The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-24
STRIKE Is ON HERE.
seabOard Air Line Shops Deserted
by MachinistS.


The machinsts' strike that is in force
throughout the country began in Savan-
nan at O'Clock yesterday afternoon,
when II men employed in the shops of the
Seaboard Air Line put down their tools
and quit work. There are only three ma
chinists on the night force, and these men
failed to put in an appearance last night,
making total of twenty men who obeyed
the order of the unions.
Eight maehinists, four blacksmiths, two
apprentice boys, one copper smith, one
boiler maker and one carpenter were
those who went out at the dinner hour.
One carpenter not a member of the I'M
ion, remained on duty. The greese wipers
and office force at the round house also
remained at work. They are not idenu-
ned with any of the unions.
There was no shut down at either the
Plant System or Central shops, and the
men worked as usual. No demands have
been made on these roads as yet and the
union men say that they have no COM
plant to lodge. A member stated last
night, however that if either road takes
the Seaboard work the union men will
step out. Just what plan is on foot to
u
and the machinists will not discuss the
subject.
The machinists' union in Savannah
numbers little less than ninety men and
they are moving cautiously and working
with the national organization. The men
confidently expect to win their fight for
shorter hours and the subject was dis
cussed at the regular meeting held last
night in Labor Hall. AS is customary
the session was a secret one and 1t was
announced at its conclusion that nothing
had transpired that would interest the
public.
II appears that the strike order from
the committee that visited Portsmouth
to treat with the Seaboard officials, men,
ton of which was made in the Morning
News at the time, was received in Sa-
vannah Wednesday night. 1t came in
cipher and there was considera BILE diff
Guilty in translating it. A second mes
sage had to be sent to the committee and
for that reason the men did not stop un-
til they had completed half a days work.
The strike on the Seaboard system is
in force at Portsmouth, Raleigh Able
Vile, Americas, Fernandina and Savan-
nah. In the neighborhood of one hundred
men are employed in the shops at Amer
icus which is in the same division with
Savannah These places are in what is
known as the fourth division and the men
are under Superintendent Cecil Gabbett
Mr.. Gabbett received word at o'clock
yesterday morning that the men at Amer
icus had gone out.
During the morning Superintendent
Gabbett received the following telegram
from General Superintendent McBee at
Portsmouth, and a copy was posted in
the shops:
Portsmouth, Va, May %, 19O1.-Mr. Cecil
Gabbbett, Savannah Ga: Below is a
telegram sent master mechanics by su-
perintendent motive power this morning,
giving facts in connection with action
taken by our machinists. Demand was
made upon US yesterday afternoon by ma
chinists for nine-hour day, 1215 per cent.
increase in wages and changes in shop
regulations. Demand for nine-hour day
was declined. Wages paid by us are al
ready as high, and in some cases higher,
than are commonly paid by other roads
in our territory, and so admitted by COM
mittee We stated we were willing to
pay same wages and apply same condi-
tons of service as were commonly in eff
feet on other roads in our territory, and
that we would meet existing conditions
in this respect, whatever they might be.
Strike was afterwards ordered by union
without notice to us. Please have facts
understood Dy all concerned. PleaSe see
that our position is clearly understood.
V. E. McBee.
In discussing the situation Mr. tsabbett
stated that the men had struck without
giving him the slightest notice of their
intention. He could not understand their
reason for going out, he said, and be-
lieves that 1t is known only to the men.
The Seaboard people say that this is the
dullest season of the year with them,
and that they are not greatly concerned
at the turn affairs have taken. The roll
ing stock they declare is in first-class con-
dition, and they say that they can get
along very nicely for at least thirty days
without any help. No thought has yet
been given to filling the places of the
strikers with non-union men.
A member of one of the local unions
stated that in his opinion the machinists
throughout the country will win their fight
for shorter hours. If this should be the
case he believes that the other branches
of trade will one by one insist on the short
hours, and is of the opinion that there will
be strike after strike until this end is ac-
complished by the laboring men.