The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-09

Men We're gathered about the entrance
10 the Moran foundry yesterday, and they
un-toed and peered over each Others
shoulders al a paper posted on the fence.
IL was a notice as follows.
Commencing Tuesday. December :,
shop win be operated for seven and half
hours each day, commencing at O'clock
a m. and quitting at $50 p. m.
MORAN BROS. COMPANY"
The men read the notice in groups OF
two and three. Then they dew away and
consulted. Seven hours and half day
at 50 cents an hour meant S2s5. They had
been getting S. II was not right, they
whispered TO one another. Then they
quit whispering and spoke aloud. IT'S not
right-we won't stand it-we'll quit--well
strike Together they left the foundry.
There was no trouble--no demands were
made 1T was not "a strike. simply a
quit. The cutters numbered about
fifty. and were the filters, riveters. ship
pers and caukers, holders-on and rivet
heaters, who have been employed in the
construction of the bulls OF the United
States revenue cutter Golden Gate and
the government torpedo boat. This will
cause hull construction 10 come TO a
standstiil. About 125 carpenters. boiler
makers and machinists are left in the
shops. They viii continue work on the
satisfaction.
The company's position was easily ex-
planned. They could not afford during the
short winter days TO pay for ten hours
when there was working light for only
seven and A half hours. As We UNDER
stand" said Robert Moran yesterday.
THE workmen who have struck In our
yard claim 10 have grievance in the fact
that We refuse TO pay for ten hours time
when men are working seven and one-half
hours. We employ all our help at a stated
price per hours work, and IL is our inteif-
ton always. when business and other con-
tiitions justify. 10 operate our shops for a
period OF ten hours as working day. 4
large part of our work has 10 be carried
on practically out of doors, and during
the past six weeks we have been greatly
bothered by the weather and short days
We provided artificial light I'm the hope
that we might continue with ten hours as
a working day. though we were forced to
the conclusion that the work could not
be carried on in an economical manner in
that way, and hence concluded yesterday
to make the working day seven and one
half hours. commencing at o'clock in
the morning and stopping at $50 in the
evening. Notice TO that effect was posted
in the various departments of our works.
These arrangements were not sat.sfac-
tory TO part of the men, hence the strike.
unless we would agree to pay for ten
hours service for seven and a half hours
work. OF course we could not consent TO
that Fully two-thiris of our men have
taken a reasonable view of the matter
and continued at work and we do not APP
prehend any difficulty in securing help to
take the place OF those who have discharg-
ed themselves. AT any rate, there VIII be
no service paid for that IS not rendered.
Meanwhile the strikers were Dispensing
themselves in as many saloons as possible,
and were celebrating their voluntary hoii-
day after the most approved fashion All
had money, for they had been paid a
months wages the preceding Thursday.
Many had not been IN the yards since pay
day. and il was when told of the new or
der by their comrades that they decided TO
promote their staying away into a
strike"
why did we quit? Well, just say we're
all to d. lazy to work" said one of the
strikers II was in a saloon on the water
front, and he leaned as he spoke on the
bar.
THAT cut in time was way they have
of cutting wages. We don't want the
earth We're wiling TO work ten hours
for So. As we can't do that we've simply
quit, that all. Why. look here. will your
He drew from his pocket a ticket to San
Francisco, That talks, don't 1t? There
Puebla and fortyfour of us viii go down
In the walia Walia."
"oh, there are Others" sad the saloon
proprietor. airily.
yes, but not in this town. was the re-
Spouse. I'VE are the people. When we
go they won't get anyone else in hurry.
Wages in San Francisco Is SIS
a day. Who's going 10 come here
for s225? No, | amt going TO
work for no Union Iron Works.
No Union for me. I'll 20 back TO an old
job at Hunters point. They're taking sew
enfy-five sheets off the Gainsberough. The
Risdon Iron Works Is the ones. There
amt many ike US. Were Scoteh, every
one. Scotch Is the ship builders. NLook at
the Campauia. the Lucania and the city
OF Rome All Scotch. Why. I've worked
in every yard In the country. Chester.
Newport News, Chicago. Lake Superior.
San Francisco and the rest Of them.
ITS a wonder you wouldn't take snn-
bic 20 yourself once in a while-just once
i'm a while" sad another striker. who
stood BY. Then the laxative one said no
more.
Moran Bros will write 70 points on the
Coast for workmen at once. They antic-
lpate no trouble in securing help. The
gSo,den Gate was TO have been launched
the latter part OF this month. but this
complication makes tx uncertain. The
conpany's government contract win not
be affected by the strike. which is excused
as beyond control
Insurance companies claim that cycling
* more dangerous than traveiing either