The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-20
STRIKE is ON.
Long Expected Walk Out of Ma
chinists Is Inaugurated.
Thousands Quit Work in All
Parts of the Country.
1000 Men Respond to the Order
at Milwaukee.
% PLANTS AFFECTED.
Only 5000 Men Quit in New
York City.
Many Employers Have Met the
Strikers Demands.
5 PLANTS AFFECTED.

Washington, May 20-The general
strike of the employees in the machinery
and allied metal trades throughout the
country to enforce a nine hour day
with an increase of wages to meet the
reduction in the hours of labor took ef-
feet today. Reports We're received by
President O'Connen of the National As
sociation of Machinists and other Off
cials, who are in this city, early in the
forenoon, indicating that large num-
ber of establishments heretofore hold
ing out against the demands Of the men
were making the necessary concessions.
Mr.. O'COnnell said this morning that 1t
was too early to make any estimate of
the number of men out His original
figure was 10000 men directly affected
and several hundred thousand Indirect
ly- This figure has been largely reduced
by the number Of agreements reached
in the last two or three days. Mr.. O'Con-
nell while refusing to make any esti-
mates or draw any conclusions until Ia
ter in the day. said the reports so far
received were Of a very encouraging ma
ture.
In New England the first reports show
that rnanV men are out but the number
in the aggregate can not be estimated as
yet The states mostly affected in New
England are Connecticut and Vermont
ports to the headquarters show all the
machinists in the towns of Ansonia and
Derby are out. The men in the principal
towns in Vermont also have struck.
They include St. Johnsbury, Rutland
and st. Albans. Massachusetts and New
York were late in making reports. From
Cincinnati the indications are that all
the men are out. This is one of the
points where the most difficulty in set
tIement has been apprehended. In
Cleveland the situation has improved
While the number of men out is not
ated, the report from there today an
nounces that the automatic refrigerator
com pany, the Grant Tool company, the
Danielson Tool company and Bolinger
and Reilly have signed with the men
and work in those establishments con-
tinues. In Wilmington, Della. several Of
the concerns are reported as having
agreed to the terms this morning.
The report from Denver shows that no
trouble is expected there. About three
quarters of the concerns employing ma
chinists in that city have signed and
negotiations are in progress for a set
tlement with others which look hopeful.
The advices from Chicago indicate tina
arrangements have been made with Il
great majority of the firms under which
the agreement is signed and viii be en-
forced.
1000 OUT AT MILWAUKEE.
Milwaukee, Wis, May 2O.-About 1000
machinists responded to the order of
President James O'COnnel of the Ma
tiOnal Association of MachinistS and
went on strike in the various plants en-
r,loS-ine- ma chinists today The men were
joined by several hundred helpers. The
number of plants affected is twenty-five
out Of total of tWenty-eight in the city.
The shops employing the greatest num-
Der of men are as follows:
e. P. Allis company 500, Filter &
Stowell company 125, Nordberg company
175, Bucyrus Steam Shovel company,
South Milwaukee, 100, Vilter Manu-
featuring company So
The present strike is the largest of its
kind in the history of the city
5000 MEN OUT.
New York, May 20-At the local head
quarters of the Central executive board
of the international Association of
Machinists it was said today that not
more than 5000 out of 1900 machinistS
in the New York district were on strike.
Many of the employers in New York
agreed to the WOrkmken'S request for
nine hour day.
In Jersey city the only men on strike
were about forty men employed in the
small repair shops Of the Central rail-
road of New Jersey
OUT. EARLY IN CINCINNATI.
Cincinnati. May 20.-Although the
strike of machinists set for today was
not expected to be inaugurated until 10
a. m. professions We're formed as early
as 7.30 o'clock, and marched to the lar
ger manufacturing concerns and called
the men out The response was quite
general, even among employees not mem
had given no intimation that they were
in sympathy with the strike. Some of
these men later explained to their en-
ployers that they went out as a matter
of policy and not of principle Whether
they will return to work remains TO be
seen. At several of the large manufac-
tories the men are all at WOrk-even
where no increase of wages has been
arranged for.
One leading manufacturer whose men
hat # a
mand or request had been made by his
employees SO that it was impossible to
say anything had been refused It seem
ed to him that the men were anxious
simply to inaugurate a strike. Samuel
Gompers. president of the American
Federation of Labor arrived early to-
day Vice President Thomas Kidd anu
Treasurer John B. Lennon, both mem
bers of the executive board of the
American Federation Of Labor had pre-
ceded Mr.. Gompers here. Early today
they went into conference with the To-
ton Of Machinists.
QUIET AT CLEVELAND.
Cleveland O., May 20.-About 1900
n achinfsts employed in this city are
on strike today in order to enforce their
demand for nine hour working day
with ten hours pay. The strikers are
orderly and quiet No trouble of any
kind has been reported
II SHOPS GRANT DEMANDS.
Detroit, Mich, May 20--Up to 10
o'clock today seventeen local machine
shops employing a total of $50 men had
granted the demands of the Interna-
tiona1 Association of Machinists and
their employees were at work. Five