The Washington times., 1908-11-24
CHAMBER To BACK
NACHINISTS' CAUSE
Will Protest Wholesale Dis
charge of Navy Yard
Employees.

Vigorous protest is to be made by the
ma ihlnists and other employees OF the
Navy Yard by the Chamber OF Com
meree, through its committee on law
! and legislation. against the impending
discharge Of from 200 TO LOO machinists.
helpers and forgeTs at the Washington
NAVY Yard
Claiming that the lack of work at the
Ma-Ahlhston yard IS due TO the policy of
lile Navy Department in giving con-
tracts Tor gun work 10 the Bethlehem
4nd MIdvale Steel Companies. and dis
putting the justification Of this policv
made by Secretary Newberry, the ma
clinists. headed by Emmett 1. Adams.
president Of Federal Lodge. and tba
business representatives Of the mscbin-
lists IN the Washington wand. IS nra-
paFlh8 70 take the matter before the
PRESIDENT and before Congress.
RalstOn Heads Committee.
The law and LEGISLATION ccr,r,,,t.s
OF the Washington Chamber Of Corn
lheIce' headed by Jackson H. Ralston.
VIII wait upon Secretary Newberrv tbis
afternoon. and request that everything
possible be done at least to cut down
the threatened wholesale discharge OF
men from the Navy Yard and the Sc
nous eurtailment of the working stafr.
Ihe committee VIII be Joined in this
request by Mr.. Adams. and it is prob
able that the entire delegation. repre-
sentative OF the machinists, whose ions
are In jeopardy, and of the people or
W aShlnston, viii endeaVOr TO obtain an
audience with the President.
AT the navy yard there is constsrna-
uon. With from seven TO eleven bur-
dred black balls to be drawn ont rS :
force OF but little over 1900. and tbs
uncertainty as TO who will be LET 90
worry Is written on every face Tsha
uIsellaIse OF 500 men, an approximate
HuInD Der means at least five or SIX hum
dred families in the southeast sectfon
OF the city with support Few OF the
LlachlnlstS have any money. nv reason
OF the drain caused by their voluntarily
would fan on the shoulders Of tbe ros,ltl
ana discharges would be obviated. and
Dy the necessity of caring for many
OF their fC.lOW-workers who were ont
OL work, despite this general sacrifice.
Jobs Are SARGE.
considering the general conditions of
The mach!nist trade throughout the
country and labor conditions in Wash
nston' there is but little possibility. il
s said by local labor leaders, Of the
nen discharged from the navy yard |
lnding employment here or in any other
,tty during the winter
In reply to Secretary Newberry. Mr. |
Adams said today that the old we'll |
worn contention that the outside plants |
we're tie only insurance on the Govern
nent plant here in case of euuer-encv
-nu that the steel companies would not /
yeep the men and machinery for daine
-un work unless they received contracts
rom the Government was absurd and
would not hold
MT. Adams statement given IN q ran |
esentative of The Times TODAY. is IS
ollows:
Questions Insurance Argument /
The statement by the Secretary that
The Bethlehem and MidvaIe plants and
he opportunity of Federal utilization OF
hem, are the only insurance the conn
~ has against destruction by fire or
OF the gun works at the
Washington navy yard does not appeaI
D y as entirely accurate, for the req
on What many other plants throuebot,t
ne country nave been doing ordnanca
'ork Tor the naval establishment fhfg
eng notably true of the Driggs-Sea-
uTy Company. OF Sharon, Pa: file
rnerican British Company, of BTiaVe-
Continued on Seventh Page)