to
 Mir Campbell, just before the whistle
 blew and stated that the men refused to
 take the checks. Mir Campbell informed
 the men that he could not do anything
 for them that Mir Jones had given or ders to start the system, August l and
 that he should do his part. Mir Jones
 was llAol uiGo Ol oHC SIttC oA ahdiIo Uy
 telegraph, Saturday night. The assist ant manager, Mir Townsend, came up, Sunday night and was at the factory, early Monday morning. The checks, ar ranged in their cases, were brought from each department to the entrance gate, ready for the men to take and go to work. The men were congregated out side the yard and were informed that they could not go to work without using the cheeks. They refused to go to work and, in little while, all went back to the Hook. As they passed the upper factory they called out all the men there,
 who were at work, as the system had not then been put in at that factory.
 MT Jones was telephoned to that the
 men would not use the system and he sent word that he would be up on the evening train and would meet a commit
 tee from the strikers at s o'clock, Mon- day night. at the factory. The commit tee met Mir Jones as agreed and stated thought that the system of checking en- croached on their time. The checking during the noon hour, when they quit work and again when they went to work after dinner and at night after the whis- tie blew, when they passed out, was on their time and they thought that the company had no right to insist on their doing this on their time, as they stated it. Mir Jones authorized the committee to tell the men that the company was now large corporation with number of factories, having recently added two more factories in the West, one at Cleve- land and another at Chicago, which were called the Cleveland and Chicago Rub bers. They were obliged to keep up with the times here. The method by one and the new system was being used in other factories. They had got to try it here. He said that it was not his wish, nor intention, to infiict any hardship, or ask anything unreasonable, of the men and that he was surprised in their action in so simple matter as this. He thought they did wrong to themselves and great injury to the factory in this place, in not giving it thorough trial first. He also stated that the desire of the company was to extend the business West, rather than in the East, but that he had always favored Sandy Hook factory and had kept them busy here in dull times and had reduced the help at the other fac tory. He had always given the standard work here and had taken the transient had homes of their own, had heretofore | been very reasonable and had given very little trouble. He has recently discharg- ed over 200 hands from the Passaic fac tory. The committee said that they would report to the men what he said, but that they could not answer for them noon, the men all came down, gathered on the corner near the barn and ,t committee again went to see MT Jones, saying that the men were willing to try it and check in the morning and at night, but not at noon. Mir Jones said that it was no use and that the men must try it as first intended, if they went to work, to give it good trial. They would lose no time in so doing and, if they found unreasonable, if they came to him, he would make it right. The con- mttee went back to the men and, in a lit tie while, they returned, stating that they had induced the men to try the sys- tenn for three weeks and that the majority of the men were in favor of going to work, although there were few very much against it. All hands returned to work, Wednesday morning, which is a good thing for Sandy Hook, as it would have been a sad time if they had not Every man quietly used his check, We'd nesday morning and it is hoped that everything will go along smoothly now.
 Mrs Maggie Phelps.
 Maun;a Erapoao DhoI,>e olIon. ln.~l