The Washington times., 1907-05-12
NACHINISTS' STRIKE
IN MANY CITIES
Representative of Union EX-
presses Confidence of
Winning.

The general movement begun with the
opening Of May by the international
Association of Machinists, through its
national officers and the general execu-
tive board. having for its object the
establishment Of standard wages, the
nine-hour day. and union shop rules is
seriously affecting corporations and
firms constructing ana repairing ma
chnery I'm the big cities where union
conditions do not obtain.
Col James O'ConneH, president Of the
big labor union that looks after the ma
terial interests OF the great army OF
machinists all over this country and
Canada, said yesterday that the move
mcnt was we'll on In PIttsDurg. Chi
cago, ST. Louis Kansas City San Fran
cisco, and the other Industrial cities
where thousands Of skilled machipists
are employed in the construction Of ma
chinery by large and small concerns.
He said that while the situation in sew
eral Of the cities Is not 90 bright as he
would like 10 see IL, generally speaking
the outlook for a satisfactory settle
ment Of the questions at Issue is prom
Using. and that he expected TO see the
reasonable demands made by the men
granted in every instance.
In PittsbUrg the men are asking for
a fifty-hour week, with standard wages
and shop rules. There are probably 1000
men out. which represents about half
Of the membership OF the organization
in that city. the other half working for
corporations and private concerns that
have granted the demands OF the Inter-
national Association Of Machinists.
The Chicago men have practically
satisfactorily adjusted their troubles.
and there is a bright future before
them. st. Louis has 800 men out from
nifty shops, with an equal number work.
ing in shops that recognize union wages
and rules The trouble IN The Mound
City" viii be settled within a short
time. it IS thought by Colonel O'ConneiI.
Kansas city reports 400 men out. with
the prospects Of no early adjustment OF
the trouble.
Probably the demands made at San
Francisco and Oakland. Cal will not
be setded for some time. as there are
ali kinds Of serious labor troubles IN
that city that dwarf the machinlsts.
interests into insignificance. The ma
chinists and metal workers OF San Fran
cisco are out 20 the number Of more
than LOO men. and while the present {
labor troubles exist there il VIII be no /
easy matter 10 settle the machinIsts' I
troubles. However, the machinlsts are /
not participating in any Of the violent I
labor demonstrations that have charac- /
terized the action Of some OF the men
out on strike The machinists are not
strictly speaking. out on strike They
have quit work until their demands are
settled. bat are making no effort 20
keep men away from their shops. The
fact Is that II is not necessary. for the
reason that competent machinists on
the Pacific coast out of employment are
about as scarce an article in Industrial
life as could be imagined
Colonel O'Conneu says his men arc
firm in their determination TO secure
the universal adoption OF the nine-hour
DAY, standard wages and favorable shop
rules. but viii have nothing 10 do with
unlawful acts 10 carry their ends.
Asked II the movement mad ANYTHING
10 90 with the great railroad systems
Colonel O'COnneH said: There is no
trouble between our men and the rail-
roads. We have signed contracts with /
over 30 per cent Of the great systesms
Of railroads all over this country and
canada, recognizing our organization.
paying standard wages for a nine-hour
day, and favorable shop rules that are
satisfactory 70 our men in every partfc-
ular- There Is no trouble in this direc-
ton and viii not he
The general movement begun thee
HrSt or this month IN the comnerciaI
SHOPS OF the BIG cities, will result n,
the adoption Of the conditions We seek