Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-27
ISSUE A STATEMENT
MACHINISTS' TELL WHY THEY
REFUSED TO ARBITRATE.

Mr.. s. A. Grier. secretary Of the machin-
lists general committee has issued the fol-
lowing signed statement with reference to
the situation among the striking machin-
lists Of the Southern railway:
II wish the general public to understand
the position of the machinists on the ques-
tion OF arbitration Of the differences be-
tween US and the Southern Railway Com
pany. To begin with, arbitration is one of
the cardinal principles Of organized labor.
and we would have gladly submitted our
differences to arbitration had such a prop
ositfon been submitted to us before 1t be-
came necessary to go on a strike to secure
what We know are our rights.
AT least ten days before the strike
was ordered our committee submitted to
Mr. Spencer, general manager, a PROPOSE
ton Of an increase of 2 cents for machin-
lists and cent for apprentices. which was
very material reduction of our first re-
quest. After finding that he would not
agree to that We assured him that we
would recommend favorably. to our men
at home. any proposition that he would
make us along the line of substantial in
crease He declined fatty to consider a
general increase of any kind, claiming that
II he granted such an increase to one class
OF employees that he would have to give all
other trades general raise In wages.
Our committee returned home, leaving
the matter in the hands of our Grand Lodge
officers. with the understanding that II no
satisfactory adjustment could be reached
the men would be- called out. October 8
the call came. and the men, knowing their
cause was just one. quit work quietly and
the strike was on over the entire system.
After being out four days We received a
proposition from the company that If we
would return to work Saturday morning
October Ii. the committee would be received
early the following week and an honorable
adjustment could be reached.
Vote Almost Unanimous.
"A vote was taken and the proposition
was turned down almost unanimously, the
men claiming that as the company has been
In conference with the committee at Diff
ferent times for six weeks, and had not
offered what we considered fair PROPOSE
ton. we had no reason to believe that they
would be any moro fair after we returned
to work, and that we should know what
we were to receive before going back.
"Then a call came from our Grand Lodge
officers for our committee to return to
Washington to meet the company again.
We did so. and the general manager pro-
posed to- us the question OF arbitration, as
published in the papers of the Goth and 21st
instants. In the meantime the committee
Of the boilermakers and the committee
Representing the pipe filters. timers and
coppersmths were in conference with the
officials of the road and secured satisfac-
tory settlements for the men they repre-
scented. The boilermakers receive practi-
cally a two-cent fiat increase. just what
we had assured Mr.. Spencer we would have
accepted ten days before the strike was
called. And the pipe filters, coppersmiths
and timers were granted an increase for all
their men, varying from one and one-half
to three cents per hour.
Believe Their Cause Just.
considering the above facts. is it at all
natural to suppose that the machinists
would be willing to arbitrate for what we
agreed to take before we went out and
what the company considered fair to give
to other trades? Our men said no. and we
think our stand is justly taken. The boiler
makers and machinIsts have always been
considered by the Southern as on the same
basis and have been paid the same rates
OF wages then why should We be called
upon to arbitrate for what the company
gave them?
Manus published the 21st instant, 1 wish to
say that he is mistaken in the rates he
quotes as being paid the apprentices In
stead OF receiving, as he says. from 81 % to
$1.75 per day, the apprentices are paid the
following rates: For the first year, IS cents;
second year, 30 cents third. year, 81. TO- and
fourth year, $1.25 per day. Also that we
are not making a demand for a shorter
work day. but that the whole fight is for
a slight increase of pay"