The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-18
ADDRESS TO MACHINISTS.
Appeal to Craftsmen to stand by the
Order to Strike on Monday.

WASHINGTON. May 1.-THE executive
board of the National Board of Machinists
held a meeting here to-day. The follow
ing address to the craft was drafted and
made public tonight:
From time immemorial the great goal
TO which united labor has struggled, and
to which it has given its best effort, has
been a shorter working day. In the major
ity OF crafts-both skilled and the So
called unskilled-this effort has been uni
formly successful, and they have for a
number of years enjoyed the pleasures
that come with greater leisure. Machin-
lists, owing 10 the fact of their isolation
in the past from the labor movement, have
not enjoyed this right and privilege until
now, after a decade of education, they
have concluded that the time has arrived
when they, too, should share in the same
enjoyments. In reaching this conclusion
and in seeking similar favors they know
they are not stretching their demands be-
yond the bounds of reason, or seeking
something TO which they have no valid
claim.
More than a quarter of a century ago
our brother craftsmen in Great Britain Sc
cured a nine-hour day, and il is conceded
given the question the least study that the
American machinist PRODUCES more per
diem, even on an eight-hour basis, than
his brother craftsman in that country. Such
being the case, it is eminently proper, and
strictly in accord with the spirit of the
times, that the machinists of the United
states, Canada and Mexico should make a
concerted movement in the same direction.
time has come. the moment is ripe and
the demand is now made.
ITO the un~initiated, a few words explana-
atory of the position the machinist occupies
in the domain of productive labor, and in
connection Will a shorter work day, may
not be out of place. Owing TO the peculiar
nature of our trade and the great inroads
made into it by the Introduction of more
perfect machinery, a great deal more is
now produced than ever. This increased
production continues TO increase with the
succeeding years, but, in spite of this, no
material or permanent increase in wages
has been secured by the man who manipu-
lates the machine. He produces more but
receives no more than he did formerly.
Now, the demand is made for a fairer share
of what we produce, by shortening the
work day one hour. without any decrease
IL pay. =
warning. Twelve months ago notice was
Served on the manufacturers of the United
States that on Monday, May 20, 1901, the
international Association of Machinists
would demand a nine-hour day, and that
If the demand was not granted its members
and those in sympathy with them would
suspend labor until the demand was grant
ed. We do not advocate a strike with all
the attendant mistakes OF the past, but
merely a peaceful cessation of labor until
we can start work on. a nine-hour basis.
1--WE appeal TO our fellow-craftSmen to
rally with us in this effort to elevate our
manhood. TO improve our minds, to purify
cur bodies and our lives, to make of US
exemplary citizens. to make our homes
more homelike with our presence, and 10
show the world that we too have aspira-
ions a little higher than the brute's and
scarcely lower than the angels
This was signed by James O'Connell, pres
ident; ID. Douglas Wilson, vice president;
George Preston, secretary-treasurer Inter
national Association of Machinists, and
Hugh Doran, Arthur w. Holmes, John j.
Connolly. p. j. Conlon. general board of
trustees.