The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-03-19
0BEYED
THE ORDER
TO STRIKE

Three more men employed at the Provi-
dence Telegraph company have gone out
on strike at the cali OF the message from
the headquarters OF the union, making
in all 1s men from that place, while the
office OF the ]. c. Hall company is COM
pletely tied UP.
The men here are not involved In any
difficulty with the employers, but are out
under orders from the officials OF the
international body. The question at
issue Is whether there shall be an ar
bitration board to adjust all differences
between the employers and the men so
that work VIII not be hindered and bust
ness stability affected.
Mr.. Smith OF the Providence Litho-
graph company when seen this morn
ing stated there is no local trouble In
volved at ALL but that the request had
been made for an arbitration board TO
settle all questions that might arise. a
thing which the unions had been fight
ing for for more than 20 years, and
which had been adopted by many OF the
great labor organizations.
Continuing, he said: "All we OF the
Employers union is TO have a definite
and regular channel through which all
troubles may be settled without stop
ping the machinery of a plant Strikes
are bad and lockouts are OF the same ma
ture. These things are detrimental to
the men and TO business We do not
want such things and only ask that a
means be agreed upon by which settle
ments can be had without blocking the
work.
we all believe that unions are a good
thing IL not carried too far and we want
TO In no way control or have TO do with
the unions among our men except to con-
serve the best interest OF all concerned
In order to secure this we submitted an
agreement asking for nothing but the
assurance Of stable business in the form
OF an arbitration board and stated the al
Tentative Should the men see fit to come
back, having signed the proposition we
will take them, should they come back
as individuals we will talk with them
but we Will not recognize the union with
out the clause mentioned"
The part OF the agreement causing the
trouble IS as follows:
The joint executive committee OF IAtho-
graphers' association (East. West and
Pacifc), have lately conferred with the
national board OF your organization and
have submitted a proposal OF an agree
ment for one year, by which any diff
Guilty or difference OF opinion between en-
ployer and workman shall be settled by
joint commissions composed equally OF
workment and employers and finally by
arbitration, thus avoiding the possibility
OF strikes or lockouts during that pc
riod.
AS the proposed agreement provides for
just and amicabe settlement OF every
question which may come up between
employers and workmen. thus giving the
assurance OF no strikes or lockouts, IL
will be seen at once that Il insures and
assures those conditions I'm the trade that
IL must have. viz: Uninterrupted pro-
cedure OF its work and certainty Of fulfill
ing all contracts While thus giving sta
bility TO our trade. the agreements car
ries with it no other conditions.
IL is precisely what many unions have
struggled years for and which the miners
of Pennsylvania after their protracted
struggle obtained only through the In
fluence OF the president OF the United
States. The principle which this agree
ment contains has the endorsement OF
the great labor leaders OF this country
and Europe and as the best interests OF
the employers and the workman alike de-
mand its immediate adoption. we sincere.
ly trust you will see the advisa bilfty of
giving 10 at least one years trial, and.
therefore. that YOU Will cast your vote
In its favor.
After explaining TO the committees from
the various unions the reasons for its con-
illusions. resolution was adopted by
the employers requiring that such an
agreement be entered into on or before
the 18th day Of March next. for n period
OF one year. or failing 20 reach an agree
ment by the date named. the employers
will proceed 60 deal with their workmen
individually and not through the unions.