The Washington herald., 1908-07-12

Laboring men Of the District. especially
the striking machinists themselves. are
indignant over the story published in q
local newspaper, alleging that machinists
on strike at the roundhouse and shops Of
the Washington Terminal Company were
attempting 20 prevent strike-breakers
from taking the places vacated by them.
Members Of the local lodge OF machinists
declare they viii bring suit for libel
against any corporation or person making
statements TO the effect that they did
molest or Intend in the future 20 molest
property Of the terminal company its en-
ployes. or any other firms employees
They further state that it is only for the
reason Of acquainting union machinists
who may be engaged 10 take their places.
not knowing Of the strike. that headquar-
ters have been established at the scene Of
the strike
Denied by Foreman Kiehm.
@. w. Kiehm, foreman OF the airbrake
work, until he struck, and a writer for
the Railway Review, said last night that
the story that striking machinists were
armed with guns, revolvers, and clubs
was false. and that no action on their
part furnished any ground for such a
story to be published. and the only source
from which such a story could have come
from was the vivid imagination Of the
reporter who wrote IL.
Mr. Kiehm said that tent was pitched
on the property Of the Wine View Pleas
Ure Club, and thatthe men on strike We're
purpose Of inJerceding with men who are
members OF their association. He said:
There was no trouble az the Ivy City
yards, in which the striking machlnists
were engaged I'm. and neither win there
be any IN the future. The report proba-
bly, was sent out by the Terminal Com
pany 20 excite public sympathy, but as
our men have made no move which could
be condemned by any person or party,
think il has failed in its effort.
simply Doing Picket Duty.
"Our men are simply on the scene TO
inform any union machinists who may
apply for a position. or any union ma
chinists who may have been employed.
that strike is IN progress. That would
be all that would be necessary to say TO
any union man.
"As for the men on strike. and I am
one Of them. we did not attempt TO stop
nonunion men from working in the shops,
nor did we intend 20. Our intentions and
actions were peaceful and law-abiding.
We are not ilIiterate men-most all Of US
have fairly good educatlons. and some
OF US have had college educGtions. We
are willing at any and all times for the
police or railroad officials % come into
our camp and make a thorough search OF
our premises and our persons, for arms
OF any kind. 1 again say our mission
there IS a right and a Just one, and any
man who wishes 20 take our place can go
and come 70 the shops without fear OF
molestation from the striking machinists.
We want the company 20 get 'scabs'-we
want them 70 experiment with them We
feel assured that they will soon tire OF
the experiment. There are no machinists
outside the union who are capable Of
doing the work we do When q man can
not come UP to tho proficiency mark set
by the union. a concern does not want
him, and II he can and Is not a member
OF the union, be IS generally drinking
man and unreliable. or there is something
wrong with the firm.
Strike "a Matter OF Principle.
In my experience as a machinist.
after working I'm various parts Of the
country. have never seen a more intel
ligent or loyal body OF men than those
who went on strike. I viii also add that
IL was not SO much a matter OF a couple
OF cents with us as It was a principle.
I'VE hope 20 convince the Terminal
Company that they cannot employ men
and get the same quality Of work done
for the wages they pay. know that II
they had allowed the scale to stand and
cut the working day down from nine