Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-26
LOWERING WAGES
Two Largest Chicago Factories Re
sumo Today With Reduc-
tiOns In Force.
LABOR UNIONS ARE IGNORED
Many Thousands Affected by Policy of
Pullman and International
Harvester Companies.

Chicago, Sept. 26.-Work was re-
sumed this morning, after a brief per
iod of idleness, in the plants of two
of the greatest manufacturing compan-
les of Chicago. In both instances la
Dor unions are ignored absolutely. The
men are taken back under conditions
less favorable than those they en-
joyed before the shut-downs.
The concerns simultaneously an
nouncinS the new policy with the re-
opening of their shops are the Pull
man company and the International
Harvester company. The former
put 1000 of it's former employees at
work at wages lower by 10 to 20 per
cent than they were receiving prev
iously.
These men have been picked with
care in the ten days the plant has
been closed. In their number are
found none. who has been known as
a labor agitatOr. Hereafter all appli-
cants for employment must be made
at the general office of the company
in Chicago and not at the shops.
The harvester company returns to
the 10 hour day, its plants 10 run 57l2
hours week. It's superintendent de-
clined to meet a labor committee
which sought a renewal of the old
agreement, which established the nine
hour day BY the close of the week
the officials of the concern expect
large portion of the 5000 men who
were working before the shutdown to
be back.
Pullman Men Refuse Reduction.
The announcement of the Pullman |
company is the logical outcome of the |
course of action prepared nearly a |
year ago. Approaching theL the force |
of the coming trade depression, the |
officials of the concern submitted an
unusual proposition to the 1000 work |
ers.
I'VE have an opportunity to bid on |
big contract" the company declared. |
and we can get it if we can put in a |
sufficiently low figure. But to make |
this low bid we will have to pay less
wages. There is no other business of |
any consequence in sight.
IF you, the workers, will accept a |
reduction in wages proportionate to |
the reduced bid necessary to secure |
the contract you will all have work |
next winter The JOB will be big |
enough to keep the plant running. If |
you reject the cut the shops will have |
To close"
The offer was made to the men at |
the close of phenOmenally good year |
and they did not believe there was /
any need of their taking less pay. I'm |
ion leaders argued that wage reduc- |
tiOns should never be accepted under |
any circumstances. The men. accord |
ingly, voted down the proposition.
Men Gradually Laid or.
Six weeks ago the company began |
to lay off men. This was continued |
until Sept. Is, when all except a hand |
full employed in one repair department |
were told to go. They were instructed |
to take their tools with them. as the |
company could not say when their |
services would be needed again.
The men notified by special messen- |
ger to report for duty this morning
evidently had been subjected 10 a |
scrutiny that left them clear of sus- !
picion of coming under the "agitator"
class. They were men who had not |
in the past been in any way identified
with labor troubles. While they eX-
pressed their satisfaction at being able |
to get work. others were disappointed.
Employees who have been long in
the service of the company are en-
titled to pensions. Few men who had
worked at Pullman - years or more
were chosen. Less than 200 of those
who soon would be candidates for pen
siOns were picked
The cut in wages. it was announced,
would be general, extending to en-
ployes in the Office force The wage
scale at the shops has ranged in the
past from S1.75 to 81 a day.