The evening times., 1899-09-02
STRIKE OF MACHNIS4S
The Cramps Siipyard Closes Down
Until September II.

The Cramps Shipyard Closes Down
Until September II.
and May Extend to All the Vessel
Building Interests Along the Dela-
ware River Fifteen Thousand
Workmen Might Become Involved
PHILADELPHIA. Sept "A strike
which may finally affect all the ship build
ing interests along the Delaware River and
involve $1,000 workmen, was begun yes
terday by the machinists and helpers of
the Cramp Company. The men at first in
tended TO lay down their tools at 10 o'clock
sharp. but It was decided to grant the firm
an extra half hour to enable it to make a
reply to the mems demands. The firm
made no advances. and after waiting in
vain the machinists gathered up their tools
and left the works in an orderly manner.
No attempt was made to demonstrate with
the strikers, who departed from the yard
in small groups. A small force of police
men was present, but was not called on to
cope with any disturbance
The strikers at once proceeded to their
headquarters, where they were met by
Chairman J. ]. Keegan. OF the Information
al Association of Machinis.s, and Fred
erick Councilman, who is Chairman Kee-
gan's right-hand man. The meeting Of the
men was attended by small number of
blacksmiths. who were laid OF yesterday
by the company before they could put into
enect their threat to strike. Although the
strikers We're orderly, they bitterly de-
nounced seven or eight of their associates
VINO had remained at work in the compa-
ny's yard. Those who refused to go out
We're foremen and assistant foremen.
Edwin S. Cramp drove to the yard about
10 O'Clock, and said:
We'll, as you see, our men have gone
out, but confess ! do not know what they
want. No doubt they will come to some
conclusion concerning their grievances"
MI Cramp insisted he had received nc
copy OF the list of grievances which the
men stoutly declare they presented Oh
Monday last. He would not say whether
the firm had received complaints from ths
representatives OF the International Asso-
citation of Machinists.
Asked whether the firm was willing te
consult with the strikers. Mr.. Cramp sale
the firm was always prepared to consider
any alleged grievances the men might have
No expression OF opinion could be drawr
from him, however, regarding the stant
the hrm would take on the mems demand
for nine-hour working day and the rec
ognition OF their labor organization. The
opinion In the vicinity of the shipyard wa.
that the trouble at the Cramps works haG
only begun.
As the yards will be shut down from to.
night until September II, the men in the
| other departments will not be able to walk
out. as did the machinists
one OF the strikers said: Il am not an
alarmisf. but | can see no reason TO be-
lleVe that the strike will speedily end. The
firm is evidently determined in its refusal
| to recognize any labor union of any sort. .
There Is large amount of important
work now in hand at the Cramps yard
Prominent among the vessels under con-
structlon are the two Russian warships
the Variag, a cruiser of $500 tons, and the
Retvisan, first-class hattleship of l.. .O0G
tons. Speaking to a reporter regarding the
effect strike would have on these vessels
| captain Stchensnovitch, President of the
Russian Naval Commission, said:
The Cramps would lose nothing through
their Russian work in case of a general
strike II there should be any loss It would
fall entirely on the Russian Government
In our contract with the Cramps they un-
dertake to deliver our ships by a specified
time and agree to forfeit to u.s. in case OF
failure, certain amount. But there is a
provision in the contract which axempts
them from paying forfeit in case any de-
lay is caused by a strike
The vessels now building are the prop
erty of the Russian Government, as we
| have already paid to the Cramps something
like 100000 In case of violent strike
of large proportions our ships might be in
jured, and we would then expect to be paid
damages. but not by the Cramps Just who
would have to foot the bill cannot say"
Frederick Councilman, chairman OF the
executive committee of the International
Association of Machinists, outlined the
position of the workmen In the following
statement:
The question of shorter work day,
said he. is not one which has arisen in a
| moment The International Association
of Machinists had declared for shorte,
work day year after year, and the board ol
directors some months ago considered
whether it would be possible to get a
shorter work day in Philadelphia. In some
way this information got to the Cramps
siiiN lASy iedilLcO lie agitation must soon
er or later reach Philadelphia Then they
| began discharging workmen.
This fact came to the knowledge of the
association. and. backed by 35. COO mem.
bers, it has decided TO make a stand The
Cramps have time and again claimed thai
peace reigned with their employees. Tha
is not so. For years the Cramps have on
posed labor organizations, and the asso-
citation has determined to assert the RICH,
of its men to come together and exercise
the inalienable rights guaranteed by ths
Constitution"
The Cramps have notified the Navy De-
partment that they have strike on hand
Navy officials do not think the strike will
cause any delay in the work on the Maina
and the Alabama, the only ships the Cramps
are building for the Government
The Maine is not be completed before 1901
and the Alabama has already had her con-
tractors trial. 1t was said at the department
that it would depend on how long the strike
lasted whether or not it would delay the
delivery of the ships at the time specified in
the contract. One official said: Suppose
there was general strike in Cramps ship
yard and it was important 10 have the ships
under construction completed at the earliest
possible moment. why the Government
would pay for the work done and finish tba
ships by employing the necessary help. But
the present strike will hardly amount to
anything"