Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-14
FOUNDRY PROPOSITION FAILS
Molders' Union Refuses Offer Made by
Featherstone Company,
ALL NEGOTIATIONS OFF FOR PRESENT
Representative of Chicago Concern
Not Able 20 Make Satisfactory
Terms for EstabIishment
of Foundry Here.

II. II. Wright, general manager of the
Featherstone Foundry and Machine COM
pany OF Chicago, who has been in the city
since Tuesday investigating labor condl-
tions, with a view to establishing an iron
foundry at this place, left last night for
Chicago. He did not come to an under
standing with the members Of the Iron
Moulders' union and all negotiations be-
tween the company and the union are at an
end. at least for the present.
This foundry, should it be built, would
take the place of the foundry now being
torn down by the Union Pacific. 1t would
have a capacity of thirty to forty tons per
day and would furnish employment to the
moulders formerly employed by the Union
Pacific and now on lockout because of the
action of the railroad company in shutting
down its foundry and sending its work to
the Featherstones in Chicago.
Mr.. Wright and the executive COMMITTEES
of the locked-out moulders held several
conferences during his stay in the city, and
of three written propositions he made to the
moulders all were rejected. One, however,
was accepted by the committee, but later
voted down by the union.
II made the committee a proposition IS
said Mr.. Wright, which provided that a
bonus of 1 800 be forfeited, subject to the
order of the union, in the event of the fail
ure on the part Of the Featherstone people
to have the foundry erected within ninety
days. 1t also provided that transportation
be furnished to members who desired to
work during these ninty days in Chicago.
When the foundry was completed here the
men would be returned at our expense. The
proposition provided, further, that the men
be paid minimum wages. The moulders to
raise the strike on the Union Pacific work.
This proposition was modified to suit
the members of the union and was finally
agreed upon by the committee. The COM
mittee then reported to the union and this
afternoon they reported to me that the
union voted not to accept it.
1.-The matter Of establishing such a plant
here has been under consideration since
last fall. President Burt Of the Union Pa
cifc has been Instrumental in interesting
the Featherstone people in coming here. 1t
was our intention, should we have been able
to work tremendously with the union, to en-
deavor to get the work Of other railroads
and bring it to Omaha, which would be
something for the town and would furnish
employment to a large number Of men,"
Unions View of situation.
The members OF the executive committee
OF the Iron Moulders' union were seen after
the meeting yesterday afternoon. The chair
man stated that the $500 proposition Of
fered by the Featherstone people was a bid
to get them to go to Chicago and there dc
scab work for the Union Pacific. That is
all it amounts to-" said the chairman, land
the union voted 1t down because we DO not
intend to be bought. They wanted us to
raise the strike on the Union Pacific. The
foundry proposition is only imaginary and
we do not believe the Featherstones are
acting in good faith"
The members, of the moulders' union are
divided as to. the proposition of Mr.. Wright
and considerable feeling has been engen-
| dered. One member said he expressed the
| sentiment OF several when he gave out the
| following interview: 1.-The proposition OF
the Featherstone company as offered by
Mr.. Wright was a good one and perfectly
fair. 1t was rejected only on a technically
and there was no real difference in what
they offered and what we asked. The trouble
is there are several members of the union
who have lived here a number OF years and
they do not want to go to Chicago or any
where else to work. They voted against the
proposition because it eant that the strike
would be declared off. Several members
withdrew from the committee because they
became disguised with the action of the
union"