The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-07
THE MAcHINIsrs, strike
Newport News Men go Out-Strfke ON
The Southern Closed-The Machin-
lists Convention.

Newport News. Va. June 3.-The ma
chinists in the employ Of the Newport
News Shipbuilding and Drydock Com
pany, to the number Of 500, which vir-
tually included all the skilled mechan-
les in the machine department. went
on strike this morning, their demands
Tor a shorter working day having beer
refused by Superintendent Post.
The men conducted themselves In an
orderly tanner, making no demon
stration and going their respective
ways as soon as the last of the ma
chinists who had gone in come out to
join them after securing their tools.
The yard will continue in operation
until the absence Of the machinists in
terIeres with the work in hand and
Inen there is a probability thai the
entire plant will close down.
superintendent Post says the yard
does not contemplate taking any action
Whatever: n a the company will not
ADMIT OF any interference with the
management OF it's business and will
not arbitrate any question with the
men on strike.
A number of the strikers have al
ready left and others are preparing to
leave the city.
Washington June 3.-Vice President
cannon, OF the Southern railway, to-
day said that so far as his road was
concerned, the strike incident was
closed. He refused to say how many
of the machinists had returned to work
at the regular hour his morning, in
accordance with the ultimatum given
them at all the shops, but said hat the
road was filling the places of all those
who had failed to work.
Toronto, One, June 3.-The annual
convention of the international associ-
alton of machinists opened here today.
About 200 delegates We're present.
Mayor Towland. on behalf of the city
extended welcome to the visitors and
expressed the hope hat the strike
would be settled to their satisfaction.
In his annual address, President
O'Connell showed that during the past
two years 1877 charters were issued,
with a membership of 7,4O4. During his
term the executive had approved of Sc
strikes, involving $3.50 machinists, of
which Al were won (Settled on compro
mise) and 10 lost. The locals engaged
in 246 strikes. involving H. 1872 men.
Two hundred lodges reported having
settled sos grievances without a strike.
Increased rate for overtime was OBJ
tanned in 765 shops. The president ask
ed that the law be changed SO as to
compel local unions before striking to
obtain consent of the grand lodge. Re
garding piece work the address recon-
n either to accept it or condition
that the employer will unioniZe his shop
or to declare war against the entire
system.
"A reduction in the hours of labor
has been our hope since the association
started" continued the president. up
to May 1st. the number of shops work
ing less than ter hours per day was
only 1870. I am firmly convinced that
our nine-hour movement will result in
reducing rhe hours OF labor for 10000
machiniStS."
President O'Connell promised to bring
in supplemental reports on the strike
question during the convention. He
also recommends that the minimum
monthly dues be placed at IS cents, 80
cents of which is to be paid to the
grand lodge. A number of changes in
the LOAF system. insurance, sick bene-
fits and constitution in general, are
recommended.