Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-19
STRIKES PROMISED
By Machinists Throughout the
United States and Canada.
Result Of Inability to Settle the Exist
ing Trouble in Chicago.
Plants with Contracts Worth Many Millions
May Soon Be Closed.

International Association Of Machn-
lists and the administrative council of
the National Metal Trade Association,
which ended at 1.3O O'Clock, this morn
ing, President James O'Connell of the
union declared the strikes would be
called Immediately in all parts Of the
United States and Canada. Such
strikes would involve 100000 men and
cause to be shut down for an indefinite
period plants having an aggregate
capacity Of millions Of dollars.
Chicago labor troubles are respon-
sible for the disagreement which is ex-
pected to precipitate the general ma
chinists' strike. Were il not for the
fact that leaders of the Machinists
Union refused to call off the strikes
that now exist in Chicago, Columbus,
Ohio, and Paterson, y. j., the manu-
facturers and the leaders, it is be-
lieyed, would have come to an annie
able agreement and arbitration would
have been permanently established be
tween the National Metal Trades AS
ISOLATION and the International Asso-
citation of Machnists.
The members of the executive board
fused to call aft the Chicago strike. as
they declared that if they did the Chi
cago local would secede from the In
ternational Association. When the re-
fusal Of the machinists to end the
strike was presented to the manufac-
turers they issued an ultimatum to the
labor leaders and on their refusal to
agree to its provisions all negotiations
We're broken off. Before leaving the
rooms in which the joint conference
was held President James O'Connell of
the International Union declared that
the union would begin Immediately to
cali strikes in all parts Of the country.
The first Of these strikes will be called
in Cleveland, Ohio. After all the large
cities have been tied up strikes will be
called in the machine shops Of all the
roads in the country.
The joint conference. which com
menced at = o'clock. Saturday after
noon. and did not cnd until 1.30 o'clock.
Sunday morning, was held at the
Grand Pacific hotel. There Were pres
ent, representative Of the Machinists
Union: President James OCunnell,
Washington; Organizer Stuart Reed,
Toledo, Ohio: Hugh Doran. Chicago;
A. w. Holmes, Buffalo: F. j. Conlin.
Sioux city; J. J. Connolly, Boston.
The manufacturers present at the
conference We're: George q. Sheldon,
Erie Iron Works. Erie, Pa; :. +. Still
man, Watson Stillman Co, New York;
w. NJ. Taylor, Chandler x Taylor Co.
indianapolis. Ind. Walter Laidlaw
Dunne-GordOn Co, Cincinnati. Ohio;
w. II. Hoyt Gates Iron Works, Chi
cago. NJ II. Barker. American Tool
ana Machine Co. Boston; George ii.
Watts, Watts Campbell 90. Boston;
II. II. Leland. Leland & Falkener. de-
troit Mich; j. w. Gardiner. Gardiner
Grovener Co, Quincy, H.; +. w. Pills
bury, Fred Wolf Co.. Chicago; Charles
Alis. Edward p. Allis Co, Milwaukee,
Wis: Fred Schweltmann. Wagner
Electric Mfg. Co. st. Louis; w. j.
Chalmers. Frazer K Chalmers. Chicago
and England; II. F. Devans. New
York; p. W. Gates. Gates Iron Works.
Chicago; Charles r. Newcombe, Erie
Iron Works. Erie. Pa; II. n. Covell.
Lidlgerwood Mfg. Co. Brooklyn: A. j.
Caldwell. Pump Trust, New Jersey.
After meeting in separate confer
ences, all the afternoon, the manufac-
meeting, at F. NJ. At this meeting
the manufacturers submitted TO the
machinists a proposal for arbitration
substantially as follows:
All strikes and lockout to be called
off An arbitration committee consist
ing Of the presidents of the two organ
izations and two members Of each as
ISOLATION who shall arbitrate all pres
ent and future difficulties and whose
decision shall be accepted as final by
both parties to the agreement.
on tie second proposition the two as
were united. The labor lead
ers after holding a meeting refused to
agree to the first proposition and sub
mitted a demand for immediate and
separate arbitration of the Chicago
difficulty. This the manufacturers re-
fused to ratify and the conference
broke up, both sides making what
to a formal declaration of
war. The declaration of the machin
lists took the form of an international
strike made by President OConnell and
Organizer Reed.
The manufacturers presented their
side of the question in resolutions, the
substance of which follows:
Whereas, the administrative coun-
ell Of the National Metal Trades Asso-
citation has met in Chicago for the ex-
press purpose of considering the ques-
ton of adopting joint agreement with
the executive officers of the lnterna-
ti0naI Association of Machinists rela
ting to the arbitration of any differ
ences that may arise between the
members of the two associations, and
Whereas, the call for this meeting
was issued upon the express under
standing that the president Of the In
ternational Association Of Machinists in
with Mr.. Hoyt. a member
OF this association. had not only APP
proved of the general form Of the
endorsed by the National
Metal Trades Association, this day, but
had signified his intention to call his
executive council together to ratify the
said form of agreement, and
Whereas, the executive committee
If the international Association OF
Machinists now refuses to sign SAID