The times., 1901-05-29
NEARING THE END.
Mr. O'Conneu Expects n setticmen nj
of the MaehInTsfs' Strike.


TORONTO. May 2S.-James O'ConneIl.
President of the International Assoeia-
tioa OF Machinists. expects the strike to
be positively settled by Saturday night.
The difficulty certainly appears TO be
assuming much more hopeful phase. ac-
cording to reports from all over the
United States received by the officials
here
A large number OF firms in the United
States have come 70 terms with the
strikers and signed the agreement The
most important of these is the locomotive
works at Dunkirk. ". Y. where the 1900
men went back to work this morning
The company granted increased wages.
shorter hours. and recognition OF the
union.
L am looking for a complete settlement
of the matter in our favor by the end OF
the week in all districts. with the excep-
ton Of the Pacific Coast. where the en-
Ploying firms are more stubborn. said
Mr.. o ConneIL
There Is little room for doubt that a
strike OF nachinists employed by the
Southern Rallway Is imminent The re-
Iusal OF r. ). Cannon. Third Vice Presi-
dent and General Manager of that road,
10 grant a nine-hour day scale to the
committee of machinists who had a con-
the men to go, out 1t was stated yester-
day by one of the committee of machin-
lists just as the party was leaving Wash
ingtOn that nearly all of the rnachinfstS
on the road had voted to go out and that
the order to strike from President James
OConnell, of the International Associa-
tion OF Machiuists, was all that was
awaited.
The strike. If it comes. will affect about
300 machinists. The officials Of the South
ern are inclined to think that the trouble
will not be serious. Mr.. Cannon believes
that there are a large number OF old
employees who are satisfied with the pres
ent scale and will not join in the strike
Just how soon the strike order will
probably be issued is not decided The
machinists yesterday stated that tmme-
diately after the conference with Mr..
Cannon they wired the result of their ap-
plication to all the shops of the Southern
A poll was taken and as a result, they
state, a desire was expressed to strike.
This fact was made known - President
OCOnneil. who is at present awaiting the
opening Of the annual convention of the
International Association of MachinistS
at Toronto, Canada, on June 8. His ad-
vice in the matter will be great factor
of consideration before the strike IS or
dered. II Is not probable that a. strike
order will go forth before the machinists,
who conferred with Mr.. Cannon here on
Monday, have reported personally TO The
machinists whom they represent.
The answer given the machinists at that
conference was a fat refusal Mr.. Can
non said that the adoption Of the nine
hour scale meant an Increase OF Is 2-3
per cent in the rate Of salary paid the
machinists, that the loss of the hour each
day would greatly Inconvenience the Op-
Grafton of the road and that the company
was unwilling TO stand the extra expense
He stated also that he thought there
were enough old men who would not
leave their places TO operate the shops
until new men had taken the places
Of those who would strike. That state
ment is taken as an indication that the
Southern does not intend to yield readily
TO the machinisJs, even if a strike IS or
dered