The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-06-03
MACHINlSTS
SUCCESSFUL
-
Belts. Machine Company
Accedes to the Request
For Nine Hours.

Y, Belts Machine Company, Diamond
State Steel Company and the Standard
Tool and Machine Company, conceded
the nine hour day on Saturday. 1t all
came as a sort of surprise to the
machinists, especially the action Of the
Belts Machine Company. 1t was not ex-
pected by the machinists that the Belts
Company would grant the demand until
after the meeting of the Tool Manufac-
turers' Association, which was to be held
today.
On Friday the officials of the Belts
Machine Company sent for the committee
of machinists. A conference was held
but no definite decision WAS made. Satur-
day morning another conference was
held with the committee but still no
definite agreement was reached. On
Saturday afternoon the committee and
the officials of the company held the
third conference. After the matter was
thoroughly discussed the company decid-
tu " grant lHc Hlhe houi "as "'h ~ p"
hours pay. The Belts Machine Com
pany employs about 50 machinists. The
striking men feel that ii was Il great vie
tory and are grateful to the company
for granting the request.
The Standard Tool and Machine Com
pany also decided to grant the request
after a conference with committee of
the strikers on Saturday afternoon. The
committee met Floyd d. Stowe. proprie-
tor of the concern in the morning but at
that meeting no decision was reached.
The committee returned in the afternoon.
The company employs five or six ma
chinists and several apprentices.
The Diamond State Steel Company
was the third shop to grant the demand
on Saturday. 1t was simply shop affair
with the Diamond State Steel Company
as only four of the machiniSts employed
at that shop are members of the Ma
chinists' Union. The demand for Il
shorter day was not made by the union.
A committee of the employees held a
conference with the company on Satur-
day afternoon when it conceded to Il nine
hour day with ten hours pay. The Dia
mond State Steel Company employees
about thirty machinists.
All of the shops that conceded on Sat
urday will start on the new basis this
morning. +. y. Slocomb Company who
gave in on Friday will also start on the
new schedule today.
The strike has now been on two weeks
today. All OF the machniSts that are
now ont on that account are still firm
and will continue so until the demand
is granted by all the local shops. The
Harlan x IIollingsworth Company and
the J. Morton Poole Company are the
only two large shops in Wilmington that
have not given in. Many think that the
latter company is holding out on accounts
Of work being slack with them. Why
the former company will not concede
seems to be n puzzle. 1t has no more
reason for holding out than any of the
big local shops that have already given
in.
The machinists. however. have no idea
whatever of giving in to this firm. They
feel sure that the company will soon
have to give in.
All the machinsts employed by the
Newport News Shipbulding Company
will go out on strike this morning for
the nine hour day with ten hours pay.
This decision was reached after n big
meeting held there OH Friday night
About 400 machinists are employed there.
They have been somewhat backward in
egard to the shorter day movement, but
are now thoroughly enthused. The men
there say they are now much in earnest
and will remain ont until they win.
Machinsts employed by the Bement &
Mills Company and Newton Machine
Company of Philadelphia will also 20
ont on a strike this morning.
On Saturday morning the painters OF
the Harlan & Hollingsworth Company
on strike for nine hour day with
ten hours pay. held a meeting in the
Smith Building. The situation with the
painters remains unchanged. Painters
from Baltimore. Md. came to this city
on Saturday night and notified the Har-
Ian 4 Hollingsworth Compnny's strikers
that the Knabc Piano Company of Balti-
more wants painters hut the men in this
city will not go to Baltimore although
promised big wages and their car fare
to he refunded
At the meeting of the machinsts in
Turn Hall on Saturday morning no pro-
gram was rendered. James A. Camp
bell made brief address. A unanimous
vote of thanks was extended to the
press of Wilmington for the manner in
which il has treated tho strike
Cigars were received from Howard r.
Springer. NJ. ]. Sharkey, W. +. Hamom
and ]. Harry Massey.
MACHINISTS ATTEND CHURCH
Machinists attended divine services Of
Olivct Presbyterian and Union NJ D.
Churches last night. They had bccn es.
necially invited IN attend Tho sor,.;oos h.,
the pastors of the two churches. Tho
men met Mt their lodge rooms in tho
Smith Building, No, 61O,h Market straat
and marched to the placcs of worsbin in
n holv rboro uo,n no,r,,, ooo % a..