The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-12
THE SILK MILL STRIKE.
The Night Shift of Boys Make De-
mands Which Result in Their
Befnr Laid Off

Being Laid Off.
''he strike at the silk mill. which
started on Friday evening among the
boys employed on the night shift, has
not yet been settled, nor is there much
likelihood that it will be in the near
future. The boys struck for wages of
a dollar night each, q material in
crease in some cases, and when their
demands We're laid before Manager
Friedcr he at once refused to grant
them, and when they persisted in go
ing out on strike he reluctantly closed
the mil! down--reluctantly. because he
did NOT wish to throw the night hands
out of employment for u long time, as
seems now likely must be the case.
For the past few months, 1t seems
the silk business has been stagnant
The Klots company has three mills,
one in Scranton, one in Fredericksburg.
Va, and one in this city. These mills
have recently been running on half
time because of the depression in the
trade. Serious thoughts have been had
from time to time of closing one of
these mills, as it would mean saving
of $1,000 a month to concentrate the
work in two instead of three. The COM
pany did not wish to discharge their
employees in any one of the three mills
however, so have kept all running at
a serious loss.
Investigation further reveals the fact
that the boys are ill-advised at this
time to make a demand for higher pay,
for at present, or up to the time they
went on strike, they were receiving
fully one-third more than Is paid
similar class of labor performing the
same work in any other silk mill in the
state. They have also had inducements
in the way of extra compensation for
every pound of silk they turn out over
certain fixed quantity.
There Is some talk of the day hands
at the silk mill going out this morning
to show their sympathy with the boys
movement. 1t is hoped that some way
may be found to avert this, as in the
present condition of the silk trade there
will be, no recourse for the KlOts COM
pany but TO shut down, and if the fires
in the furnaces are allowed to go out
there is the strongest probability that
they will not be lighted again this win
ter, thus throwing two hundred per-
sons out of work. Manager Frieder
told Tribune man yesterday after
noon that he looks for no further
trouble at the mill today and said also
that the night shift would not be start
eel again unless the trouble is adjusted
quickly. Under these circumstances,
as the boys will be the heaviest losers
by continued strike just now it. is
hoped that they will see the wisdom of
going back
A committee of the striking boys
called at the CarbOndale office of The
Tribune Saturday afternoon and left
the following communication, giving
their version OF the trouble, with re-
quest to make it public:
Ito The Tribune.
IN Saturday mornings issue it was
stated that the night shift would re-
turn to work in Il few days. as told by
Mr.. Frieder. the superintendent, but, as
the boys on strike are not willing to go
back under the old scale. we think that
perhaps the time will lengthen to
weeks or months. OF late the boys
have been deprived of their rights and
will stand for it no longer. Their
claim is that twelve hours Il night and
under the glare of electric lights is too
much. Some of the boys worked hard
all night, and the highest they received
was from % to 80 cents. The cause of
the Stflke Is tnat the flrSt llnle asks
a dollar Il night for five frames and so
cents for four frames. Second time
asks d raise of 20 cents as they are
only getting so cents a night. Third
time asks Il dollar a night for four
frames and 75 cents for three frames.
They also ask that the bobbin-carriers
of first second and third time be
given 60 cents a night These are the
I. nr hA .t.rl,, Il, ,,,1
unless they are met and given we will
stay out until they are. 1t Is near time
that we demand our rights. and now
that We have We Will stay out till we
get them IL 1t takes months.
ho ia.l.n