Evening journal., 1897-04-12
THE RlVETERS' STRIKE.
A Compromise Agreed. Upon
With the Company.
STRIKERS TO HAVE AN ADVANCE


A COMMITTEE OF THE STRIKERS
CALLED UPON SUPERINTEND-
ENT BENSON ON SATURDAY.. AND
co. GsSIONs WE'RE MADE ON
BOTH SIDES - THE STRIKE
ENDED.
Another convincing proof that oapi-
tai beats labor; in its struggle for SUI
premacy is the end of the strike at the
Harlan and Hollingsworth Company's
shipyard. From the first, the strikers
contended that they were in the right
but the firm thought otherwise, and
won.
The company received the contrac,
,Hor putting a new bottom in the steam
ship Tallahassee, and the work was tc
be finished in three weeks from thu
date of the contract. When the boat
was placed in the drydock it was founf
that the vessel was entirely too large
for the basin but Superintendent Ben
son managed to rig the vessel In such
a way that would allow the work o.
cutting out the old plates to proceed
The work was tedious, and required tn
men to lay at full length on their back
in order to cut the rivets from the
plates When the work of cutting ou
the old plates had been completed th'
men refused to put the new ones il
place without a guarantee Of more pay
This the company refused to grant, ant
the strike was launched. The riveter
were the first to go out, the rivet boy.
followed, and then the fitters-up, anC
for a time it looked as if the whole
yard was threatened.
The strikers held several private
conferences. but the business of tn,
meetings could never be learned. a
the men were reticent on giving thei'
views.
The strikers contended that the worl
was to hard. for the wages they re
ceived, and asked the firm for an ad
vance of half what they were alread.
receiving. This was too much for tn
firm, and the request of the men wa
refused. When members of the firm
were seen about the matter they salt
that they were paying the men SO pc,
hundred rivets, and the men wanted al
advance of $3.50, and absolutely re
fused to return to work without tn,
firm conceded their demand.
Saturday afternoon a committee o
strikers, consisting Of George Naylor
Samuel Price and Thomas Percival
held a conference with superintendent
n. r. Benson, and the men stated thei
claims After a good deal of parleyini
the men were told that the firm had de
cided to grant them concessions, bu
not what were asked for. Mr.. Benson
lectured the men on the condition o
affairs since the strike, and told then
that unless they returned it woul,
mean a severe loss to the company
The committee said that they wer
present to ask for the Increase, and /
il was not granted no consideration
would induce them to return to work
Moreover, they did not care how muc
the company lost; it was their gair
and nothing else. The men, however
decided to return to work. and Mr. Ben
son assured them that concession
would be granted.
The strikers first asked for S2.5C
This was cut down to 81, which wi
give the men So per hundred. Thi
concession is for work done en- tn
steamer Tallahassee. After the work )
done the men will return to the oil
scale.
Several Of the workmen say that tn
company has not lost a contract by tn
strike, and further say it was a ruse o
the part of the company to coerce tn
men in returning TO work.