The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-03-07
GREAT LABOR WAR is ON
Representatives Of Machinists and
Manufacturers Fail to Agree.
CALL GENERAL STRIKE.
Army of Workmen in Chicago to Law
Down Their Tools-Sym-
pathetic Strikes.

Chicago, ILL.,, March War is now
on between the international Association
of Machinists and the Chicago Assoca-
ton of Machinery Manufacturers. AS
result Of the failure to reach an agree
ment last night at a meeting between
representatives of the two bodies to dis
cuss the questions in dispute, the eXecu-
tive committee of the machinistS aSSO-
citation decided to call q general strike
of machinists in Chicago, and by tonight
practically every union and many nom
union machinists in this city will have
laid down their tools, the only exceptions
being at the shops which have signed
the agreement.
The strike may take on a much wider
range than at first anticipated. A meet
ing of the executive committee of all the
metal working organizations in the city
was held today and the question of a
systematic strike discussed. 1t is under
stood that the sentiment among the men
strongly favors such action in case it is
found necessary to help the machinists
with their fight.
Spread to other Cities.
Members of the executive council Of
the International Association of Ma
chinists were also started for other cities
to investigate prevailing conditions and
if necessary call out the machinists. No
strike, however, has been as yet reported
outside of Chicago except in Columbus,
o., where, according to telegram re-
ceived today by President James O'Con-
nell every union man has quit work in
obedience to orders from the union. Stu
art Reid has gone to Milwaukee, Wis;
International Vice-President D. ID. Will
son to Columbus, o.: Z. J. COnlOn to
Kansas City; j. d. Ferguson to Cleve-.
land, O.; j. c. Daglish to Buffalo, and
A. H. Holmes to Toronto, Ont.
President O'COnnei SAID today that
the trouble had now developed itself into
life and death struggle for the union,
and that there were possibilities of the
strike including not only all OF the ma
chnists, but extending to all the metal
working organizations in the country,
which would affect nearly 100000 men.
The machinists in Canada are also under
the control of the international assOcia
ton, and strike, according TO President
O'COnnell may also be ordered i'll that
territory.
Railroads Not Affected.
AT present no trouble is anticipated be-
tween the union machinists and the var
Gus railroads terminating in Chicago as
on many of the lines grievances have al
ready been settled.
the Woodworking organizations called to
decide the question of sympathetic
strike took on a broader scope than was
at first expected. 1t was practically a
meeting of the business agents of the Ma
terial Trades council, which includes the
unions III every line of metal workers in
Chicago. The meeting resulted in de-
cision on the part of the union represent
tatlves to support the machinists in all
respects and to order sympathetic strikes
at once whenever that action was found
necessary. This may involve nearly So
900 men in this city alone. The business
agents expressed themselves confident
that their action would be followed by the
material trades councils in other cities.
Manufacturers Are Confident.
''There is no use Disgusting the fact
that the situation is Serious said Presi
dent L. w. Gates at the conclusion Of
the conference with the officers of the
Machinists' union. I'VE are in for a
long struggle, but the machine manufac-
turers are standing together as one man,
and we have every confidence that we
will win. We had conference with
President O'Connell and found him a
pleasant gentleman to meet However,
the manufacturers absolutely refused to
unlonlZe their shops, as is demanded by
the unions, and SO we could come to no
agreement.
Republic Plant Shuts Down.
Alexandria, Ind, March 2-The Re
public Iron and Steel company's plant in
this city was shut down yesterday.
throwing 600 men ont of employment.
Local Manager Triler informed the en-
ployes that the shutdown was neccssitat-
ed because of lack of orders. and that
operations would be resumed again with
in month. 1t is thought, however. that
this move is simply scheme to thwart
Factory Inspector McAbee in his efforts
to enforce the weekly pay law After
the closing down of the plant the men
held a meeting and decided to uphold the
inspector in his fight
>. J. Level yn's Statement
Chicago, H., March 2.-Silas ]. Level
lyn, secretary Of the Republic Iron and
Steel company, said yesterday that he
had not been advised of the shutting
down Of the Indiana plants. Of one
thing he was certain, however, that the
employees are satisfied with the methods
of payment, and that there are no differ
ences whatever between them. Other
employees Of the company in Chicago
stated that the suits brought in Indiana
were not filed by the employees whose
names were attached, and that they had
made denial over their signatures in
the local Indiana papers. 1t was init
mated that the state factory inspector
would encounter serious difficulties before
the case is settled