Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-20
THE BATTLE BEGUN.

ulcI. Let us uOpe dAu pldJ eho1 - will end soon, for the longer a strike continues the more money it costs, and the more difficult it is to settle. Get together, gentlemen, at once, if 1t is possible to do it. In fifteen of the local factories men have laid down their tools and quit. From 800 to 1000 workmen have gone out, and unless they go to work soon there will be double that number idle by the end of the week. At this writing both sides are determined to stand by their col ors, and unless either side gives way from their present position a protracted strike is inevitable. The men who have gone out intend to remain faith in the end they will win, for in union l there is strength. On the other hand, the employers say they will not be die tated to by unions or men who repre- sent them. A statement was made to- | day by the superintendent of one of the largest factories in town to his workmen. For the benefit of those in other factories we print it, so that they may know how this factory looks at the union. He spoke as follows: "Gentlemen: It will be impossible | for this factory to become a union | shop, and if you will listen quietly 1 1 will be pleased to state the reasons. l | will have to refer to a few notes l have made, for do not want to omit any points, neither do I want to ram | ble off onto any other points than out ! lined
 Your committee called on me for the I first time last Friday, May IT. I think it would have been well if they had | called a few weeks ago so we might have talked the matter over fully. If that had been done doubt if three | fourths of this shop would have joined | the union. 1 hope some of you will now drop out and thus prevent the | continuation of strike. I don't like l that word strike-it has a sledge-ham- | mer sound. If the apprentices join the union they break their agreement with us and we will hold the parent or guar dian responsible.
 | ..The International Association of Ma | chinists may be a good thing, but am conscientious when I say that find objectionable features in their agree ment.y' The most conspicuous objec- | ton is the threat embodied in it. The | main point at issue is the demand for a nine-hour day with the present ten hours pay, and I may say that I do not object personally to this feature l It is for the best interests of this com munity that the employers should work as many hands for as many hours | and at as high wages as may be con sistent. Efforts in this direction have been successful to the extent that all Waterbury factories have gfown | steadily and the number of houses | owned by you is larger than ever be- fore, and these facts are indications of I prosperity.
 "Our employees admit that they have no grievances and all the trouble that | exists is that they are members of a | union which compels them to strike on this 20th day of May, 1901, unless | the employers sign the agreement We | are honest in saying we cannot con- l scientiously sign and we assure you that our answer is in no degree for the | purpose of expressing you. Personally | q do not speak officially in saying this) am advocating time and a quarter l for any work after o'clock and until | 9 o'clock; after 9 o'clock time and ! half or more, and this to be subject to special agreement, for it is of rare oc- currence to want to run later than 6 o'clock7 and very seldom that there is | any need of running the shop until g | o'clock. In case we can secure orders 1 sufficient to run the shop until o'clock you would receive 10A honrs per day.
 do not doubt there are men who receive $2.75 per day wages and live on S2.5O or less, and this man is on the road to prosperity. l do not doubt there are men earning $275 wages and spend $3, and this man is bound to be- come discouraged and disgruntled whether he works eight, or nine, or ten hours, or occasionally may be asked, but never demanded, to work until 9 o'clock.
 "Regarding apprentices We do not object to changing from three years, as at present, to four years term of apprenticeship, but we do object to
 your dictating that foreman may not
 have the privilege of hiring whatever
 number of apprentices he chooses to
 place under Apprenticeship. We never
 solicit apprentices, but there are more
 applications from boys wanting to
 learn the trade than we can place al
 work adyantageOusly.
 sAll of these questions can be dis
 cussed if we had a local factory ma
 chinists' union and eliminate the threat
 to strike. The advantages of such g
 union might embrace many desirable
 features. The foreman, pattern mak CTS, draughtsmen, ,blacksmiths anG
 moulders, as we'll as machinists, could I all take active part and might have
 the benefit to be derived from paper: to be read by the experts on mechani
 cal things, and this could be of value : to both the mechanic and the appre : tice.
 "AlI that I, have now told you ha
 been previously said to your unioI
 committee, and it seems proper to re ,view it; it seems fair that you shoult
 have the chance to decide for your selves whether it was altogether req
 sonable and whether it involves an,
 degree of hardship
 From the above statement it will b. : seen that the manufacturers have n use for the union, and by inducing tn
 men to leave it and form local union they think they can knock tn
 props from under the Interna
 national Association. They will hard
 ly be able to do 1t, as the Internationa
 Association is thoroughly organized
 has lots of money and will spend i