Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-28
STRIKE I'M M MINENT
Machinists on the Southern Railway
Vote to Go Out.
REPORTS RECEIVED BY DELEGATES
Move Favored by Ninety-Seven
Per Cent of the Men.
MR.. GANNON'S VIEW

Ninety-seven per cent of the machinists
in the employ of the Southern railroad
have voted to strike for the nine-hour
day. and are only waiting the order Of
President James O'Connell of the Interna-
tonal Association of Machinsts before 60
ing out. This statement was made to a re-
porter of The Star this morning by the
delegation of machinsts, representing the
shops of the system which called on Vice
President Cannon at his office in this city
yesterday.
The men stated that they were very
much dsplea-sed with their reception by
Mr.. Cannon, and that as soon the con-
ference was over they had wired every
shop on the road, according to their pro-
gram, and ordered a poll of the men to be
taken, the ballot to be secret, and to eX-
press the will of each individual man re-
garding strike for the nine-hour day.
This poll was taken at once, with the
suit given above
The telegram to poll the shop which
was sent to Charleston, S. c., yesterday
afternoon, was transmitted by mistake
pull the shop The result was, according
to a telegram received here by the men,
that the entire force there quit work at
once, bOilermakerS and all The delegation
at once sent a correction of the dispatch
and told the men to go back to work until
the strike was formally ordered by Presi-
dent OConnell. This action by the Charles
ton men is taken to indicate the general
feeling regarding the matter, and accord
ing to the committee the men are eager to
go out as soon as the word is spoken. The
result OF the conference yesterday, also
the ballot taken by the men, has been trans
mitted to President O'Connell, who is now
In Toronto Canada.
Mr.. GannOn's Statement.
Vice President Cannon had been advised
of the action of the men at Charleston
this morning, and cOrroborated the state
ment Of the men. Mr.. Cannon says that
strike on his road will affect 300 ma
chinists. At the present time however,
he does not regard the situation as seri-
Gus. He says there are a great many men
who have been in the employ of the road
for many years, who are conservative and
well satisfied with their hours and wages
These men, he believes, will not join the
nine-hour movement, and will suffice to
carry on the work of the road until the
places of those who may strike can be
filled. Mr. Cannon reiterated his state
ment of yesterday, that 1t would be i'm
practicable to run the shops of the COM
pany on anything but a nine-hour basis.
In reviewing again the meeting of yester-
day. he said:
THE men listened to all that was said
in respectful manner. They also dis
cussed the details of many questions con-
nected with shop practices. They admit
a days work were satisfactory. They did
not press the apprenticeship question. They
did not appreciate that they were asking
for an advance In wages of IS 2-3 per cent
by the nine-hour demand. When the en-
tire subject seemed to have been exhaust
ed, their spokesman said they had no au-
thority to even discuss the various mat
terS that had been referred to in the meet
ing, but that their duty was confined to
presenting the contract of the machiniSts'
union regarding the nine-hour day When
they were given to understand that the
company would not entertain any PROPOSE
tion requiring it to work it's shops on the
nine-hour basis, they withdrew from the
meeting, saying they would now have to
report to their organizations.
Message to superintendent.
Il wired our general superintendent i'm
mediately as follows" continued Mr.. Can
non, Had thrce-hour meeting with shop
men today. Some of them seem disposed
to make trouble, regardless of conse-
Quences. They may influence the safe and
conservative members to wire their home
shops In way to cause misunderstand-
inss I urged them to report to their peo-
pie in person, and with the minutes Of our
meeting, so that all interested might know
just what had taken place and what they
can expect. When our men get all the
Facts and particulars they will not allow
agitators walking delegates to get them
into trouble. If the committee undertakes
TO direct matters by wire, the master me-
chanfcS can, / am sure satisfy the men
regarding their duty to postpone any and
all action until they get the full particu-
lars, and can read or have read to them
just what took place at the meeting"
Mr. Cannon is having a verbatim ac-
count of the meeting printed, which will
be distributed throughout all the Shops