The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-05

The shlngie weavers' strike at Ballard
Is apparently no nearer a settlement than
On the day when tho men went out Yes
sawyers to so to work at one of the mills.
but the machinery was out OF order. They
were told TO come back al noon. but failed
10 show up.
This IS the oniy attempt tast was made
to operate any or the five mills affected
Yesterday matters were unusually quiet
in the ordinarily busy little city of Bal
lard. The striking workmen. to the num-
Der Of -. were seen idhng on the street
or working in their gardens about tasir
homes. = The 'snoheeiAcks OF tho -mtiis
closed down were cold and ssnokeiess. The
worknlen and those thrown out OF en-
ployment by the strike, but not particpa-
ting in il. gathered on the street corners
to DISCUSS the situation.
The situation. ~ Ballard Is la. some re-
sps<1s peculiar. - The knof -sawyers are the
striking workmen. They have received
g. . per day for some months past. They
now demand an increase to $50 per
day, claiming that last fall the operators
and mill owners promised them such an
Increase as soon as the price OF shingles
had advanced 10 cents per thousand. or 10
the present figure at which the product Of
the mills Is marketed
The knot sawyers have received 6is cents
per thousand. at which those that are ex-
pert have made from s.. y to s. - per day.
Now the packers joined with the knot
sawyers In the written demand for an
increase in their peciiniary daily stipend.
but they were not ready 10 enforce their
demands by striking. as in the case of the
knot sawyers. They are not in sympathy
with the strikers and stand ready TO re-
turn to work.
One OF the packers was interviewed at
Ballard yesterday by Post-rn,elligeneer
reporter. He declared his Willingness to
60 to work at the old scale. 'Of course
we wanted a raise, said he land We
were ready to do almost anything to get
II. Still. do not believe the majority OF
the packers We're ready to strike and, in
deed. the most Of s.would gladly go back
to work At the old figures. But the knot
sawyers have determined to stick /, out
and there 10 no telling when the fight will
be ended or who will give in"
The packers. IL is said. are not rendering
the knot sawyers either moral or actual
support in the strike. Some OF the mill
men. 1t Is said. are already preparing to
import workmen from outside towns, and
while the strikers know this. they show no
signs OF quitting.
Thera has been absolutely no trouble as
yet. and none is anticipated Both sides
claim that they are well prepared for a
long siege. The workmen say that they
might as well leave the country as not to
insist on what they believe they have fair
~ earned. They point to the increased
price received for produce and meats OF
all kinds and say now that living Is high
and shingles are in good demand at higher
figures than last summer. the millmen. IN
Justice to their employees should raise their
wages The millmen reply that n they
raise. the scale 1t would drive away all
profit In operating the mills
No move whatever has been made to
bring the opposing sides together. Per-
haps this Is due TO the feeling that such
an effort would result In nothing. Arbi-
trafion has not been tried, and there has
Yet been no manifestation OF desire 70
employ II In the settlement of the d,snu,e