The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-06-17
Especial to THE T1MEs.)


East Chicago Ind, June II. - The
Green Engineering company, located in
kennedy avenue, near Chicago avenue,
is going to move to Pittsburg accord
ing to a statement made this morning
by Superintendent C. c. Moffatt AL
ready the work of packing has been
begun under instructions from the gen
eral offices in Chicago, and the pros
poets are for a complete abandonment
Of the present location in the early flu
ture.
This drastic action Is the result of a
strike which began on Monday and
yesterday had grown to such proper
lions that it involved the entire force
employed at the big plant. According
to Superintendent Moffatt. he nor any
other officers of the company have been
Informed as to what the strike is all
about. He declares he has never had
any communication of any sort with
any OF the men. regarding the animus
of the movement on the part of the
strikers. The latter, on the other hand
maintain that committee composed Of
Frank Michek. Wendal Trinka waited
upon the company and demanded a
raise of three cents per hour all around
every man in the establishment being
included in the general demand for
higher wages. They also declared that
they were offered an increase of one and
one-half cents an hour over the present
schedule.
If the plant is closed it will mean a
serious loss to East Chicago. 1t en-
ploys $50 men and during the hard
times was one of the most consistent
concerns in its operations of any of the
big plants throughout the region. In
good times as many as 500 men are
employed by the company.
! According to the company the strik-
ers have used threats of violence in
order to induce those who preferred to
continue with their work at the old
schedule. to join them. It is declared
that men on their way to work would
be intercepted. and in some instances
all but roughly handled. while hints of
what they might expect at the hands Of
! the strikers should they persist in con-
tinuing at work were of such a nature
as to intimidate the workmen and cause
them to join the ranks of the strikers
Mr. Moffatt said this morning. The
| strike began on Monday morning. or
Saturday night when closed down
everybody was apparently in a cheerful
! frame Of mind and we had no intima-
ton of trouble brewing. Monday morn
ing the men came to work as usual, but
before they had been long a work, hall
a dozen of the moulders quit and walk
ed out ] had no idea what they were
quitting for. They made no complaint
and they simply walked out without {
word of explanation. At noon they be
gan to induce the others to quit Thu
other moulders soon followed suit, ant
yesterday the machinists quit. Th'
plant is now entirely shut down. II
to this moment I have had no official
Information as to what the strikers
want or why they are cut. The com
pany does not intend to treat with tin
men at all but viii move away rattle
then comply with their demands. "
have a location in Pittsburg in view
and I have instructions from headquaT
tiers to begin packing at once. Thi
work is now under way. many Of tn
patterns having already been mad
ready for shipment.
The Green Engineering company
wage scale is now higher than that o
any of the concerns Of q similar natur
) in this region. We are paying from I
TO 20 cents an hour for common Labor