Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-24
BOTTLERS ON STRIKE
FAILURE TO INCREASE WAGES
SAID TO BE CAUSE.
Various Local Breweries and Other
Establishments Said to Be
Seriously Affected.

A general strike has been declared among
the union bottles Of this city by the Bot
tiers Union. A meeting was held last night
and an edict issued directing that the union
men shall not return to work until all de-
mands asked for by the bottlers have peen
granted The principal reason for the
strike, 1t is said, is the failure of the Bot
tiers Protective Association to grant de-
sired increase in the scale Of wages and a
decrease in the number Of hours per day.
The following breweries, all Of which are
employers of union labor, are, 1t Is under
stood, at a standstill as a result Of the ac-
ton taken at last nights meeting. The Ma
tional Capital Brewing Company the Her.
mann bottling works, the Washington
Brewing Company, the Sohlitz bottling
works, the Pabst works and the Annheuser-
Busch bottling establishment
The Mazinger, Arlington and j. H.
Scheuter bottling works all employ nom
union labor, and 1t Is stated they have had
no trouble with their employees
Mr. Charles Jacobsen Of the Arlington
company was seen today by Star re-
porter and stated that no strike existed
SO far as he was concerned, and his en-
ployes state that his treatment OF them
Is In every way entirely satisfactory.
The negotiations for an increase In the
scale of wages and decrease In working
hours per day have been under consfdera-
ton for the past two months. 1t Is stated
that the Bottlers' Protective Association
has conceded everything demanded by the
union men except two Items. The men
wanted a reduction from ten hours per
day to eight hours In both fall and win
ter seasons. In this one demand the as
ISOLATION granted them concession of
nine hours per day. The union also de-
manded an increase of 81 per day all
around in wages, which the Protective
Association has steadfastly refused to
grant
Grounds for Complaint.
1t is stated that in number of shops the
wages have been increased and uniform
number Of hours per day established. In
these establishments the comfort and well
fare of the men have been looked to. but 1t
is urged that the main grievance Is found
with those employers who, 1t is said, are
paying minimum scale, and who are often
exacting additional overtime labor without
remuneration therefor.
Mr.. Charles Reynolds vice president of
the bottlers' union, when seen today ad-
mitted that a general strike existed over
the city among the bottlers, but declined
to give out a statement. At the Arlington
Brewing Company's works 1t was stated
that the men employed there had been call
ed out, and they obeyed, yet 1t Is under
stood no dissatisfaction existed there. Mr..
A. King, manager of the Arlington Brew
ing Company, stated that he had always
for self-protection and that 1t would be
found they had always received equitable
and fair treatment at the company's hands.
meeting was held this afternoon at
the Hermann bottling works at 2:3O o'clock.
at which time and place both parties at
issue were represented and an effort made
to reach ON equitable agreement. There
was no Information as to the results given
out
contract was submitted and 1t is ex-
pected that some kind of a compromise
will be reached by which the strike can be
called of.
The unionists state that 1t is fight to the
bitter end unless their demands are met.
One of them stated today that 1t was the
sentiment of his fellows that the matter
had hung fire too long and that the ass0-
citation had been given sufficient time In
which to accede to the demands of the
union bottlers.
Unable to Make Statement.
Mr.. Leon Tobriner, who is attorney for
the Bottlers' Protective Association in the
District OF Columbia. stated this afternoon
that he had just returned to the city and
was unaware of the complications which
had arisen among the bottlers during the