Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-23
THE WRIGHTTROUBLE
MAI. SCOTT MAKES A STATEMENT
ABOUT HIS RECENT ELECTION.
II II said That the Managers VIII
Not Return 10 Work Under the
New Order of characterization OF
Both Sides.
Both sides.

The troubles which have arisen between
the employees OF the j. Wright Tobacco
Company and the new president, MAJOR
Fred. r. Scott, are far from being AT
an end. The managers and book-keepers
OF the concern are firm in their inten-
ton of standing by Mr.. Wright, who
was deposed in last Fridays meeting
and not one of them will return to WORK
until he Is reinstated. Major Scott was
seen by n Dispatch man yesterday, and
when asked for statement, made the
following:
Il suppose II is because / am an IRISH
man that l cannot keep out Of fight;
but my ideal happiness is peace and quiet
| became president OF the Richmond and
Petersburg railroad as the result OF one
OF the most bitter personal and political
contests that we ever had here. The
Legislature was torn into two factions,
but In a year my most bitter opponents
had become my friends and supporters,
and have never since Chat was twenty
odd years ago. had single stakeholder
vote against me. / had the same expert
ence when l was made president OF the
bank in Petersburg. My personal friends
opposed me, and the city was In arms
against me: but in one year they were
all my friends; and for fifteen years my
reelection has been unanimous. / had
no thought of any trouble in accepting
the presidency of the tobacco company.
ACTION OF STOCKHOLDERS.
1.-THE stockholders, outside OF Mr..
Wrights holding, were unanimous In Of
ferng me the presidency. Their reasons
for dissatisfaction with the management
were their own, with which / had no.
thing to do. l only hold one share. One
hundred and twenty-three shares were
voted for me, and eighty-ive for my Op>
ponent. l did not seek the place, and
was very much surprised when it was
offered to me. j regret very much that
the employees left. Many Of them are
excellent men that / would be glad to
retain. They did not give me any notice
/ was out of town when they left. I
would be very glad If any of them would
come and tell me frankly of their COM
plant. l have been embarrassed by the
numerous applications of men of high
character and capacity who want work.
l would much rather reinstate the old
hands, but if they will not come near
me | cannot do 1t.
convenient The few days delay is very
desirable for taking an inventory. hence
l am in no hurry. Meantime. If the en-
ployees will put their grievances in
writing ] will lay them before the d.
rectors. and they shall have respectful
attention. The hands" did not strike;
they had to go because the managers OF
the various departments went out. These
hands have been daily applying for work.
and l will employ them as soon as l
complete the inventory and fill all the
vacancies of managers. so as to make
the loss to them as light as possible"
The managers will all report at the
factory to-day at o'clock to receive
their pay, but none of them will resume
work.
FROM THE WRIGHT SIDE.
Mr.. Joseph b. Gentry, private secretary
to Mr.. Wright, was seen by Dispatch
man yesterday. and after comforting with
some Of the managers he made the fol-
Lowing statement:
1T is an entirely mistaken idea that the
employees at the j. Wright Company
have struck" Not one of the fourteen
managers who presented their resigna-
lions on Thursday morning have tried in
any way to influence the hands in their
respective departments against the new
management or have induced them to
quit work. AS soon as the managers
quit every hand In the factory walked
out. The action taken by the men who
resigned was well weighed and con-
sidered. 1t was voluntary on their part,
and Mr.. Wright knew nothing of 1t. As
to the new management not knowing
why they resigned, that's all nonsense"
They know as well as we do that Mr..
Wright, at the meeting of the stock
holders on Friday last was badly treated:
that he was unfairly represented by
these who voted by proxy. The hand
some showing Of the company alone gives
Mr.. Wright name unequalled as a
manager. He has always been kind and
faithful to the employees OF the COM
pany, by whom he Is held in the highest
esteem. or course, our action may not
benef Mr.. Wright, but we have the salts
faction of expressing our disapproval Of
the unjust action OF the stockholders.
Several of the managers who resigned
have already received flattering offers,
but whether they will accept them or
not, one thing is certain, not one of the
men who resigned will ever return to
work under the present management.
The knowledge they possess will be de-
voted to their future employers, and to
them alone will 1t be divulged."