The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-05-25
STRIKE IS
SPREADING

Reading, May 23.-Three thousand
employees Of the Reading Iron Com.
pany walked the streets the last
hours of this afternoon in idleness.
To night many of them attended the
meeting of the strikers at Excelsior
Hall, while Others were seen in little
groups discussing the situation.
1t is a big strike. When and how
it will end is an open question at this
hour. What other labor organiza-
tions may become involved in the
strike of the Reading Iron Com.
pany's men before that strike
is settled no one can tell tonight.
All the men Of the Reading
Iron Company's four big plants in
this city, the Obey Street mill, the
Ninth Street mill, the sheet mill and
the pipe mill are now on strike. The
men at the latter works have been
out over two weeks. They took the
initiative step in the strike. The
Others followed to-day.
A committee of the Iron Workers
Union and the men employed at the
four works of the company yesterday
sent a letter to President George +,
Baer OF the Reading Iron Company,
asking for an Increase in wages and
more frequent pay days than has been
the rule of the company. In this let.
ter the men asked that an answer be
given them by 10 A. M. this morning.
They openly declared that unless
their demands be granted there
would be a general strike of Reading
Iron Company EMPLOYEES in this city.
No answer from President Baer was
received and at 10 A. M. the eXecu-
tive committee sent subcommittee
to the various plants of the company
to inform the shop committees OF this
fact. This was equivalent to calling
the men out.
In each instance, however, positive
instructions we're given that in no
case should any man leave his work
until he had finish up so that no
damage would be done by his quitting
and no loss entailed to the company.
Puddlers were ordered to finish their
heats, etc.
The sheet mill was the first to be
tied ur, closing down about ll.30 A.
M. The men had finished their
heats and decided that they should
work no longer. While it did not be-
long to the union, they went out to
a man.
The Obey street mill closed down
shortly after l p. NJ, the men decid-
ing that they could leave their work
without any damage to the concern.
They quit work in an orderly manner,
cleaning the furnaces, placing their
tools in their proper places, and leav-
ing the mills without any demonstra-
tion. The last mill to be closed was
the Ninth Street plant. The men
remained until all the iron in the fur
naces had been disposed Of, and then
laid aside their tools and started for
their homes.
The strike is serious one for this
city and effects directly nearly 10000
people. Organizer TIL. Flynn said
this evening, This contest is purely
for more wages. 1t is to be conduct
ed quietly and in peace. l shall see
the Mayor and try to get him to swear
in twenty-five of our men to act as
special deputies to protect the COM
pany's property. You know wherever
there is big strike lawless class Of
strangers are apt to congregate and
commit crime. They burn box cars
and rob others. Now we do not wish
this done. We will protect the COM
pany's property at our own expense.
The men have no enmity toward Mr.
Baer or any one else. 1t is only a
question OF wages, The company
tries to get its highest prices and the
officials the highest salaries possible.
The men only want small advance.
They are entitled to it. They are
trying to get it in peace and good
order. This VIII Continne. There is
honor among the men. "
President Baer said that no answer
was sent to the mems request for
more wages because the men did not
make the request as employees of the
company.
to- CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY