Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-07
MEN QUIT WORK TODAY
CARRIAGE AND WAGON BUILD
ERS OUT ON STRIKE.
Demand for Increase in Wages Denied
by the Operators - Both.
Sides Firm.

About 16O men employed in the carriage
| and wagon shops of the city went out on a
] strike this morning, and as result the
business of nearly all the local firms are
practically at standstill. The employers
show no signs Of yielding and the strikers
| are insistent in their demands.
The action of the Carriage and Wagon
Workers International Union, Local No.
~, was taken at a meeting held yester-
day. when the demands Of the organization
for minimum scale of wages of $3.50 for
| an eight-hour day were ignored by the en-
ployers.
Officers of the union stated this morning
that unless definite reply shall be received
tonight. justifying the belief Of a settle
ment of the difficulty tomorrow, the local
union will bring the matter up at the
meeting Of the Central Labor Union and
will make fight for it's demands through
the federated trades. .--.
At the union meeting yesterday after
noon written replies granting the requests
of the men were received from George w.
Cook & Co, William Satrter, James Coch-
| rane and b. F. McCaulley, all employers of
| union men, and this morning the Mer-
chants Transfer and Storage Company
sent in a communication acceding to the
demands of raise in the minimum scale.
At the strikers headquarters 1t was stated
that Fire Chief Dutton had sent in a re-
quest this morning asking for men to re-
pair serious breakage on. apparatus of the
department should any occur. The joint
committee of the union signified its will
irgness to grant the request, and was
greatly elated when it was reported the
fire chief said that only union shops could
do the work of the fire department.
Nearly all the apprentices are working,
and in few OF the smaller shops nom
union men have been employed in place of
he Sft II Of haI 1nin ro
der the impression that the employers will
grant their demands without prolonged
fight, but plans are being discussed for a
continuance of the struggle II settlement
of the trouble is not reached shortly.
The headquarters Of the Union, at 1904
Pennsylvania avenue northwest, have been
open all day and the various committees
have been reporting progress on different
Der of the strikers were on the streets and
about the headquarters all through the day
discussing the different phases Of the sit
uation and the probable outcome.
Statement of President Trazzare.
President Trazzare of the Carriage and
Wagon Makers Association, stated to a
Star reporter this morning the employers
side of the case.
He said the members of the association
each received notice, March q, that the
jcurneymen demanded a minimum scale of
81
effect April Z. In this communication to
the employers the men stated that II the
demand was not acceded to they would
strike.
I'VE have been paying our competent
men," he said, those who are mechanics
and able to turn out good work. $50 to $1S
per week, working nine hours a day, with
eight hours on Saturdays. These men are
employed ffty-two weeks In the year,
though men less competent and needing In
their
smaller wages"
Mr.. Trazzare declared that in most all
other cities the operators pay less wages
than are paid in Washington and enforce a
ten-hour day, and that being the case COM
petition is so sharp the firms here cannot
compete with those in other cities in build
ing new work, even at the present rate OF
wages and in the hours which prevail.
"A still further reduction of hours and
increase of pay" he said, will compel the
employers here to advance prices to sucn
an extent that it will drive still greater
amount of work from our city"
The employers say there will be q ten
dency among customers to have their work
done in other cities should an advance in
customers they said. were willing to hold
their work until a suitable settlement of
the present trouble can be arrived at.
The sentiment among members of the as
soeiation is not to recede from their action
taken last Wednesday night when they de-
clded to ignore and tacitly refuse the de-
mands made by the union men.
They claim that the men who receive less
IMAM You per day do the rough work and
are not competent to do finished work, be-
ing Obliged to work under instruction.
Denied by Members Of Union.
Members of the union.s however. deny that
such is the case and say they wish to bene-
mt this class of workmen, who are not en-
ployed permanently, but only during the
rush season.
The Carriage and Wagon Makers Asso-
citation includes about thirty firms and with
the exception of the few firms acceding to
the strikers demands, work has practically
ceased In all the carriage and wagon shops
OF the District. AS before stated most of
the apprentices are working, although at
the union meeting yesterday they were in
cluded under the jurisdiction of Local. No
T. A number of them expressed a willing
ness to quit work should the strikers de-
sire it.
A meeting of the employers will be held
Wednesday night. when decision will he
reached and definite action be taken by
them In the meantime they are giving out
no Information as to their proposed course.
The meeting Of the union yesterday was
addressed by several members, who spoke
In encouragement OF the strike and urged
the men to hold out for their demands.
President VIM. F. Langraf presided at the
business session. Mr.. George A. Krug held
the gavel at the open meeting SDeeches
were made by John H. Brinkman. John w.
Baker, President Langraf and others. and
nearly all the members of the order at
tended.
The outlook for immediate settlement of
the strike is not promising as both sides
appear 10 be very determined. Both sides
declare intention of holding out and other
measures than those now employed will un-
doubleday be taken by both employers and
men.