Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-12
HOTELS.
WILLING TO CONFER
JOURNEYMEN WAGON WORKERS
ON CAUSE OF STRIKE.

An official statement was made today by
the officers OF Local No. ~ of the Carriage
and Wagon Workers International Union.
concerning the present strike of that craft
In this city The statement Is signed by
Mr.. Henry c. Stein, secretary, and bears
the seal of No. 72. 1t is as follows:
-Four years ago the members of the Car
rage and Wagon Workers Local Union re-
Quested the various manufacturers of the
District, who were engaged in the car
rage and wagon manufacturing and re-
pair business. to grant them an eight-hour
day and minimum wage Of $3.50 per diem
Tor all Journeymen workmen. They re-
fused to consider the matter and a strike
resulted, extending through a period of
seven weeks. when a settlement was made
in which the eight-hour day was conceded.
but the minimum wage was fixed at 81 per
diem. so cents less than was desired by the
journeymen, through a compromise. After
four years 1t was but natural to s,npose
the 1ourneymen, who are among the high
est skilled workmen In the country should
feel as II sufficient time had elapsed to per-
nit the manufacturers to adjust their brsi-
ness In such manner as to permit them fo
pay better and a more competent wage
But. as before, the manufacturers refused
TO- grant the increase requested, and ex-
hibited no disposition to meet q COMMITTEES
from the union. having IN view an amicabie
adjustment OF the controversy without re-
course to q strike.
No Other Course.
There was no other course for the Jour
neymen's organization to pursue, after a
reply to their letter was received from the
manufacturers unqualifledly stating they
could not and would not meet the increase
requested. The union considers its re-
quest fair. just and equitable, and within
the power OF the manufacturers to grant
without loss to themselves or any serious
embarrassment to their business interests,
The fact that many manufacturers have
signed the scale Of wages is evidence that
the requests OF the 1ourneymen are not un-
hardship upon them. There Il another
error that we desire to correct viz, that we
are asking Sc per diem for all apprentices
who have been one year at the business.
The union has by an amendment to their
bylaws established flve-year apprentice
ship term. and desires that whenever an
apprentices enters the nth year of his ap-
81 per diem. So 1t can be readily seen thas
the organisation leaves 1t entirely optfonaI
with the manufacturers to flx the amount
each apprentice shall receive as compensa
ton for four years. and 1t II net until the
nth year that the union endeavors to In
any manner TX his compensation. The
union desires to be perfectly fair and just
but It Will always maintain that . ware
scale OF - per diem u q diagrace to The
craft and q rsfiection upon the inteliigence
Of the workers and upon the humanity Of
the employers.
1T maintains that II 4 utterly impossi-
bic for any ssif-respecting workman 10
properly sustain family here In Washing
ton. the capital of tho nation. where fi7a
cost OF living 10 much In excess 81 Other
cities and surround t with those comforts
and that ssnyirOnment 80 necessary to the
development OF that morality and nnenfailfv