Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-12
STRIKE NOT LIKELY.
THE sToNEcUTxERs' TRoveLG NAV
BE AMIcMY SETTLED.
Tho Question ut Issue Said Not 10 Affect
the Better Workmen-- Richmond
Knights Not To Go Out

Although there has been good deal
or talk In labor circles during tho last
few days about probable strike OF all
the stonecutters In the city next Monday,
It IS not believed that the difference.
existing between the workmen AMI taeir
employers will be allowed 20 precipl,ats
such extreme action.
The question involved IL revision Of
the schedule Of wages so as to pay tha
men according 10 what they can d.. In
stead OF allowing the Uniform price ~ 81
per day, which has obtained for some
time. II is contended that the faster aud
more skilled men would make more than
they do now. and that the earnings OF only
the slow and less competent worknsn
would be reduced.
WHAT Is PROPOSED
For some time the Granite Contractors
Association, composed OF MessFs. JAMES
Netherwood. Alonzo Brown. Anorew
Brown. Mason & Sims. Peter Donald 4
Son, the Richmond Granite Company, tho
Westham Granite Company. and Robert
Gamble. have been considering tho al
visibility OF changing the present scale
OF prices under which their employees
are working, and arranging a new one
which. 1t is claimed. win be mutt ally
beneficial.
At present all stonecutters. whether
expert or not. are paid the = per day,
except those who are paid by the piece,
and their earnings sometimes exceed this
amount.
The idea OF the association WAS t. as
tablish a more uniform basis-that ". %
pay every man what no is worth. Some
cutters work more rapidly than othsrc,
and II a man demonstrates that be IS
worth 81 per day, It il proposed to pay
him this amount. II only worth 50 per
day, he could only expect to 10 paid that
amount
THE MEN PROTESTED.
This scale or plan was submitted 10
the workmen, ard a number OF them pro-
tested against it. They have not de-
termined upon a strike. nor can they do
so without majority vote OF the union
in this city, which now numbers 10 mem
bers
Mr.. J. NJ. Blunt, president of the Rich
mond branch Of the union, said yesterday
to a Dispatch man. that IN view OF the
impending change In tho scale of wages,
he had thought Il advisable TO call meet
that they would meet az Lee Camp Hall
and discuss the proposed change fuily
and freely.
DON'T EXPECT A STRIKE
Mr.. James Netherwood whose fairness
| 70 and consideration for his employees
has never been questioned. said u the
Dispatch man yesterday that IL was utter
folly to suppose for an instant that a
! strike among the stonecutters was hnn!-
nent. I'VE have" said h. always treat
ed our men with great consideration, and
/ what We propose 10 do Is. We think.
for their benefit. II they object to our
action. and refuse 10 accept IL. II viii be-
the easiest matter Ia the world for ma to
| rescind.'
Echoes from the Western Strike.
The order OF Grand -Master-Worlm man
! Sovereign. of the knights Of Labor had
| no effect here. There Ia only one as
sembly Of the Knights here-that Is
small one-and an officer OF IL said yes
| terday that they dill not propose ,o take
any action.
A Dispatch representative conV.fsed
| with several of the labor leaders .ot tho
city Yesterday, ana they all agreed that
no trouble was TO be anticipated here
| as the result OF the strike. some etric'SEl
was INDUCED in touching the seizure or
| Debs's papers, but that was all
HAS NOT THE POWER.
Nothing definite was known here re-
eardng the report that Grand Master
| O'ConneH. OF the .ntegnauonol Ma
chinists' Association. hai determined To
call on the machinlsts. Mr. O'Conneh T.
now in Chicago. but Il was said AT MS
office that he had NJ authority 10 otdef
a strike without the consent OF 4 ma
jority OF the Executive Board IL was
also said that IL a STRIFE was orderel
II would only apply . Chicago
At the Chesapeake and ONO ohieea
| IN, rep6rt was that everything on the
system proper continued to work smooth
| is. I'VE have" said one OF the higher
| officials OF the road. "a class or peopi'
10 deal with here who are quite dihersh1
| from the people west Of the ONO. Ihey
are law-abiding ami conservative"
Dealers In grain look for an easier
market in the next few days. As u me
meat-market. II was said yesterday o'
good authority that there was no eAeu's
| for an advance in the retail price OF lreAn
meats. and that slight rise In cursi
stock might always be looked for AZ 'n''
season Of the year.