Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-03-28
THE u. P. TROUBLE i, !.
A LONG STRIKE, WITH THE END NOT
YET IN SIGHT.

Principal Causes of the Difficulty.
Gain For the Cause of Un1onism.
Recognition, ut L. east, Secured.
Strikers Firm, With Solid Ranks.
The outlook for settlement of the
strike of the union machinists, boiler
makers and blacksmiths of the Union
Pacific Railroad company is regarded
as discoura ging, both the strikers and
the officials of the railroad refusing to
yield one iota, says the Washington
Star The difficulty began June last,
since which time it has grown in bit
terness, and indications warrant the
prediction that it will continue in force
for several months to come-perhaps
until next June.
This strike has attracted widespread
attention, not only among the respec-
tive crafts involved, but among the
rank and file Of organized labor gener-
ally 1t has thoroughly tested the
strength of labor unionism and, it is
claimed, proved that Gin union there is
strength" The officials of the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists, who
are located in this city; the Internation-
al Union of Boiler Makers and Ship
builders and the Brotherhood of Black
smiths are naturally concerned, work
men to the number of 1000 affiliated
with those organizations being in
volved in the difficulty.
According to statements of the off,
Gals of the machinists' union, the
strikers have not manifested the slight
est desire to yield to their employers
and are, as a body, frmer today than
at the time the strike was inaugurated.
The workmen affected by the difficulty
are paid weekly strike benefits by their
respective international bodies and are
receiving financial aid from other or
CARNATIONS and those persons who are
in sympathy with them.
From labor viewpoint it cannot be
said that the difficulty has not been
productive of good. When the strike
was inaugurated, the railroad officials
were loath, it is said, to recognize the
union employee when considering the
affairs of the company, but they finally
relented and extended the hand of fell
lowship to the officials of the interna-
tiOnal labor unions with which the
strikers are affiliated and made known
their desire to have the difficulty adju-
dicated. Subsequently there have been
several conferences between the strike
leaders and the officials of the railroad,
but at none could the conferees agree
upon any definite. plan. A conference
was recently held in Omaha, the strik-
ers being represented by men of their
Immediate organization and several of
the international officers of the various
bodies. The latter were present in re-
Spouse to an invitation extended to
them by the railroad officials at pre-
vious meeting. This last conference
was also productive of no agreement
both parties remaining steadfast to
their convictions, and as a result the
trouble is in very entangled state.
The principal causes Of the strike are
that the union officials are unalterably
opposed to the premium system Of
work, the men preferring to labor by
the day; that the strikers believe they
should receive all advance in salary of
at least Is per cent; that a new system
OF shop rules should be framed and
regulations as to the number of ap-
prentices that should be employed be
established.
According to an official of the ma
chinists' association, the railroad men
are DESTROYS of inaugurating the pre-
MUM system, which has been the topic
Of much discussion at all the confer
ences, and have expressed willing
ness to grant the increase Of pay and to
frame new set of shop rules and reg
ulations regarding the employment Of
apprentices upon the condition that the
strikers shall acquiesce in so far as the
premium system is concerned.
The officials Of the machinists offer
several objections to the premium sys-
tenn, the principal one being that it
tends to urge men to produce to their
utmost capac city and ability, thus rap
idly wearing them out mentally and
physically and in the end to suffer a
reduction in wages. 1t is declared that
as the men increase their output the
company would unquestionably reduce
the rate of pay agreed upon, as has
been done, It is declared, in instances
wherein the premium system has been
practiced. The union officials also
point out that in hurrying to make
large pay the work turned out by the
men would not be Of as fine quality
as produced under the present method.
In other words, the labor leaders de-
clare that there is no stability or relia-
bility in the system proposed, for
where men have labored under the pre-
MUM plan there has been a continual
change In wages and conditions, a
workman having no knowledge from
day to day what his income will be the
following day.
Another Big Chicago Union.
Fourteen Chicago freight handlers
unions have formed the Shipping
Trades federation. It will control more
than 10000 men, most Of whom are
preparing to demand shorter hours and