Wadsworth semi-weekly dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-11-15
A PETITION FROM
CITIZENS OF NEVADA.
TO THE HONORABkES
WIN. M. Stewart,
John P. Jones,
Francis 6. Newldnds.

6llS4
affiliated artisans. and voters of the
State of Nevada, United States Of
America. respectfully address you this
memorial in protest against the great
wrong being done Machinists and fell
low craftsmen by the NavyD Department.
That the withdrawal Of Transport re
pairs from the Navy Yards OF the
United States not only affects the
Machinists, Blacksmiths, Boiler Max
ers, Pattern Makers, Ship Smiths, and,
in fact. all skilled and unskilled labor,
but it retards mercantile business as
we'll.
We, the citizens of the State of
Nevada, place before you certain facts,
trusting you will give them your earn
est and careful consideration. 1t is
known there is less than 1880 mon
employed at the Mare Island Navy
Yard, and hat without crowding the
yards can readily accommodate 5000
men.
There are now lying in the Bay of
San Francisco three army transports,
the Sherman, the Grant and the Dixie.
More or less necessary repairs on these
transports will, it is estimated, be made
at an outlay Of l85 900. Not a
stroke of work has been done on these
vessels, and the Sherman has been in
the Bay Of San Francisco, under CON
tract to the Union Iron Works for
$685., 1000. since May LIST, at a cost Of
per day to the Government.
The fact that these Transports are
allowed to remain at a private ship
yard untouched, because of the arbi-
trary and domineering character of the
proprietors Of the private ship yards,
at a heavy expense to the Government,
while all facilities for doing the needed
work on them are close at hand at
Mare Island, is a heavy factor in en-
abling the Union. Fulton. and Risdon
Iron Works to make effort to bring
their striking Machinists and other en-
ployees to their terms. Thus the Gov
ernment's refusal to use its own ship
yards, is being used by the employers
to coerce their employees. Millions
upon millions OF dollars are being given
annually to private ship builders, while
the navy yards of the Government
throughout the United States are kept
in comparative idleness. The Mare
Island yard is equipped for all kinds of
repair work, it needs but an ~inconsioer-
able outlay to make it a great construc-
ton yard, yet the army transports are
repaired at private yards, and private
contractors are building the Government
war ships.
The excuse made for this policy is
that private yards do more work more
cheaply. The real aso appears to
be that the private yards afford profit
for men who have influence with those
who give out the work.
There can certainly be no claim that
the private yards do work more cheaply
or more quickly, for there is no record
Of a single instance when the private
Yards have delivered ships on contract
time. The time is near at hand when
the mechanic, the merchant, the tax
payer, and the resident of navy yard
communities will and must be given
the recognition that heretofore has
been given the private concerns. La
Dor is honest the world over, just as
honest in the Government navy yards
as it is in the private yards, and should
not be disseminated against. You,
qentlemen, are as powerful to help as
to iniure it, and the greatest tribute
YOU can pay to laoor IS vote to co that
which will improve It's condition. and
.uhan VOL take a stand in favor Of con