Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-05
STATUS OF LOCAL STRIKE
DEMAND OF THE DISTRICT STEAM
FILTERS AND HELPERS.
The Employers Issue Ultimatum and
Contest Declared to Have Assumed
National Proportions.

meeting of the Richard A. Lanis Local
Branch. No. 10, of Steam Filters the MEM
bers of which have been on strike since
Monday last, was held this morning at the
Headquarters No. 42J 18th street north
west. There was a full attendance
The situation was fully discussed. and
it was determined by an unanimous
vote to adhere to the scale which was re-
Gently submitted to the employers. The
announcement was made that the National
Association of Steam Filters, through its
executive board. has Endorsed the demand
of the strikers and assured them of moral
support and financial aid if the latter
should be needed.
A detailed statement of the matter at
issue between the journeymen and the en-
ployers, signed by Secretary Gaut of the
strikers copy of which has been forward
ed to Local Branch No. 1 of New York
city, was read as follows:
Commencing back several months. the
local branches. No. 10 and No. Is, filters
and helpers, respectively, entered into ne
gotiations with the master steam and hot
water filters of Washington, D. c., in re-
gard to change in the rate of wages of
journeymen steam filters and the helpers
belonging to the two locals. Local No. 10
proposed that the wages of filters be
changed from So per day to 45 cents per
hour, or $3.50 per day of eight hours, and
Local No. Is asked that the wages OF help
ers be changed from S1.50 per day to 50
per day of eight hours. Both locals asked
that a formal contract be drawn up and
signed to that effect.
Alleged Refusal.
1.-THE Master Steam Filters Association
refused to accept the proposition and Of
fered in lieu thereof a proposition fixing
the rate of wages at S3.20 per day for fit
tiers and SLIGO per day for helpers, each
day to be made up of eight hours.
After mature elaboration, the two locals
again proposed that the wages of filters
and helpers should be fixed at $50 and 81
per day. respectively, which proposition
was in time declined by the Master Steam
Filters Association.
Accordingly. after exhausting all other
means. and being convinced that other ne
gotiatiOns would be unavailing Local No.
~, at a meeting on the 18th ultimo, and
Local y, al its last regular meeting, de-
cided to fix the rate of wages of steam fit
tiers and helpers at $50 and 81 per day of
eight hours, respectively, on and after July
p 1900, and all members were ordered to
remain away from work Monday morning
and continue to stay away until the de-
mands We're met by the bosses and en-
bodied into a formal contract.
I'm pursuance of this decision. every
member of both Locals 10 and % went out
on Monday, July 2, 1900, and have remain
ed out up to the present time.
1T Is proper to state that 1t has been
the policy of both the filters and the help
erS TO recognize the Master steam and Hot
Water Filters Association of Washington,
D. c., which We have understood has with
in Its membership a large majority of the
employing steam filters of the city: but
after our meeting Of the 29th ultmo the
following communication was sent to each
of the employing steam filters of this city:
- i have been directed to inform you that
at regular meeting of Local Branch. No.
10. of the National Association of Steam
and Hot Water Filters. held tonight it
was formally decided that and after
Monday, July 2. 1900, the standard rate of
wages of steam filters belonging to that
organization shall be $3.50 per day. 1t is
confidently hoped that you will accede to
the wishes of the local in this matter
Strike Announced.
"Contemporaneously with this action the
secretary of Local No. % sent the following
communication to the same parties:
" 'UnGer instructions of L. B., No. %
hereby inform you that this local will go on
strike Monday, July .. 1900, for two dollars
$1,000 per day of eight hours. Any COM
munication you may wish to make will re-
Ceive prompt attention of the local
Now Local, No. 10. directs me to lay this
matter before your association with view
of enhsting your sympathy and co-opera-
ton In the matter.
c'Mr Pagan, who is the secretary of the
Master Steam Filters Association, is the
manage and business representative of
Johnson & Morris of New York;
we believe thdt the easiest way 10
secure his support will be through your
local and the New York office of Johnson d;
Morris. Our recent national convention in
Gorsed our demand for $3.50 per day, and
ii has also been Endorsed by our national
executive board as well as the Central
Labor Union and Building Trades Council
of this city.
in addition to these l also sent a COM
mnnica;ion to Mr.. Thomas Eagan. secre-
tary of the Master Steam Filters Associa-
ton of the District of Columbia as follows:
q ON the Goth ultimo. in obedience to In
structions. l wrote to each of the employing
steam filters of this city that Local. No. 10.
had decided that on and after July 2, 1900.
the standard rate of wages of journeymen
steam filters belonging to that organiza-
ton would be $3.50 per day. In further
pursuance of instruction from the local
now beg to submit for the action of the
Master Filters Association, of which you
are the secretary, a form of agreement,
duly signed by the proper representatives
of our local. which we trust will meet with
the approval of your organization.
This would have been sooner presented
for your consideration but for unavoidable
delay in preparing the form of agree
ment.'"
Mr.. EaRan's Response.
To this communication the following re-
ply was received from the employees.
through Thomas Eagan. secretary of the
Master Steam and Hot Water Filters As
ISOLATION of the District of Columbia, dated
July 3:
Your communication of this date receiv-
ed and I am instructed to say for M. S.
and H. w. F. A that as far as any nnion
is concerned, we completely ignore them,
as they ceased to exist for us when our
past proposition of April Is was ignored
by themselves, and. as an ultimatum, that
you may more thoroughly understand our
position in this matter. we make the fol-
lowing statements, and shall endeavor to
substantiate them:
list. We recognize no union of either fit