Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-16
TA|L0RS ON STRIKE
Local Journeymen Make Demand
for Higher Wages.
CONCESSION MADE In UNION SHOPS
Some Firms Refuse to Treat With
the Organization.
SUB STITUTE SCALE

Some of the smaller tailoring establish
ments of the city are experiencing consid-
cradle inconvenience today from a demand
for higher wages on the part OF the jour
neEmen tailors belonging to the Tailors Be
nevolent Protective Association, and their
refusal to work until a satisfactory agree
ment has been reached. The large tailor
Ing concerns. employing union labor exclu-
sively, compromised with the tailors this
morning and are running along with the
same old regularity. In these cases the
rates of pay have been materially increas-
ed. A number of the larger merchant tail
oring establishments of the higher class
have long been independent of the union,
and are in no wise affected by the recent
action of the organized tailors in demand
ing a new scale of compensation.
While there has long been a tailors' union
in this city, the organization it is said
has never been powerful. For the past few
years and up to three or four months ago.
1t had practically been in a slumber About
that time, however, there was an indica-
ton OF activity among the journeymen tall
ors In favor of amalgamation and after
some effort the local union, was increased
in membership and made comparatively
strong The union men have not yet Sc
cured the full cooperation of their fellow
craftsmen, but continue to work toward
that end. Last week notice was given in
the shops where union men are enploysd
that new bills of prices had been decided
upon by the union, and all employers were
expected to sign either first, second or
thlrd-class bill, as the case might be, by
this morning
A number of conferences were held YES
terday morning between employers and
employees, the former refusing in most in
stances to treat with representatives of the
union. The results We're entirely satisfac-
tory, with the few exceptions indicated
above, and this morning the sewers went
to work as usual.
Substitute offered
In one instance the employing firm re-
fused to sign the bill presented by the
1ourneymen tailors. but prepared a suhsti-
tute scale, agreeing to prices uniformly
higher than heretofore paid. The tailors
have no complaint to make as to their
compensation of the past Their action in
demanding higher prices for work was
based upon the Improvement noted in bust
ness during the past year. They expert
enced a desire to participate in the pros
perity.
Some criticism of the union has baon
heard IN regard to its action in ordering a
strike in enc or two shops. To be eollita-
bic II Is declared they should strike geuer-
ally until all the establishments are in line
10 desert particular firm some of the
tailors declare, is manifcstly unfair A gen
eial strike was out of the question how
ever and in fact. beyond the power of the
Union, Tor at least two of the influential
merchant tailors of the city employ but
few union men. Their scale is Just as high
IN most cases as that of the union. Those
concerns which have their work done in
factories out of town are not affected
Journeymen tallors are paid according to
rleceWork- For making a coat they will
receive from IS to 81 or SIS, according TO
cut and finish 1t was stated by one mer-
chant tailor today that the only impossible
demand made by the workmen was in over
coat work, where their bill was quite un-
reasonable. There is little or no ill-feeling
as result of the strike. and except in
those shops where strike was ordered
there is no evidence of difference The
working tailors chose an excellent time for
their demand, the tailoring establishments
now having in hand full card OF orders