The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-21
DEMANDS DENIED;
MEN WALK OUT.
Nearly One Hundred Employees
In Saddlery Houses Go Out
On Strike
SAME PAY; SHORTER HOURS
Demand Eight-Hour Day and
Same Pay Now Given for
Ten Hours.

Answering to q call from the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor nearly on
hundred employees of the wholesale
saddlery companies OF Richmond
struck Monday morning. In the two
factories affected those Of the Cot
trell saddlery Company and Benjamin
r. Crump Company, not single man
reported for work except tine Office
forces.
The employees are demanding an
eight-hour day with ten hours pay,
and declare that they will not 90 back
to work until their demands are met
by the employers. I'VE have the al
lied trades of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor back Of u.s." declared
one Of the strikers, land we can
afford to stay out until the employers
see their way clear to meet our de-
mands. This IL q general strike all
over the United States, and we are
determined to win or quit the busi-
ness.
Could Not Do With Less.
The employees do not feel that they
are asking too much. They want a
shorter day with the same pay they
are now receiving. The claim that
II is entirely too much TO ask Of them
to work ten hours q day at inside
work over machinery, and also that
they cannot afford to work eight
hours with less than ten hours pay
on account Of the extreme high cost
OF living. TT Is about all the most
OF us can do to make both ends meet
at the present wages" declared one
OF the strikers. land with less pay we
could not AFFORD to work at the trade"
The American Federation Of Labor IL
endeavor1ng to make eight hours
working day In all trades afiiliated
with them. and 1t Is understood that
this general strike IL called to es-
tabiish this rule with the harness
manufacturers.
Az to meeting the demands of the
strikers, the employers state positive
ly that this will not be done. Mr.
Sharp, secretary and treasurer Of the
Cottrell Saddlery Company. made the
following statement to a representa-
tive of The yirginian Monday morn
Ing:
"We are completely In the dark as
to the cause OF the strike, but I un-
derstand that II was ordered by the
American Federation Of Labor. Up
until Monday morning we did not
have any idea that our men were
going out. We have heard rumors for
a number of days to the effect that q
strike would be called. but as none
Of our men had approached US on
the subject, we did not think there
was any truth in the report. Monday
morning q committee OF our employees
waited on US, and demanded that they
be given an eight-hour working day
with ten hours pay. which request
We refused to grant. and the strike
was called. Every man walked out,
and we are compelled to shut down.
am very sorry that the men decided
upon this action, ~ they are very
orderly, desirable set Of employees, and
do not think they would have taken
these steps unless ordered to.@We
hope to adjust our differences salts
factortly, but do not think the strikers
demands WALL be met"
Expects q Seetlement.
Mr.. c. c. Cottreli. head Of the firm,
Is also of the opinion that an adj
justment Of the differences will be
made. but has stated that II this Ii
not done he can bring men to Rich
mond from the country and teach
Is done by machinery. and there 10
little skilled labor attached to the bus
mess
At the BENJAMIN +. Crump sad
dlery about twenty-five men walked
out after being refused their demands
for an eight-hour day. A member
Of that firm stated Monday that they
| had no idea OF meeting the demands
OF the strikers. but thought that a
general adjustment would be made
In the near future.
Men Talk Over Situation.
At a meeting Of the local union
Of the United brotherhood OF Leather
Workers and Horse Goods. held at
the Labor Temple Monday noon. the
general situation Of the strike was
discussed behind closed doors. It was
stated after the meeting that about
twenty OF the 100 strikers would
leave Richmond this week for other
cities, where the demands had been
met. It was also stated after the
meeting that what II known as q CO.
operative shop 10 soon to be estAb-
lished here by the striking leather
workers, which shop will be operated
on q socialistic plan, and be absolute
~ under the direction Of the union.