The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-04-24
ARE OUT ON A STRIKE.
Employees Of the Iron and Steel Com
pany Are Dissatisfied
ONE OF THE MEN TALKS.
says He Has Been Obliged to Put in Over
time at the Same Rate He Got For
Regular Time--May BE the
First OF Series of
Labor Troubles.
Special to News-Democra-.


Special to News-Democra-
Massillon, April 23.-Saturday after
noon forty workmen of the Massillon
Iron and Steel company put on their
coats and left the shops. The men
first appointed a committee which
waited upon the officials of the COM
pany and demanded higher wages. The
men were all common laborers and have
been receiving $125 per day, or rather,
121k cents per hour, as they say their
days have been long ones. The COM
mittee is said to have made their de-
mand which was that the laborers be
paid Is cents per hour and time and a
half be allowed for work performed on
Sunday. The demand, the laborers say,
was promptly refused and the commit
tee reported to their comrades, who as
promptly put on their coats and march,
ed out of the shops. The company at
once had posters printed calling for
men to take the place of the strikers,
and these were posted in conspicuous
places about the city.
This morning the strikers held a
meeting in one of the down town halls
and plans for continuing the strike
were discussed. When the employees and
the few laborers who did not go out,
went to work this morning, they were
met by sentinels who had been posted
about the works and they were asked
to help the strikers. There is feeling
among manufacturers throughout the
country that the first of May will prob
ably see considerable labor difficulties
and the local shops have had just
enough trouble to be on the uui vive.
Hence the present trouble at the Mas
sillon mill is being watched with more
than ordinary interest.
One Of the men who went out of the
works Saturday, was seen by the News
Democrat representative this morning.
He said:
I'VE want 15 cents an hour for every
hour we work on week days and time
and half for Sunday work. Since
March 10th have only had one Sunday
off. We go to work at 430 o'clock in
the morning and some days we work
until or 6 o'clock in the evening The
work Is hard and we think we should
have what we are demanding. We are
going to do the best we can to get it,
anyway"
Superintendent Croxton, of the Iron
and Steel concern, was next seen by the
reporter. He said:
IT am of the. opinion that at least so
per cent of the men who so suddenly
quit our employ would be willing to go
back to work at the old wage, but there
are few, and they are the poorest
workmen in the lot, who will attempt
to keep the others away Now, the
truth Of the matter is that we are pay
ing better wages than are paid laborers
in some of the mills and besides that we
will give all laborers the opportunity
of learning the art Of making pipe. The
fact is a good laborer does not remain a
laborer more than sixty days in the ma
jority of cases. They are taken from
the yard and put in the mill where they
soon can make from $1.75 to $500 per
day. I am very sorry this affair hap
pened at this time. We have been
working hard to get the mill started
and expected to be making pipe within
two weeks.
Mr.. Croxton would not say whether or
not he would make any concessions to
the strikers.
WENT TO COLUMBUS.
Massillon, April 23-M. ID. Ratchford,
recently appointed state labor commits
'sioner, left this morning for Columbus,
where he will ascertain matters in con-
nection with his taking his Office early
next month. Next week Mr.. Ratchford
will return to his duties on the United
States industrial commission at Wash
ington. After finishing some work in
the hands of a committee of which he is
chairman, he will resign and return to
Ohio to assume the duties Of the office
now held by John p. Jones.