The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-06-24
MACHINISTS HEAR
STRIKE DISCUSSED
The Rev. John Shape Talks to the Strik-
ing Men.
HE ANSWERS SOME OF HIS CRITICS

| JliutDintTy WHICH, lhuhVb poochbAV u 6ASos-
er production but which has brought no
material or permanent increase in wages.
That is to say they help their employers
to make more but they, themselves, get
no more. Third, they say fair warming
was given so that contracts were not
taken without full knowledge of what
might happen. It was known eighteen
months ago that their demand would be
made.
Fourth, they object to the presence
of scab detectives and so do /. There
was no broken peace and no need of a
theatrical attempt mt mending it. Fifth.
they remind MS of the fact that forty per
cent. of the men throughout the country
received the concession asked for before
for the strike. Thus showing that nearly
half of all the employers We're not
willing to have a strlNe.
Sixth. they say that the companies
loss, If they granted the request, would
he insignificant when the expense Of
light and heat is considered for the extra
hour in the short days of winter, and
when it is born in mind that with the
concession granted there would be men
in every shop working more certainly for
their employers interests. Seventh, we
say that the machinists have been in all
this strike gentlemanly, law-abiding and
sober. If they had been otherwise they
would not have been invited here this
morning nor would they have the sym
pathy, as they do have, of our commun.
| ity.
'1rhe employers side is also seven
fold side. First. they say that the men
cannot earn ten hours pay in nine hours
There may be some that couldn't earn
ten hours pay in twenty hours. but |
should want to hope that Wilmington
is possessed Of few men of that class
Second, they declare that some contracts
were taken before the strike was an.
nounced and in justice to hem let us
say that at present there is a boat in
the Harlan & Hollingsworth shops on
which work was begun two years ago
Third the g tGBBee GBRlA1Hif,tf A1Hif,tf to insert strike
clause and to allow for the possibility
of il would he to lose contracts. In the
same shops Just mentioned a $250,0OO job
was recently lost on the close margin or
5000 IT is plain then that unless the
employers do have fair warning OF nm
impending strike they cannot afford to
figure on the possibility of one.
"Fourth. they object to have outside
men. strangers whose supreme interest
in the strike is. MS they believe. the
drawing Of their salaries from the pock-
cts of the workmen. to dictate to them
the terms of their relations with their
own men. Fifth. they demand the right
to employ whom/they please nnd Ia
claim police protection for them. Sixth
they insist that men who voluntarily give
lup their jobs are no longfr employed ano
must come aS strangers and ask for Q
iob when the strike il ended. Seventh
the EMPLOYERS say they will never give
, IN and only three davs ago refused II
meet the strikers half way. when th'
proposition was made to 60 back to worl
, until the first of September on 81
per cent. increase.
sThird. an outsiders side. First.
strike Of any kind at any time make
r somebody suffer and the laboring mai
! always suffers most Yesterday a poo
2 woman called on me for help. she sal
2 she was the wife of one of the striker
t and that he was always from hom
. she knew not where. She was destitute
$ not having even money enough to bn
: can of condensed milk to feed tn
u that she had something to eat hut IL thf
sconndrel Of husband is getting his
!. A week and drinking it nm he ought to
: logged and I would like to hold til
70 rawhide He was not like any Of 70
p. who have heen in al Of this strike orde
10 " and sober and he is unworthy of Il
ID svmpathy you desire and are receivin
ot Second. contentious OF all sort are MS
n I,,,t th.. ai1 n n ma1l
y tor Even the sin cotention between O.
at and the world was settled indirectly. les
e. had 10 become mediator. Arbitra
81 your differences and let me suggest
" plnn laugh at it IL you Will
re "Invite Eve representative Wilmingt
~ people to form committee of arbitr
= tion. One from the employers, one fro
your own ranks. n resident of Wilmii
Sc ton: one clergyman of mature years, {
perienced and with calm Judgment:
representative male citizen. in no W
directly or Indirectly connected wi
either of the two firms that still hold
against the men. and one renresentati
female citizen and let both sides prom
beforehand to agree by the decisi'
Ttiri. then let them all go to Rehoho
not TO the Rehoboth of Delaware.
to the Rchoboth, of the Bible. of 7
chapter read to you this morning.
Won know what Rehoboth means: in
nlace it means bread minded. in anotl
broad streets. in this chapter 1t is
name of n well that indicated that str
.leine workmcn had Mt last found roo
TO live in peace and drink refresh
water from the well of prosperity.
emn'overs and men both leave the W
nf