Evening star., 1902-04-12
THE STRIKERS VIEWS
THE JOURNEYMEN CARRIAGE
MAKERS ISSUE A STATEMENT.
Deny That Manufacturers of Wash
ington Directly Compete With
Firms in Other Cities.

No new developments are noted today in
! the situation between journeymen and
| bosses involved in the carriage workers
| strike Since issuing their ultimatum to
| the men the employers are saying nothing
for publication except to indorse their ac-
tion of Wednesday night, when they de-
ctded to refuse to yield to the strikers de-
mands and warned them to return to work
by Monday morning, April H. or the vacant
places would be filled with other work.
men.
The employers said a committee had been
appointed to secure workmen to fill the va
cant positions next week il the strikers re-
main out and they report that a number
or communications have been received
from mechanics desiring employment. They
do not Intend to put men on Monday, but
say they will give the strikers sufficient
opportunity to recede from their stand.
At the union headquarters the officers
said they learn from statesmen In the car
| riage trade that in other cities there is a
scarcity of mechanics and the journeymen
declare they do not fear any importations
from other cities. They also said if the
union men here desire they can obtain
work in other cities, and there is no sign
OF weakening among the members.
A meeting of the Carriage Workers Union
will be held tomorrow afternoon at
o clock. when addresses will be delivered by
Samuel P. Gompers, president American
Federation of Labor, and John B. Lennon,
treasurer.
Journeymen Issue Statement.
The journeymens' union has issued a
statement in which the strikers side of
the case is set forth In this statement the
union officials say they refused to return to
work last Monday because their demand
for minimum scale of wages of $3.50 for
a working day of eight hours was rejected
by the employers, except in three cases,
They say that a strike would be un-
necessary and that the controversy would
be adjusted amicably, as they considered
the demands just. The union was disap-
pointed, they say, by the stand taken by
the employers, and declare the bosses, in
stead of trying to correct abuses operating
against the trade, directing their en-
ergies to disrupt the union.
The union charges that Statements of
misleading character have emanated from
the executive head of the Carriage Makers
Association, to the effect that if the de-
mands of the union were granted it would
put the employers out of competition with
manufacturers of other cities. where the
journeynlen worked longer hours for less
per diem compensation than that now paid
in the District of Columbia.
Statement Denied.
THE union denies that the manufacturers
of Washington are in direct competition
since this is not manufacturing commu-
nifty, and especially is this true of the car
riage and wagon industry. The principal
| business of the carriage makers of this city
is repairing, and to this particular branch
of the industry all others subordinats ID
"A slight increase in the cost Of work will
be necesSitated perhaps by granting the
demands of the union, but such an increase
| will not work hardship upon the COM
| munity nor initiate against local manufac-
| turers. 1t is preposterous to assert that re-
| pairing will be sent to other cities II the
| price for the same is increased as the
| freight charges would greatly exceed the
| cost of much of this work
Many local manufacturer majority
| of them-are also dealers in work con-
structed in factories of other cities, and
| are more prone to induce a patron to pur-
| chase ready-made wagon. upon which a
| fair profit is made, than to prevail upon
| him to have one constructed in their own
| shops. Local manufa cturers make a spe-
| cialty of repairing because it is profitable.
| and do not desire to construct work except
| during the dull season.
Local Competition Only.
| THE only competition to which local
| manufacturers are subjected is among
| themselves. and competition of this char
acter has been rather sharp, working a
| hardship upon many shops, but which
| could be remedied by the Employers Asso-
| citation If proper methods are pursued, in
| stead of fighting the organiZa ton of jour-
neymen and endeayoring to annihilate It,
The union is determined to end one phase
of this unjust competition by this strike
which has worked hardship upon it's
members and it now says to the manu-
on your war of competition as long as you
please. but we will not permit you to use
the journeymen a club to beat out each
others brains
boS YpeynherS of
Employers Association that we desired
them to close their places of business at 4
o'clock in the afternoon, which statement
we deny. All we desire is that every work.
man shall be permitted to return to his
home at O'Clock.
Willing to Confer.
THE union does not desire a protracted
struggle, but is ready for one. 1t is ready
to confer with the manufacturers of Wash
ing, as it has intmated time and again
through the public press. with view of
reaching agreement by which the car
| riage and wagon industry of Washington
may be continued and the struggle ended
| when they show an inclination to confer.
| The union has never taken an autocratic
| stand in the premises, but has treated the
| employers with kindness, fairness and con-
| sideratiOn.
THE employers have issued their ulti-
matum. that If We are not found in our
pldCeS hOIUdy HoTliHS next tHeS Will De
| filled with non-union men from other cities.
| We reply that this struggle will never end
| until the carriage and wagon makers of the
| District Of Columbia, the meanest paid
skilled workmen in the United States, are
paid living wage and granted conditions
| that characterize other trades of the ma
| tional capital.
Ready for a Siege.
''The few scabs they may be able to i'm
| port into this District will be taken care of
| by our organization without a conflict with