The Washington herald., 1907-02-09
MACHINISTC HOPEFUL
Washington Lodge Expects
to Get Increased Wages.
WANT MINIMUM OF 1925
Demand Il Given the Enforcement
of the Executive Committee OF the
ers Are Now Considering the Prop
Osition-ExPect Answer Next Week.

An amicable settlement is expected of
the demand OF the machinists of Wash
lingtOn Lodge on their employers for an
increase of wages from a minimum Of
$500 10 S3.25 a day. Although it was not
/ generally known, this demand was pre-
scented several weeks ago. and there have
| been several conferences between the
/ lodge and the employers
1 Washington Lodge IS separate and dis
Itinct from Columbia Lodge. practically
all of whose members are employed at the
/ Washington Navy Yard. Washington
Lodge is composed Of men working for
contractors and business houses through
out the District
In view OF the general increase in wages.
and the increase allowed by the govern
ment 10 its employees in the Naval Gun
Factory. the men Of Washington Lodge
think that they are also entitled to an in
crease to a minimum of SIS a day. Mini
mum means that this viii be the lowest
per diem the men will be allowed to work
for Some of them are now receiving as
much as Si-00. and, of course. they viii
not be affected.
Their demand was indorscd Yesterday by
the executive committee Of the Interna-
tlonal Association, in semi-annuaI session
at headquarters I'm the McGW Building
In response 10 demands from all over the
country, the executive committee is plan
ming a general crusade for better pay and
shorter hours in all cities and railroad
towns where conditions are particularly
bad.
Considering the Demand.
Washington employers at present have
the increase demanded by Washington
Lodge under consideration. and il is ex-
pected that they will grant the Increase
next week. If they do not. it may result
in strike. as the action taken by the
lodge and indorsed BY the executive COM
mittee makes il impossible for the men to /
work for less than S3.25 q day.
II is also possible that in view of the |
general demand for STANDARD wages and
hours VIII result IN strikes i'm many other /
cities This applies especially 10 Cincin- /
natl. Philadelphia. Oakland. Cal. Mil
waukee, Wis, 81. Louis. Mo. and Pitts |
burg, Pa, and adjacent territory 10 these
centers of employ for machinists. In all /
these cities conditions are below the /
standard, and. according 10 the plans Of /
the executive committee, "a general move /
ment will be inaugurated on May J. Piece /
work has also been blacklisted. and the T.
l55-00o members Of the International AssO- /
citation Will be instructed TO fight il i'm 4
every instance.
The executive committee, composed Of
James O'COnnell. OF Washington. prosi-
dent, Hugh DOTan. Of Chicago Edward /
l.. Tucker Of this city, Henry Garrett.
OF Atlanta, Ga. James A, Reynolds, o.
Cleveland, NJ. J. Ford, Of New York. and
George Preston. secretary. has been in
session all this week and viii continue
over until Monday
An accumulation Of six months of rou-
tine business has been gone over and
disposed of, and the committee yester-
day devoted itself 10 the settlement Of the
accounts of the association. The asso-
citation has about $1,000 in cash and
bonds deposited in bank
Clears ID Disputes.
The chief business. Of the committee is
the taking UP and settling Of grievances
and disputes between its own organiza-
tons and between its members and their
employees throughout the country. The
t~AA'NA7 A'NtSVS nav UP agreements as
to wages. shop rules. hours. &c. and
these have TO be approved by the board
before they become effective. It's main
object is the prevention of strikes and
disputes, and when these cannot be set
tied the committee steps in and arbi-
-rates-
The committee has a representative in
the shape of a business agent of one
IF the local lodges in every city in the
country. and realizing the personal feel {
ng that is bound 10 creep into strikes
and disputes Of any kind. business
agent from "a nearby city is generally
sent to the scene Of such dispute as an \,
or middeman.
The return of Emmett l.. Adams. bust !
ness agent of Columbia Lodge. to Norfolk
md Portsmouth, Va, is a good iIIustra- .
ion Of this policy. Although the strike
n those cities is practically settled, there
IRE some few Of the employers who are
holding off. Mr. Adams, as field organ {