The evening world., 1894-01-08
ASK SHORTER HOURS.
Wood -Carvers Locked Out by
Four Big Firms.
The Men Wanted TO Give Their In.
employed Fellows Work.
They Declare that the Bosses Broke
Their Agreement of 1893.

The strained relations which for a long
time have existed between the wood
carvers OF this city and their employers.
has eliminated in the lockout of all the
men employed by four o fthe biggest
firms. and there Is every indication hat
It will spread. The firms mentioned are
tey Baumgarten & Co., Herts Bros. Schas-
tey Il Co., Kimball t Sons and Herter
Bros.
Several hundred men are Interested
directly In the lockout, and from their
standpoint they see nothing in the move
ment but a determination of the enl-
ployers to ultimately reduce wages. The
whole trouble is over the question Whetn-
er or not eight or nine hours shaii ron
stitnte a days work. Ihe workincn III,
and the manufacturers, the latter. mas
much as the men are paid by the hour
the point itself from an OUTSIDERS NieW
seems ofg little consequence.
'rhe fact is said Walking, Delegate
Jacob e.. Bausch. of the Wood-carvers'
Association. to an Evening World, re-
present depression in business, working
men are Il. Xious to see that their rel
lows get as much employment as pos
sible. They are willing TO sacriiie a
cannot possibly lose a dollar by en-
ploying m~re men to do their work when
all are paid only for the number or
hours actually engaged, they cannot see
why there should be any objection. We
want to work only eight hours a day.
because that means employment to more
men"
The action of the four firms named
was reported to the Wood carvers'
nnion at their last meeting, ana IA
resolution was unanimously passed t..
issue u manifesto to the pubic eN-
planning their position.
The manifesto refers to the fact that
Il partial strike occurred IN 1877 Tor lle
elght-hour system, and that %non-union
men took the places of strikers in some
instances. and "A lockout followed. The
strike was abandoned by the other trades
selves continued the warfare until Octo-
Der. 1892. when, owing to increased bust
ness, the manufacturers were Obliged to
take the men back on their own terms.
| As soon as the rush was over, however,
the manufacturers insisted on the old
terms again. Another clash followed,
and after a long warfare the manufac-
turers, according to the manifesto, were
forced to make terms again. Continuing,
the manifesto says.
The representative OF our Union. in the com
pany OF the President Of our association and the
President OF the Board Of Delegates, met the fol
lowing employers in the ONCE 81 iierts Bros.
Messrs. Ben. Herts. g. II. Schastey. MIR. Nichols
and Mr.. Kimball. jr., all OF whom soleriniy agreed
and pledged their word and honor as men that
they would not attempt to increase the working
hours. but that the elght-hOur worklay should
continue in force for the ensuing two years or
until March IS, 1895.
We ask any fair-minded person II II is sur
prising the carvers. indignation is thoroughiy
aroused, and that they now unanimously reject
the proposition Of the m~lOrers whose past treat
ment of our members has been iespUtir and cruel
We are constrained by o desire to convey to the
public the reasons from which our determination
to maintain the eight-hour wOrkdaY emanates.
The condition Of our trade during tho past few
wears has been more distressing than in 1886.
as Il Is difficult for all the Carvers located here
10 md work under the eight-hour system. AMI
therefore, II we were TO acuuipsr" In the propO-
siliOn advanced, the distress would he more an
nalllnE and the ranks OF the uncr plovoi would
be largely augmented. II may he here stated
that our action In forcing the eight hour s. stem
ployer. as carvers are remunera,ei for their
services by the hour, and receive nay only for
the actual number Of hours they toll.
Therefore, II becomes apparent to all that the
not Tut construe as an attempt To annihilate our
association, the sequel Of which viii be a rPallzu-
ton OF their unsatiatei desire to restore us 10 the
position previous TO 1856. The absuriity Of
their demand makes itself manifest when the fact
becomes known that during the pnst three months
they were only able TO employ two or three cary
crs at six or seven hours a day.
We arc assured that our opinion win I've uriyer.
sally cOncurrcd In when We contend the, when
such q crisis surrounds us MS at present. the motto
be to shorten the hours ~ labor as much as they
possibly can, 81 as TO AFFORD some NJ the unfortu-
nate Idle people an opportunity to provide for
those who are dependent upon them for support,
Walking Delegate BauSCh. who was
also Chairman of the Committee which
DATED the manifesto, said that several
hundred men were now out of employ
ment in consequence of the lockout. The
matter will probably come IN before the
Central Labor lnion on Sunday.