The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-09-02
TO STRIKE ON LABOR DAY ?
xMPORTA NIT MEETING OF JACOBSON
 & PETTIS EMPLOYEES.

To be Held This After noon-Firm, Hay.
 ing Granted Nine-Hour Day for Two
 Months, Decides to Return to Ten-
 Hour sohtdule-Men Greatly Dis
 satisfied.
 Most inappropriately, one would
 think, Labor day this year is to bring
 a strike ordered by laborers. Unless
 conferences held yesterday were effect
 i've in solving the difficulty 1t is ex-
 pected that at meeting this afternoon
 Of between sixty and seventy-f1ve ma
 chinists in the employ of the Hoggson
 6s Pettis Manufacturing company of
 Court street, vote to strike will be
 passed, in which event the shop will open tomorrow, following to-day's hol- iday, very short handed. Last night,
 there seemed to be a bare chance that the strike might be averted, because the men are not wholly unanimous in the matter, but there is every prospect that a majority of them will go out and refuse to enter the shop unless differ ences are adjusted to-day.
 About two months ago, when the machinists of this city made their more or less successful effort for @ nine-hour day, the employees of the Hoggson & Pettis Co., met most unexpected and agreeable surprise, for the firm agreed to nine hours at once, without any trouble or talk, simply saying that if the men thought the nine-hour day would be as good for all concerned as the ten-hour day they, the firm, were willing to try the plan simply as an ex- pertinent, and if 1t proved successful it would be continued.
 Just how thoroughly satisfactory the new schedule has proved may be in ferred from the fact that on Tuesday last the firm gave notice that on and after Sept ember 1 the shop would re- turn to the ten-hour schedule. This announcement stirred the men up greatly and numerous conferences were held, winding up with meeting at the strikers headquarters in the Insurance building Saturday afternoon, at which the situation was fully talked over. Ernest White was chairman of the meeting and about a score of the em- ployes were present. No decisive vote was passed, as several of the leaders of the movement were absent. Ad- journment was taken until this after noon, when it is expected that all of the employees who are dissatisfied will show up for count of hands, and then it seems altogether likely that vote ! to strike will be passed.
 The men and the company disagree | very materially in the question at issue. | Messrs. Hoggson and Pettis are out of | town and their opinion has not been ob- but one of the men on the in side, who understands the situation from the firms viewpoint, says that the employees, having been granted their re- 1uest for a nine-hour day, took more privileges. and were more disregardful of the company's interests, than when ten hours. The situation f1n- lilly became untolerable, so he says, and .,le firm concluded to go back to the )ld schedule.
 On the other hand the men say that hese charges are not true, especially as applied to the whole force. There may De some exceptions, it is admitted, and there are loafers in every shop but he nine-hour day was much appreci- tied and the men felt inspired to create ,ffort and better work. They do not eel that they should suffer for the sins ,f the few.
 However, the meeting this afternoon will decide whether or not a strike shall ,e declared on Labor day.