The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-09

yesterday afternoon by the machinists
leaving in a body their work at the
Builders Iron foundry on Codding
street For some months past the
work OF organizing the machinists had
been going steadily on and a new
agreement had been prepared for
presentation to the various companies.
which, while II would give the men
more pay and shorter hours. has been
favorably looked upon by a number OF
the largest employers OF union ma
chinists as being an unusually fair and
mild agreement. IL was not aud has
not been the intention to declare a
strike on June 1. The object was sim
ply to present an agreement TO take
effect on that date. and the union
labor leader. Vice President Wilson.
stated that he hoped that no trouble
would result
On HIS part he would meet the en-
ployers and talk the situation over I'm
"A manly way. point out 70 thenf the
claims OF the working men and he
felt that they, as fair-minded business
men. would see the justices of their
claims and grant them. or course. in
the event OF meeting with any en-
ployer who would not listen to reason.
IL was best 10 be prepared for all
emergencies, and the stronger the
organization. the better able they
would be TO carry out their views.
In the numerous conversations which
the representative of the News Demo-
crat has had with Mr.. Wilson.
and. from what we have had heard
him counsel the men. we are free
to confess that he has always dis
couraged any action that would tend
towards strike until a committee
had met the employers and had tried
their level best TO have matters ar
ranged amicably.
In the case Of the Builders Iron
foundry the men have been kept from
striking for two months past on this
advice. until finally they decided them
selves they could stand II no longer
and walked out
Mr. Wilson's statement OF the union
side is as follows:
Many statements have been made re-
garding the Builders Iron foundry of
this city. and the cause of the present
difficulty. In order that the minds of
all fair-minded citizens may be placed
at rest, the international Association
of Machinists desire TO say. that for
the past three months discrimination
against union men has been the chief
policy OF the superintendent, Mr.. Lake
He has spent more time In victimlzing
union men than he has in the interest
OF the company, and further, the in
formation upon which he has based
his actions has been furnished by
irresponsible parties who hoped, in
the event OF r. strike, TO secure an
increase In pay, merely because or their
so called or alleged loyalty to the COM
pany and TO secure some personal re-
Enumeration in the way OF raise in
wages for their sole virtue OF scabbing.
That this is true let Mr.. Lake point
to his informants. and we can point
to the same men as the two-faced
parties that had only their own ends
to serve and cared nothing either for
the welfare OF the company or their
shopmates OF years.
However. with All OF these conditions
initiating against the men that are out
OF work as result OF their loyalty TO
their fellow shop man for years. we can
still say, that the only aggressiveness
shown was on the part Of the company;
still with all of this, II the Builders Iron
Foundry wish TO do work for cities that
nre up-to-date they will have 10 consider
the rights OF the men that were 80 un-
justly discharged because of their organ
tzation. The employer who wants 10
throw down men chat have been In their
employ for ten years or so. viii find that
there will be many difficulties to over
come when they want to install scab
machines In union cities. No superfnten-
dent. no matter how good a man he may
be- can get around this proposition, and
tho up-to-date idea Is Treat your men
fairly and rn a fair shop; run a scab
shop and you will meet with the same re-
suits that hundreds OF other employers
have met with I'm the past Providence
manufacturers have been immune In the
past because they are not considered az
scab employers. but now, conditions are
changed, they are either fair or unfair. IL
unfair their business must naturally be
confined to unfair cities. II fair the whole
United States is open 20 them az n
market
As the months roll into years this will
develop. The American Federation OF
Labor has grown during last year alone.
?. 800 Ooo members. and even the farmers
in many states viii not have an unfair
firm hid on any work that they can reach,
either private or county work; all big
cities ars union. so what hope for the
poor scsb factory today Wait and watch.
deeds Will tell the truth of these state
mcntg Unfair airOn1ohfler "a IA ba ala.r,-