The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-24

THE situation is becoming each day q
little clearer here. One or two mon who
went out arc coming back every day
or two and trying for their old positions.
and every day one or two new men are
coming In from out OF town.. SO that each
office s turning out a little more work
IN their composing rooms each day, and
the employers confidently expect in about
two weeks more to be able to take care
OF such new business as tho public may
have to offer.
MIR. Whittet's Letter.
Illustrative OF the kindly spirit which
has existed between the employing print
ers and their striking employees, the
following letter was written by Mr.. Rob-
ert Whittet OF the firm Of Wh1ttet and
shepperson. the dean Of the Richmond
employing printers. and given with his
pay envelope to each one Of his striking
employees when they received their en-
vclope containing the amount due them
for the fraction of week Immediately
prece dingH9the strike:
My Dear Mistaken Friends: ~
You have thought proper to close a
long and pleasant connection by strike.
All of you have been associated with us
in the work for many years; some have
received their whole working skill and
training In our Office, and grown to mature
manhood In our employment It has always
been our endeavors,4t TO- so arrange the
conduct Of the office that the work
might proceed under the most comfort
able circumstances; you have had no
grievances, SO farg as II know, and the
most pleasant relptionsh hips have existed
between US; sa nd yet. | lat the dictation
know nothing bf ting LOCAL. circumstances
either In relatl lon Ito YOU Or ilpe,H you
i have suddenly quit your post iof duty,
choosing ra Their to obey command from
an outside central society than exercise
a manly Judgment as to a rightful course
Of action. You have.I i believe, justified
this as% being fidelity TO obligation; but
faithfulness In wrong-doing may be GRIM
inal; and your determination to hey In
this matter has made you the tools
and laid on you the responsibility for
the hurt which has been perpetrated,
The notorious Maffia society commands
Its members to commit the most drea,
Gful crimes upon the same principle OF
fidelity to their society-their union! On
the same false principle you have been
persuaded to commit tho lesser crime
of stilettoing the business which has af-
forded you in the past b a comfortable
living for yourselves and famlles. Your
action has been to me source of the
greatest grief, for It appears to me that
your allegiance was due to US rather
than to those irresponsible strangers
whose command you have obeyed to the
Injury Of yourselves and us.
There are one or two points which may
not be- apparent to you at first, but
which, when pointed out to you as work.
men, will be readily understood. You
have lang been aware that the output OF
our Linotype machines has not been al
l., tit-fo = %l,o
three machines fullyEoccupled have not
been able to produce more than the
ordinary work Of tho office. II this is
the result of week Of fifty-four hours
equal to 1862 hours with tho three ma
chines-it Is very eyldent that a week
of forty-elght hours--or IA hours In all
will come far short Of being sufficient,
thus making necessary the Installation
OF another machine. The same condl-
i tions apply to the press-roonl, rendering
necessary more presses, and calling for
a case of ''frcnzied finance most incon-
9venent. and, to my mind, the strongest
objection to your demand being complied
with; indeed, making It Impossible, E
4 The Increased cost which the shorten
ing Of the work day will entail upon
work done Is self-evident, and will sure
tly work evil In the conduct OF our BUSH
ness, OF this I need not say more.
The curt and peremptory manner in
which your demand was couched has
been a source of much irritation ana
becomes one more reason for rejection.
TO say that 1t was resorted to because
It was supposed that the employers were
preparing for the LIST OF January as tho
time when tho shorter day was asked
for. seems odd, when 1t Is remembered
that you have been taxing yourselves ri,
raise a large fund In preparation for
the same event! ButSit looks as II the
employers In The eyes OF organized labor
have no rights that may be respected,
and their interests may be turned down
without notice or warning, irrespective
of any feeling of fellowship that may
have existed fE
do not ask You to return to your
places until a spirit Of repentance has
shown you the mistake of your conduit,
and should that time never come, | can
only say, with much regret, goodbye.
Trulv yours,
ROBERT WHITTET. SIR,
"Misleading," Says Waddy,
\ "The reports given out BY the bulletins
IRENE" said Mr.. Waddey, 1.-THE demand
for an eight hour day has not been con
coded In q single city in the United
States In which there Is a branch of the
Germs In indianapolis reported to have
Withdrawn from the Typothotae have
always been the principal printers Of
trades union literature In that centre Of
national trades union headquarters, and
no ono In the Typothetae organization
ever supposed they would make the faint-l
est resistance to whatever the union
asked, In Albany the local Typothetae
had dsbanded FIVE years ago, The peo-
plc who have signed up with the union