People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-10-02

skilled woMngmen and $l.20 to
laberers.
Another ommittee reported that
in Baltimor, Phila ielphia and other
places skilld men were paid $3.50,
and in Detrh 1915.
LowER WAGES IN BATH
These repFts determined the &C.
ton Of the len, and they immedi
ately began D prepare for a strike
They were eyed by msn in other
yards to ALLY them to help, but re-
fused to do D, as better wages were
paid in all OBJ yards in Bath, and
tb ese wagcsth hey did not care to en-
danger.
Throughok December, January
and Februay Mr.. Sewall's men held
meetings, pafected plans and con-
tributed to acommon fund, and on
March l, 1873, struck in body, so
that the yard was silent as a grave
yard. Mr.. sewsl's every ship car.
penter wentout aud stayed out.
On MarcH5, when he discovered
that his employees meant businass,
Mr.. Sewall tied to tempt them back
with the promise of fifty cent ad-
vance all Rrsund, but they remained
firm. M. sewall's men wanted and
demanded Air wages, just as his
contracts provided they should have
Y1ELDsp RELUCTANTLY.
On March 70 MISE wall yielded,sf-
ter having triedin vainto procure men
from other yards, and agreed to pay
skilled men S. SO, the next lower
grade 81 %, aid common labore-s
Sl.75. The msn thought they had
won victory.
But no sooner had work been re-
sumed than they found out their
mistake. Mr.. Sewall placed on his
payrolls very few $3.50 men, more
1925 men, and still more $1.75 men.
There we're threats of another strike,
but as the men could see nothing to
be gained in contending with trick
ster they submitted the autocratic
authority exercised by the man who
is now Vice Presidential candidate
en- the Democratic ticket.
GRADED THEM OUT.
Mr.. Sewall continued his grading
process until the men, according to
their statements, were all paid alike.
They gradually procured employ
ment in other yards, and their places
were taken by Canadians at still
lower wages. j
Such was the.great strike 10 Ar
-nui nev"rr shipFard as ranearseu
by his ex-emN oyes and verified in
the essential points by the Bath
Daily Times. But this was not by
any means the last strike. AS has
been said before, Mr.. Sewall had
trouble with his men on the last ship
ian iron vesseD which he ever built
"Artbur Sewall," sad a gray
headed carpenter as he rested his
adj on stick of timber, "regards
al workingmen as machines. He
has no more feeling for them than he
has for the steam engine which runs
yonder mill. He discharged a house
fnisher because the poor fellow went
to a relatives funeral, although he
asked permission to d. SO. Mr..
Sewall told him he could go, but not
to be surprised to find some one on
his job when he got back, and that's
Just what the poor fellow found.
This was when Mr.. Sewall was build
ing that fine house of his"
RAILROAD WAGES REDUCED.
During his investigation in this
The Press's special correspondent
heard that Mr.. SewalI had pursued
bis wage reduction campaign on the
Maine Central Railroad, and found
upon careful inquiry this to be a
fact. He was Vice President of the
road when he began his crusade
against labor, as the writer was in
formed, and for three weeks demand
ed of PAyson Tucker, the general
manager, that wages be reduced. So
urgently did he press his demand
that Mr.. Tucker at last was com,
PEELED to accede, with the result that
Maine Central Railroad men were
soon working, they declare, for %
per cent. less wages.
M all thu roiiuOoI ,,,o,, o,,,o.t;o,, i