The San Francisco call., 1901-10-17
Union Men Give Up Fight
After Struggle Of
Five Months.
Mechanics Accept Old Terms
and Sixty Return to
Iron Works.
Strikers Candidly Admit Their De-
feat and Say They Are Glad the
Long Contest Is
Ended

A severe blow was dealt the machinists
strike yesterday when the news was made
public that the members OF Shipwrights
and Calkers' Union No. 1852 had formal
" resolved on Tuesday to declare off their
strike for nine hours with ten hours pay.
That the Information was correct was
demonstrated at the Union and RisdOn
Iron Works during the morning. when
some sixty men, who walked out with
the machinists on May ~, applied for
and We're gwen work at the old terms
The action Of the shipwrights was not
unexpected by the iron men. The mat
Ter Of returning to work had been dis
cUSSed for several weeks in the union,
and an early break was looked for. Con-
SeQuently, when a committee OF the union
three weeks ago began OVertureS by ask
ing on what terms peace might be re-
stored, the iron men felt that the end
was near Several consultations were
had. and the terms fully discussed. On
Tuesday the final meeting Of the commit
tee Of shipwrights. consisting of Edward
Case, president of the union; Alexander
Cunningham and Charles Maury and Ir-
wing n. Scott Of the Union Iron Works
ana captain Taylor -,,,l OF the Risdon Iron
ment was reached and accepted as final
by both factions;
Terms Of Settlement.
That all union shipwrights and calkers be
instated 10 their old positions on application or
as soon thereafter as conditions viii allow
their employment.
That the old schedule Of wages. namely, 50 IS
work, remain in force pending the determine
ti0n Of the nachinlsts strike
That the union be recognized a body the
employers agreeing not TO discriminate against
union shipWrights and calkers because Of their
sffliation with the union.
That in the event Of the machnists winning
their fight for nine hours with ten hours pay,
the shipwrights and caIkers shall be allowed the
same terms.
When these terms had been thoroughly
discussed and agreed to by the iron men
and representative Of the union, the
committee Immediately called a special
meeting OF the union and the recOmmen-
cepted. The union thereupon adopted a
resolution declaring the strike off and
instructing members to return to work at
their own convenience.
The effect Of the action was the return
TO the Union Iron Works Of thirty men
yesterday morning. At the same time a
like number Joined the forces at the Ris-
don Iron Works. In the latter works
about eighty ShipWrights We're employed
before the strike IN May. Captain Taylor
announced that he could not Immediately
take back all his old force, but thought
the men could be given places within the
next two weeks. Inasmuch as the Union
Iron Works is doing considerable. repair
work on transports and other vessels, it is
thought thought a largely increased force, of ship
Wrlghts as well as calkers will be re-
CURED within few days.
Strike Is a Failure.
President Case Of the Shipwrights' and
C2lkers Union candidly admitted last
night that the strike was a failure. He
said further that the majority of the
members Of the union, being married men,
hailed the settlement Of the strike at any
terms with pleasure. He resumed:
Many Of the men were in sore straits. and
they were growing very restless. Every at
tempt at compromise met with failure and
the result was that the more timid began to
desert the union, while others returned 10
- we decided to come TO some settlement at any
cost The management Of the Union and Ris-
don Works treated US with great courtesy but
they positively refused 10 grant the terms for
which we COntended. We finally gave way to
pressure and came to terms. We lost our
ttude. How our action viii affect the ma
chinists' strike I have no means Of know
Ing. but I do not think Il will benefit their
cause Judging by what and heard dur
ing our negotiations for settlement I have ar
rived at the conclusion that the machinists'
fight is hopeless.
While the mana cement of the Union
and RisdOn works jubilant at the
abandonment by the shipwrights of their
fight, they say little. They express the
belief however, that the machinists'
strike is disintegrating slowly and that
the action Of the shnpwrights Will hasten
the end Of the trouble. The return of the
sixty men will ease matters considera blv
at both works, and in measure provide
the iron men with additional munitions of
war against the striking machiniSts. It
Is believed that the ship jOiners, filters
riVeters, boiler makers and pattern MAX
ers who are still out will soon drop in line
with the shiDwrights. several committees
from those bodies having already inquired
as 70 terms Of settlement.