Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-22
Big Strike Inaugurated at Cleveland
This Morning.
GENERAL STRIKE Is THREATENED
Men Demand Ten Hours Pay for
Nine Hours Work.
SERIOUS POSSIBILITIES

CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 22.-After
voting for over four hours in secret ses-
sion last night 1,50O machinists of Cleve-
land unanimously declared a strike to go
into effect at 8 o'clock this morning. The
strike will affect about fifty-fve machine
shops and manufactures. The result OF
the decisive ballot was received with cheers.
President O'Connell said that now it
looked though Cleveland would be the
scene of one of the biggest strikes inaugu-
rated in the United States.
I'VE are fighting here in Cleveland for an
extra hour" he said. That hour will be
spent in reading and rest. The manufac-
turers, l claim, are afraid to let us have
the extra hour fearing that we will be-
come cognizant of our conditions to such
a degree that we will demand more and
MORE
Serious Possibilities.
In accordance with the decision reached
at the meeting, which lasted practically
throughout the night, the machnists en-
ployed in more than fifty establishments
laid down their tools a O clock this morn
ing. 1t is stated that about 1000 men are
out, including union and non-union men,
Should the strike continue for few days
several thousand additional men in other
trades dependent upon the machinists will
become idle. The strikers declare they will
remain out until their demands for nine
hour day with ten hours pay is granted by
the employers.
President O'Connell's Statement.
At four establishments the machinsts
were notified early in the day that their
demands had been granted. In these shops
the men continued at work.
President OConnell of the International
Machinsts' Union has issued the following
statement:
IF the nine-hour day is not granted by
the employers of machnists throughout the
country by April l, there will be Il general
strike involving 2Ou.0G0 machinists. and not
d wheel will be turned until the concession
is made.
The strikes now in operation in Chicago,
Cleveland. Columbus and other cities have
so far encouraged the machinsts of the
United States to make a general demand
for a nine-hour day, and unless the present
strikes are speedily adjusted it will be very
hard to prevent a general movement.
Employers Must Rec ede.
''Telegrams are pouring in from all Sec
tons of the country asking permission to
make the demand. l am, however, trying to
avoid the necessity of Il general strike, and
if the officers of the National Metal Trades
Association be induced to meet in a
spirit of fairness, without imposing unrea-
sonable conditions to their propositions,
general strike can be averted.
IF the employers, however insist that
all present strikes must be declared off for
an indefinite period, before they will con-
slider The question of arbitration, ami
cable adjustment cannot be looked for.
President OConnell left for Erie Pa,
where he expects to confer with President
Sheldon Of the National Metal Trades AS
scciation, with view to bringing about 4
settlement of pending machinists' strikes
at various points.
Eastern Manufacturers Organizing.
NEW YORK, March 22.-The threat of
the western leaders of organized labor to
tie up machine shops throughout the coun-
try unless the nine-hour day is granted to
all employees has carried such weight with
local members of the national Metal Trades
Association as to cause them to take imme-
diate steps toward organization. The new
organization is only partially formed, but
when completed will include the machine
manufactures of this city and adjacent
towns