Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-03-06
GREAT LABOR WAR is ON
Representatives of Machinists and
Manufacturers Fail to Agree.
CALL GENERAL STRIKE,
Army of Workmen in Chicago to Lay
Down Their Too1s-Sym-
pathetic Strikes.

Chicago, ILL.,, March 2.-War is now
on between the International Association
of Machinists and the Chicago Assoca-
ton of Machinery Manufacturers. AS a
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 a general strike
of machinists in Chicago, and by tonight
practically every union and many non
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 q 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
y
outside Of Chico except in Columbus,
o., where, accOrQIng TO q telegram re-
ceived today by President James, O'Con-
nell every union man has quit work i'll
obedience to orders from the union. Stu
art Reid has gone to Milwaukee, Wis. !;
international Fice-President D. ID. Will
son to Columbus, O.; p. j. COnlon to
Kansas City; j. ID. Ferguson to Cleve
land, o.; J. G.. Daglish to Buffalo, and
y: II. Holmes to Toronto. Ont.
President O'Connel1 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
chinists, 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 in that
territory.
Railroads Not Affected.
At present no trouble is anticipated be-
tween the union machinists and the vari
Gus railroads terminating in Chicago, as
on many of the lines grievances have al
ready been settled.
The meeting of the representatives of
the Woodworking organizations called to
decide the question of a sympathetic
strike took on Il 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 in every line Of metal workers in
Chicago. The meeting resulted in de-
clsion on the part Of the union represent
tatNes to support the machinsts in all
respects, and to order sympathetic strikes
at once whenever that action was found
necessary. This may involve nearly &C.
900 men III this city alone. The business
agents expressed themselves confident
that their action would be followed by the
material trades councils i'll other cities.
Mannfacturers 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 q
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
unionize 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 OOU men out 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
i'll 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 meeting and decided to uphold the
Inspector in his fight
=. J. Llewel yn'. Statement.
Chicago, H., March -Silas J. 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.