The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-27
SIXTY MEN WALK OUT
AT THE PARRY PLANT
Refuse to Accept Slight Reduction
and Firm in Their
Demands.
ARE ASKED TO RETURN
Decline and Their Places Are Be
ing Filled-D. M. Parry
Makes a Statement.
ARE ASKED TO RETUR

Some sixty men employed in the Grating
room of the Parry Manufacturing Company
quit work yesterday morning declining to
submit to a cut of cents per crate, which
had been posted by the superintendent
The men demanded that the old rate per
crate be restored, and, on refusal, gathered
UP their tools and left the shop. Officials
of the company declare that there will be
no interruption in the work of the factory,
as. it is said. the places made vacant can
be easily filled.
The men who walked out are known as
craters and hangers. They were mostly
employed in the spring-wagon department.
In order TO facilitate the rapid packing of
the vehicles each experienced crater is fur
nished with helper. Recently the helpers
have maintained that they were underpaid
as compared to the craters who have been
earning from SD to $40 per week.
Complaint was made to Superintendent
Cakes. and to equalize matters Mr.. Cakes
decided to take of 2 cents from the scale
paid the craterS and add the same to the
helpers scale.
The men chose a moment when the de-
partment superintendent were gathered in
President Parry's office, and the first thing
known of the trouble was the spectacle of
the men gathering in knots in front of the
building. Superintendent Cakes lost no
time In getting in touch with the strikers
and tried to point out to them that they
were acting in a hasty manner. He asked
them TO return TO work and that any COM
plant would be fully considered.
MEN ARE FIRM.
The men were firm, however, and quietly
left the premises. Apparently there was no
disposition to make trouble.
ID. M. Parry. president of the Parry Manu-
featuring Company, expressed great regret
last night that any trouble had occurred.
ut is the first strike that the Parry
Manufacturing Company has ever had
said President Parry. 1--WE have been in
business here twenty years and we have
never denied our men a fair hearing in case
Of grievance. 1t has been our policy TO
treat our men fairly. and the very fact
that many of the craters who quit work
have been with us from ten to fifteen years
shows that we have been pretty lust with
our men. The walk-out came as complete
surprise to me, FOR, personally, L had no
knowledge OF reduction in the piece work
scale. L knew nothing of the trouble until
l was Informed of il by the superintendent.
Il am inclined to believe that the men
may have acted a little hastily. If they
had appointed = shop committee to have
come TO the office and register any COM
plant the committee would have been treat
ed respectfully. That the men did not do
this would seem TO indicate that they may
have made a little mistake in Judgment.
However, these labor troubles seem TO fall
to the lot of every manufacturer, no mat
ter how one may strive to avoid them.
am willing to print the pay rolls of the
Grating department, and L believe that it
will be shown to be higher than that OF
any other buggy concern in the country
I'm justice to the company, the craters
should remember that generally speaking,
these are dull times in the buggy business
and job right now that pays from Sl2 to
$50 a week for unslkilled labor is not TO be
turned down lightly. There are plenty of
men who would like to have these positions
but, at the same time, 1 would prefer to
give the old men employment, for, as |
say, many CT them have been with us for
a long time. The invariable rule of the
Parry Manufacturing Company has been
not to re-employ a man who walks out
Whether this rule will be enforced on this
occasion L am not prepared to say at this
! time.