Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
IN LABOR CIRCLES

unsuccessful attempts at adjustment. indi-
cations now appear which warrant the pre-
diction that before another week passes
the strike on the Union Pacific railroad sys-
tenn. which involves approximately 900 union
machinists. boilermakers and blacksmiths.
will be at an end, This statement is based
upon information gathered in official labor
circles of this city. The strike was declared
eleven months ago today because Of an
alleged attempt on the part of the railroad
officials to inaugurate a piece or pre-
MUM system upon the Union Pacific lines.
With a view to reaching a settlement. and
by mutual consent of the parties concerned,
conference will be held In Omaha. Neb-,
Monday morning. Mr.. II. C. Burt, general
manager, and Mr.. w. r. McKeen jr.. su-
perintendent of motive power and machin-
cry. will appear as conferees for the Union
Pacific Railroad Company, and the work
men will be represented by the ex-
ecutive board Of the International AS.
ISOLATION Of Machinists and the strike
and conference committee; The frst
named body is composed Of Hugh
Doran. E. l.. Tucker. James A. Reynolds.
Henry F. Garrett and M. ]. Ford. and the
latter includes Fourth Vice President T. l..
Wilson and Messrs. r. MAR. kildred. Sam
Grace, George Smith. Perry and w. Web
ster.
The present negotiations for settlement
can easily be attributed to a circular sent
out by the International Brotherhood OF
IL
unless the strike, so far as it concerns that
craft should be settled or means looking to
that end taken by a specified time the men,
bership employed on the Central Pacific.
the Southern Pacific and the Oregon Short
Line, generally known to be controlled by
the Hartman interests, would be called
out In sympathy. The circular set forth
that this action had been decided upon be-
cause of unquestionable information to the
effect that the roads named were aiding the
Union Pacific in the fight against organized
labor, by loaning its rolling stock to the
| last named railroad.
The Union Pacific officials. 1t is said, con-
GLIDING that the threats would be carried
out to the letter, made overtures for peace
with the boilermakers international OFF,
GERS. These negotiations had their sequel
in a conference between the railroad and
| union officials several days ago. when the
former. 1t Is learned. announced that it had
decided to acquiesce in the demands Of the
boilermakers for the abolition of the piece
work system and an increase in salary OF
10 per cent. Despite the fact that the men
returned to work the Goth instant, 1t can
be said that matters are now in tentative
state. but will be finally adjusted within
| the course Of the next few days.
Considering the present an opportune time
for the further adjustment of the existing
grievances the system. the officials of
| the International Association of Machinists
| intimated that they were DESTROYS of bring
| Ing the machinists strike to a close. The
railroad officials took the hint. and in con-
sequence much correspondence, mail and
| Geographic, has been exchanged between
| this city and the west during the past
week, with the result that the conference
| next Monday was arranged.
Vice President P. ]. Conlon Of the ma
chinists informed a Star reporter that the
indications for the termination of the strike
were extremely favorable, and that he does
not entertain the least apprehension as to
| the outcome of the conference. He declared
| that the attempt to install the premium
system In the shops continues to be the
| bone Of contention. and that the associa-
| ton is unalterably opposed to any such
move on the part of the railroad company.
"Piece work." said Mr.. Conlon, takes
away from the men collectively the privi-
| lege of dealing with the railroad company,
! and leaves them as individuals to the ten
der mercy of INSCRIPTIONS foremen. Then
| when 1t is once introduced, though the men
| may at first receive a very fair weeks
wages, as soon as the company discovers
! that man makes more under the piece
| work proposition than he formerly did I'M
| der the hourly rate. the first move of the
| foreman is to cut the mems wages to
| point which is equivalent to the same
! amount he formerly received when he
worked by the hour. The system also takes
| away from the employees the opportunity to
| learn the trade in all it's branches.
IAN apprentice becomes not machnist,
| but workman who can perform but one
single OperatiOn-or, in other words a Spe
| cialist. AS specialist he feels that If he
| loses the position which he then occupies he
! will be unable to find one in another shop
| unless some one QleS InlS would take
away from the men their chance to Or
| ganize. and to demand, as stated before.
| their right to deal collectively with the
| company. and would leave them as individ-
uals practically neither more nor less than
| part of the machine. and the property of
| the company, instead Of occupying the in
| dependent position in which the American
| machinist today finds himself, where he is
| competent to fill any position in the shop,
| either on the floor, or on the bench, or on
| the machine
| The alleged Increase in the cost OF living.
| Incident to the approach OF the Louisiana
purchase exposition, forms the basis Of
| demand for 10 per cent increase in
| wages by 100 union machinists of st.
| Louis Mo-, who have gone on a strike to
| gain their point. The strike Is directed
against the Metal Trades Association of
| St. Louis. which embraces nearly every
| metal firm in that city. The association.
| 1t is said, has made counter proposition
| to the workmen. Offering them a 6 per
cent increase. This offer Is to expire at
| set time, after winch time. the association.
| 1t is said, has intimated that 1t will fight
1 the union to the last. The wOrkmen have
| also asked that the work day be reduced to
| nine hours per day About year ago the
| maehinists in that city were given a ~
per cent advance In pay.
During the late strike in the anthracite
| coal regions of Pennsylvania there was
| an immense amount Of ill-feeling engen-
|
uniOnism because a number of labor or
ganizations forbid its members enrolling
| in the several state militia organizations.
| The matter has been greatly agitated more
| or less. and criticisms have been INDUCED
in
Although 1t has no such prohibition in
| its bylaws or constitution. in order to set
| itself in a proper light before the American
people generally the International Asso-
| citation of Machinists In annual convention
| at Milwaukee. Wis, adopted q resolution
| making the matter of being associated with
| a state militia discretionary with the fndi-
vidual members, thereby allaying all preju-
dice which might have been held against
| the association by misinformed persons.
| The action of the association has become
generally known, and 1t is in receipt OF in
Vulnerable congratulatory messages from
people of national prominence.
Other important matters were considered
| and acted upon by the recent convention
| Of the machinists including the adoption
| Of resolution increasing its Jurisdiction
| to take In all employees Of the machine
shop. By SO doing the association has al
| most doubled its membership.
The headquarters of the Brotherhood OF
| Electrical Workers, located In the Corco-
ran building, this city, Is a scene Of great
1