The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-05-17
MACHINISTS'
CLIMAX NEAR
Everything Now Points to a Gen
eral Strike.
WORKMEN ARE STILL FIRM
Although Not One Employer Has
Yielded to the Request for a
Nine Hour Day--Notice
Posted In One Shop.
WORKMEN ARE STILL FIRM

At the regular weekly meeting OF the
Wilmington Lodge of Machinists held
III the Smith building last night reports
were heard from Il number of the shop
y.onnittccs recently appointed to con-
fer with their employers on the nine
hour work day with ten hours pay.
Judging from the reports and the situa
| lion as it now stands, machinists in every
shop in Wilmington will go out on Mon
| lay next. So far not plant in Viii
nington has granted the machinists re-
quest. Nearly all of the local concerns
are willing to grant the machnists q
nine hour day with less pay for the
days work than they are now getting.
| The machinists, however, will not enter
tain such a proposition.
The IIilles and Jones Company showed
| its hand yesterday i'll n notice that
was posted around the shops. The no
tice stated that the company would not
grant the request. 1t farther stated that
the company was sorry that the men
have made their present stand and that
the company would probably have grant
I'D the request if it had been approached
in Il different manner. Representatives
OF the company have told all their ma
Shinists that those who intended to stay
ont on Monday can get their wages to-
morrow at noon. The shop is organized
nearly to man and from present indi-
cations not Il machinist employed by
that company will report for work on
Monday morning.
There was some slight trouble at the
machine shops Of the Harlan and Ilol-
ingsworth Company late yesterday af-
ternoon which was very significant at
the present time. Two journeymen ma
rhinists, and two apprentis boys We're
discharged by their foreman. The cause
Of their bcing discharged was that they
refused to work last night. The two
men had worked until eleven o'clock on
"Wednesday evening and when asked
TO work last night they declined. Their
foreman informed them that they could
either work or draw their time and
they did the latter. The two apprentis
boys were then told to work and on
refusing they were also discharged. II
was claimed by representatives of tho
company that it was a break down
job which they wanted the men to work
on. Machinists in the shop say that IL
was work which could have been done
several days ago.
Yesterday Il committee of the machn-
lists Of the PnSry and Jones Company
met Charles w. pusey president of that
company. There was II conference which
lasted sometime. hut no definite decision
was reached. The shop committee of
the j. Morton Poole Company again CON
fered with officials Of that firm yester-
day. The company was willing to agree
to nine hour work day, hut would not
grant the ten hours pay. The commit
tee refused to accept such proposition.
Local machniStS are not ut all dis
roliragcd over the present outlook. Even
though they will he compelled to go out
on May 20. They do not expect to
b. ont long and think 1t will only be !,
lShort time before their request is granted.
Many Of the companies take il for grant
ed that he upprentis boys will work even
though tine journeymcn 20 out. The ap-
premises. however. are with the Journey
men and il necessary will so ont with
them. If the men refuse to work on
Monday next they will he under and
will be guided in their movements by the
shop committee of the shop where they
were employed. All the business will bt
transacted by these committees MS the
International Association of Machinists
This evening there will he a meeting
of Delaware Lodge of AIachinists which
was recently organized. On Saturday
evening the executive committee Of Viii
mington Lodge will hold an important
Injecting.