The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-20


rate of wages per hour, so that we
would give as much an hour for nine
hours work as we have previously
given for ten would so increase our
cost of labor on unfinished contracts
that 1t became a very serious item with
us.
"Bids on these contracts have been
estimated upon and taken, figuring
upon the previous srate of wages, and
we therefore claimed the right to arbi-
trate the question before giving our
answer upon it. Arbitration of such
ment between the machinists and
Metal Trades association. and we were
Furthermore willing to set the final de-
cision of the arbitration board to date
from May 90"
CHAIRMAN CAMPBELLS VIEWS.
Chairman Campbell, of the council
of affiliated employees. declares. how
ever, that the action taken by the
Scranton men in rejecting the arbitra-
tion offer and insisting on a direct
reply is sustained by President O'Con-
nell. He also stated that President
Ichndcr's offer made to n committee of
his own men at the Hotel Jermyn.
could not be considered for an instant.
A meeting of the council was held
Saturday night and in view of the gen
eral fevcrisl conditions which will pre-
vail today, it was decided not to have
any meeting until tomorrow, when II
general mass meeting will be held.
The strike movement has met with
a. stumbling block at Richmond, Va,
where the Richmond Locomotive works
Saturday refused to grant the mems
demand for n nine hour day. The men
met after tho company's answer was
received and decided to return to work
this morning under the old conditions.
The machinists of the Lehigh rail-
road company's Coxton shops at
Wilkes-Barrc struck Saturday noon,
and to-day the men at the North
Wilkes Barre shops of the IIehigh, the
Dicskon works at Wilkes Barre, which
employ about two hundred men, the
Exeter Iron Works and other concerns
will go ont. unless their demands are
conceded. The machinists at the Shell
don Axle works succeeded in obtaining
their requests.
Master Car Builder l.. r.. Garfield,
of the Lackawanna, returned to this
city Saturday from New York. Four
teen men came in Saturday night from
Hobokcn and were taken to the shops.
Several of them reported at strike
headquarters yesterday. and We're sent
home. The greate-' part of those who
remained will be utilized as special
officers. The charges against Fred
Babcocll. one of the car builders en-
PEELED at the last meeting of the union.
have been found groundless and the
dismissed member has been rein
stated.
ISSIONARY WORK TO BEGIN.
To-day the men expect to hear from
Hoboken. and the other places along
the route. The machnists will to-
day inaugurate their scheme of mis-
sionary work among the imports.
The large fence surrounding the paint
shop, in which they are quartered, and
their guard of one hundred and fifty
deputies are but slight obstacles to the
strikers. who declare they will fly kites
in to the New Workers, bearing al their
tails union literature and documents
expressive of the local situation, which
Will be liberated by q string attached
when the kite is floating over the
shops. 1t was reported yesterday
that thirty-siX out of forty bridge
builders employed by the company
resigned rather than be pressed into
service as specials, as requested Sat
urday night.
To-day is the crucial period of the
strike. If at this last moment the big
manufacturers post poticas granting
the strikers demands, there is no
doubt that the smaller firms such as
the Finch Manufacturing company,
and McClave & Brooks, will follow
suit. There seems to he little likeli-
hood of this. however. and all parties
concerned are at present girding them
selves for what looks like a long and
hard fight.