The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-21
THE Big STRIKE is ON
ESTIMATED THAT 10000 MACHIN-
lists ARE OUT.
FIGHT FOR NINE-HoUR DAY.
PRESIDENT O'CONNELL CLAIMS
STRIKE Is GENERAL.

Very Large Number of Firms Have
Accepted the Associations Terms
and Many Others Are Expected 10
Accept-The Indications Are That
the Strike VIII BE of Brief Durn-
ton, Except at San Francisco,
Where $500 Men Are Out-South-
ern Railway Men Did Not Strike.
Washington, May 2O-Approximately
$4,000 machinists throughout the country
struck to-day for a nine-hour day; a
scale of wages equal to the present ten
hour per day scale, and for other de-
mands. This is the rough estimate of
President O'Connell of the National AS
sociation of Machinists, based on tele-
graphic advices that have reached him to-
day from the machinists' headquarters in
the various cities.
The strike thus far has not extended to
the allied trades, save in one or two in
stances, as at Scranton, Pa, where men
in part of the allied trades are out.
No Machinists engaged in government
are affected. This is due to the fact that
on suct work an eight-hour day scale al
lCdhy pItNdllSs INdllIOdu uldCuNllSlS
rule are not involved in the strike.
though the men on several roads are out
The Central Vermont shop machnists at
St. Albans. numbering probably 300, nave
struck. The Lehigh Valley Railroad
machnists at Buffalo, Sayre, Wilkesbarre
and Elmira are out. aggregating
about 500 all told. The Delaware. Lack
ffaIn
Scranton, Wilkesbarre and intermediate
points are out. The Gulf. Colorado and
Santa Fe men also are out. The strike
order. however. does not apply to the
railroads generally.
The situation this afternoon was sum-
married. by President O'Connell In the
following statement to the Associated
Press:
I'VE are demanding a nine-hour day
universally throughout the trade, with an
increase of wages sufficient to overcome
the loss of the hour in
time; regulation Of the ap-
premiership system and the number that
shall be employed; in accordance with the
number of journeymen machinists EN-
ployed; agreements as to arbitration of all
disputes that may arise in the future; the
right of the machinists to be represented
by a committee; and agreements that
there shall be absolutely no discrimina-
ton against machinists because of their
membership in the union.
The Orders Generally Obeyed.
From the present indications and the
statements issuing from headquarters at
the various points. the orders are being
generally o6eyed and in larger numbers
than wes anticipated. In certain cases
where only a few hundred were expected
40 be involved the Indications are that
the number will be increased so per cent.
The number of firms singing
indicates that in localities where the
agreements are being made the strike will
not last over a few days. In other local
tiles, where a larger number of men are
being involved / look forward to an ad-
justment being reached within the pres
ent week"
Following is statement of the num-
Der of men out at important points:
Hartford, Conn, 1000 Ansonia and Der
by, Conn, 900; Hamilton, O., 1000: Buff
falo 100; Scranton. $500: Cincinnati COM
pletely tied up and 5000 men out; Con-
norsville, Ind, 200; Palestine, Tex, 200;
York. Pa, 800; East Orange, N. j., 800:
Oswego. N. Y, 300; Norfolk, Va. all
shops out 500 men.
Word from other large cities is tardy
In reaching here.
over Nine Hundred Firms Sign.
Mr.. O'Connell said tonight that up to
o'clock reports show that 9O4 firms, en-
ploying approximately 10000 men, had
signed the agreements for the nine-hour
day OF made satisfactory arrangements
with the local organizations.