The Washington times., 1894-11-02
LABOR MEN TO The RESCUE
knights Promise to Support the Jour
neymen Bakers Organization.
REDUCTION TALK MISLEADING
Meeting of the District Assembly and Full
Discussion of the Dificulty-Demand for
Bread Falls Off in Winter-steps to Be
Taken Next Saturday for self-prOtection.

The District Assembly of the knights OF
Labor held meeting at Rechabites' Hall,
Four-and-a-half street and Pennsylvania
avenue, last night. The bakers were well
represented and the question of action in re-
gard to the prospective reduction OF pay and
discharge of men in connection with the
lowering of the price OF bread was thoroughly
discussed.
What was done cannot be known in all its
details, but there is every reason to believe
that the knights promised to give substantial
support to the bakers organizationa in any
efforts they may find it necessary to take to
protect their members.
The journeymen bakers claim that the talk
of reduction in wages and in force being
necessary on account OF the lower price OF
bread is largely misleading. In the first
place, as already stated, some Of the bakers
are hurt by having long contracts for -four at
prices higher than now prevailing Then
the falling off in trade is due to the usual re-
turn to home baking which accompanies
cool weather. In summer when hundreds OF
families cook with oil and gas stoves baking
is out OF the question and bakers bread is
used.
1t would cost more to start up the coal
range and bake bread than the extra cost OF
bakers bread, to say nothing of the great
discomfort from heating up the house and
the hot work OF baking But in winter the
coal fire Is going anyhow. and baking makes
no extra expense and is Il pleasant occupa-
ton. Also, the coming of buckwheat makes
a big difference in the demand for bread
from wealthy homes
AIWnvS winter the Ga1pS from, fna bnL L-nr
les are thousands of loaves under the summer
sales. But heretofore the employers have
kept men on the pay rolls, just as is done in
slack seasons in every other line This wear
the posses seem inclined to take advantage OF
the agitation of the bread question 10 cut
down expenses and make profits for the year
q little better and some of them to settle Old
scores.
The latter is the case they think with
Charles Schneider and John G. bIeiuberg.
They say Weinberg and Schneider nave never
got over the fact that they were unable to
force upon the local unions the men they
brought from New York who for perfectly
good reasons were unacceptable for member
ship.
They do not feel that they are under anv
obligations TO the bosses to give the reasons
why they will not admit men to their organi-
zations. They think the fact that Schneider
advanced the money to his New York men
to pay their initiation was reason to look at
their cases carefully.
As to bakers who were out of work when
Schneider wanted men being unfitsfor service
they deny the boss statement.
Assembly No. 1889. knights of Labor, COM
posed of 200 of the best bakers in the city,
will meet at Rechabite Hall Saturday even
ing. and action will be taken which is ex-
pected to stay the proposed cut in pay and to
hold the union men in their places against
such treatment as Weinberg is now according
them by employing non-union men.