New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-25
MORE MEN TO STOP WORK.
THE STRIKE OF THE ELECTRICAL WORK
FRS SPREADING.
,,.xv LARGE BUILDINGS WILL BE AFFECTED If
PLANS MADE YESTERDAY ARE CARRIED
o1,r-THE LETTER OF THE UNION
TO THE CONTRACTORS.


Like the big oak tree which grew from little
acorn. the strike of the few hundred electrical
workmen which started few days ago has as
sumed large proportions. The indications last
night were that it would grow much larger
within the next few days. There is, apparently,
no break in the ranks Of organized labor, and
every one of the building trades unions in the
city has indorsed the action of the electrical
workmen in their demand for an eght-hour
workday. The strongest argument in favor OF
the electrical workmens demand is. according 10
their fellow-mechanics of other trades IN 'he
fact that the electrical workmen are the oni!
men in the building trades who are compeHeu W
work over eight hours a dav. The next poir' III
favor of their demand is that. while they reoe''
only 25 cents day more than the coi'''io" '"
ers in the building trades. who Worh Only 7
hours they have not asked an! III.
wages They are satisfied to receive 90 " va,
while men in other trades get s5 9o anu "p""'"
They are looked upon among laoor me" do
.,-uiod mechanics An apprenticeship OF four
wears is required to master 'he 'raue i" al 10
branches ., , .ho
Labor men strongly condemn the action OF 'he
ELECTRICAL contractors in refusing to meet them
halfway in the matter of the eight-hour WORK
dav. on the technical grounds that the notice the
Electrical Workmen's Union claims TO have sent
them was never received The electrical con-
.rao,ors tacitlv acknowledge that they would
have granted the demand had they received me II.
notice as after the strike began. they agreed 70
grant It If the ninety days noHce supu'a'eu III
last years agreement was given -, o, ,
The men have all along insisted that they sen.
she notice TO Charles L. Eidlitz, secretary ol tls
Electrical Contractors Associauon anu Ciier
thet oficial with having pgeonholed IL. Ihey
sav II was not the first time he 50 dlsposed OIL
letters sent to the association - a.,
The electrical contractors have sald theH az az i
.ot he,ieve the Electrical Workmens Union couid
rro6uce proof that the letter had peeh sem 10
,,heir association The union yesterday produced
what the labor men say is full PROOF ihat tnG
letter of notification was sent. Al an iniOr'Ia'
meeting of the union. at No. 81 CLINTON flace tho
minute book Of the Executive Committee OF the
nnion was first shown to the reporters. In IL was
tha record of a resolution passed on November
21 1894 as follows: Resolved, Ihat we ho'iI!
the Electrical Contractors Association mat w.. We
demand an eight-hour WoihuaS "" on" ~
February 1S 1893. , o ,r,-
Then the minute-book OF the union was pro
6uced and in ii was the indorsement ol ,he
Txecutive Committees action, dated November
90 1904 Then the letter-book of the union was
shown. in which was a copy of the letter wnicn
the union says was sent 10 secretary '''''~
The letter ran as follows:
"New-York. January 4. 1895
.c :, L dutz Secretary Electrical Contractors
Association. , . .,.. ,,o,,r ass,
Dear Sir: am instructed to notify your asSo S
ciation that all the men Of our organization ue-
mand an eight-hoIr workday on ana aiIvI I v"i u
ary Is. 1895. III. ", ,'1,, NJ
"Secretary of Board Of Electrical WorKine"' No'
. Local Assembly No. o.4bs, ~ OF l.. -, II,
The men afterward agreed to walt un'h Aprh /.
The Strike Committee appointed by the Board
., walking Delegates held meeting yesterday
and while it was not officially given out 1t was
understood that the committee will pursue an as-
cressive policy to-day. and that the workmen on
some twenty or more buildings will be called OUT
THE men on large number of the largest pulolhes
h1rra nrfla
today Among the buildings are the Albemarle
Hotel Fifth-ave. and Twenty y-fourth-st.; floenly
and Casualty Building Church ana Oeldr v. st',
prascott Building John and Nassau SITS; Won
I2uilding Liberty and Williams SITS. anu 'he c9l-
ION Exchange Hanover Square. Neither VII! u, ene ~.
men go 10 work on the buildings on which 'He!
were called out last week . IL, ,,.
Nv this afternoon probably 10000 men Will nave
been called out.