The Washington times., 1902-04-06
Journeymen Bakers Strike
i for an Advance in
Wages.
THE EMPLOYERS CAPITULATED
Vet an Increase of twenty-five Cents
Day-Agreement Reached at Midnight
Strike Shortest in History of Labor
Troubles in District.

bread famine in Washington was
ayerted after midnight this morning and
today there will be loaves in plenty. as
usuai, in spite of tie fact that for sew
erai hours last night the outlook for the
morning breakfast table was far from
cheering, Every baker In the city was
on strike for higher wages, and the
strike was WOE.
Alter meetings of the bosses and bak-
ers, held in different parts of the city,
which lasted until midnight, the former
decided to grant the demands of the
9ourneymen, and to save the city from a
scarcity OF the staff of life. But for the
satisfactory settlement of the matter
bread would have been today worth its
weight In gold, and but little OF it would
have been weighed
Shortest Strike on Record.
Although the strike was brief-one of
the shortest in the history of labor trou-
bles in the District of Columbia-it was
both interesting and serious while it
TASTED. 1t was a very unostentatious
strike, despite its trevity and easy ad-
justment. There were no theatrical dis
plays. The Washington housekeeper went
to bed unwarned of the dire calamity
hanging above her head, and confident
that the bread wagon would turn up as
usual in the morning.
But 1t would not have had not the ba-
kers and their employers come to terms
and the manner in which they conducted
their demand for increase of wages was
n lch
Senator Hanna himself might well be
proud of.
Dough Kneaders Were Sharp.
The dough kneaders were sharp. They
waited until Saturday night. followed by
dull day Sunday, to make a last pres
entation of their case. and to take firm
and decided stand.
I'VE get an increase of 25 cents a day
in our wages or you will not have any
bread to sell Sunday morning, and then
you will have every man. woman. and
child in Washington against you." is what
the bakers told their bosses.
I'VE want s16.50 a week minimum
wages" The bosses listened They real
lied that they were UP against strenu-
Gus proposition Moreover. they had but
little time in which TO make up their
minds.
at o'clock in the morning the bakers
in all the big shops of the city go to
work. 1t was serious moment for the
employers.
Committee Calls on Employers.
Meanwhile the $50 and more iourneymen
were gathered In mass meeting at 40
Eighth Street northwest. where the last
stand was taken. It was determined to
fight to the bitter end bread or no bread.
From o'clock until midnight they stayed
there, frequently taking brief recesses, but
determined not to give in. Speeches were
made, and the doughty little bakers had
their courage up. The Bakers Exchange,
an organization of employers. was also in
session.
At 3 O'Clock the bakers selected com
Inittee of ten to call upon the employers
throughout the city, give the terms de-
manded by the journeymen, and wait for
an answer.
Employers Capitulated.
By midnight all the replies were in.
The employers capitulated all along the
line. Everybody was happy, particularly
the journeymen. They smoked large clay
pipes and expressed their satisfaction in
many languages.