New-York tribune., 1901-05-26
METAL MEN WAITING.
r. HOE & co. MAKE A STATEMENT OF
THEIR POSITION.

-r - sr,,s yielded to the striking machinists
yesterday. and the total number OF machnists on
strike in this district is now not more than hfteen
hundred The firms which yielded are the John
Good Cordage Company, in Westinghouse. Brook
lyn and the Economic Machine Company. No 2s
Reade-st Together they employ about two hun
dred and fifty men.
Secretary H. F. Devens. secretary of the Ma
tional Metal Trades Association, denied yesterday
the statement alleged to have been made by
member of the association to the effect that II
preparing for a fight the unions. Mr.. Devens de-
clared that in spite of the strike there moth
ing but the friendliest feeling between the unions
and the association. No move will be made by the
employers until after the meeting of the admin
istrative council Of the National Metal Trades AS
sociation, IN Chicago next Tuesday.
r. Hoe Co.. the printing press manufacturers,
yesterday gave out the following statement:
The statements published in this mornings pa
pers of the sentiment of the meeting of the Asso-
citation Of the Metal Trade Manufacturers in rela-
clearly define the issues created by the demands or
SO far as we are personally concerned with the
acts acts and demands OF the union the facts are,
deal with directly and individually, We
have never Joined any associations or made any
the only standard in dealing with our employees
being regulated in accordance herewith Two
years ago we made an arrangement with our men
lists at less than S2 so day of ten hours,
believing then as We do now that trained ma MIA
not earn m such wages is unsted for the class 9r9 H
paid 50 so day only We're comparatively few in
number; the majority receiving larger amounts
In the understanding with them referred to they
themselves verbally agreed that the
should be optional with us TO employ men Of in;
perfunctory machines or such machines as
quire only the attendance of men who. while SUI
chinists. but are capable of attending to machines
TINS. we deSSted from the enforcement of this con-
dition.
On May a communication from the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists, District Lodge
No Is signed "Georse H Warner" and James b.
and after May 20 1901 nine hours should constitute
OF pay. a reply TO this demand being requested
by posting notice before May is: otherwise.
return TO work until the, demands were agreed to.
who had previously acted as spokesmen for our
machfnists. and stated our desire tn consider di-
make on Friday the i7th inst we issued the
following notice to all the departments
ITO Our Workmen: In consideration of the
quest made last year by men. and now again
regular working hours. the workshops will after
June he nine hours day: the wages of the
hours as has been paid for ten hours. The time
Will be kept by the hour and the men @ PAID PAID for the
In view of this concession the firm will In
at any rate Of wages they wish.
The reduction of time is loss to the firm of
10 per cent of the producing power of the works
and plant. in addition to the l212 per cent loss in
the wages paid
-"rhe men will. therefore. see the Importance of
renewed diligence their part and of regular and
punctual attendance"
On the Monday following the machinsts left the
works without having further communicated with
From statements since made by some Of them
know that about 30 per cent OF our workmen
many Of whom had been in our employment for
long periods. ranging from ten 10 forty years and
many of them old apprentices would, If allowed to
have their way. gladly return to their work.
We to deviate from the position we
have taken. which provides not only for the adop-
tion Of nine hours ordinary days work, but
for paying full value for the services of skilled
machinsts and the employment by upon ell
automatic perfunctory machines of men capable
of running them. such rates of compensation as
their services warrant.
As regards dctation from any union seeking to
come between us and our men. we heartily agree
with the sentiments expressed by the ISOLATION
OF the Metal Trade Manufacturers.
In addition to the arbitrary action of outsiders
Ito whom the men 10 have Welded their indi-
Vdual independence which. Of all things, II seems
us. should he most dear 10 every Americana. in
taking away from their work about thousand
from place alone they have through
various methods and intimidation. forced from our
works and thrown upon the streets over three
hundred indentured apprentices OF ages varying
from sixteen twenty-one wears.