Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-27
n. i. WORKERS
MAY @ ON STRIKE
eslitdorf Electrical Men Will
Decide Question at Meet
ing Today.

About thirty men employed IN inc
NJ, work. branch of the Splitdorf
Electrical Company will hold meet
tho TODAY to decide whether or not
thew will go on strike along with the
65O men formerly employed at the
Newark factory, at 98 Warren street.
who went on strike some time ago.
Samuel r. Young, general organizer
IF the striking machinists, stated TO-
dav That should the New York men
decide to strike 1t would practically
tie nm the Splitdorf concern, as far as
helm is concerned. Mr.. Young feels
confident that the men in New YORK
will strike.
Carlos Curtiss, general manager OF
the Splitdorf firm, stated today con-
ditions concerning the strike are nn-
changed.
Strikers Side of tho Trouble.
The following statement in part
was issued today by Mr.. Young, in
which he presents the strikers side OF
the argument:
lowing to the number of conflicting
statements that have been published
concerning the strike of the Splitdorf
Electrical Company, of Newark, we
deem it advisable at this time to pun-
fish a statement of the conditions
leading up to the present controversy
1.-THE men came out on strike IN
March of this year, demanding that
time and one-ha1f be paid for all work
in excess of fifty-four hours per week,
and were successful in securing an
adjustment at that time. Peace was
short-lived, however, because or the
firm trying to cheaper the cost OF pro-
duction by introducing various forms
off uUetarnq and the
displacement of high-priced men who
had been many years in the COM
pany's employ and a substitution CT
boys. The climax was reached Tues
day. August IL, when about 800 men
from the various departments came
out on strike and at their first mass
meeting drafted grievances to be adj
justed between the firm and the men.
1.-THE grievances were submitted by
the representatives of the men to the
officers of the Splitdorf Manufactur-
ing Company, and at that conference
the company agreed to sign most OF
them. Tho willingness of the COM
pany at that time to recognize the
respective Organizations OF the men
was considered in such a favorable
manner by the employees that 1t was
decided by the men that they would
return to work. pending the signing
of an agreement by said firm, the
men returning to work Thursday
morning, August IA Friday after
noon a conference was held at the
Splitdorf Offices, at which time agree
msnts drawn by the respective or
ganizations involved were presented
tho firm.
..Ibe attitude of the firm, howev 81,
had completely changed, inasmuch as
Mr. Curtis had taken an emphatic
position that the firm would not even
consider the agreements which had
been drafted in behalf of the men.
However, later on in the conference
the fir:r agree d to meet us the fol-
lowing Monday, in order to try to ar
rive at sorne settlement However,
we were greatly surprised to learn
from Mr.. Curtis q few moments be-
FORE our scheduled meeting on Mon
day afternoon that 1t would be use
less for us to meet them, as they did
not care to discuss the situation fur-
thfr.
I'VE found, on investigating the
rates of wages being paid by said
firm, that they were far below the
union standard. In some cases mar
ried men with families were receiv-
ing from Is to % cents per hour, while
n few men were scattered In the diff
ferent departments. receiving one cent
and a quarter per hour above the
union scale. AS soon as the employees
learned of the decision of the firm
they decided that they would reaffirm
their previous position in demanding
the shorter work-day and the in
creased wage, together with the rec
ignition of their respective associa-
tions.
'sOur strike bears the Endorsement
OF the thirty-fifth annual convention
of the State Federation of Labor of
New Jersey and also of the Essex
Trades Council, of Newark. Having
the moral and financial support of or
sanizeds labor throughout the country,
we are prepared to fight until we can
win the same consideration that fair
and broa d-minded employers are ex-
tending to union labor Throughout the
entire civil tied world"
Two Strikers Arraigncd.
The two strikers who are alleged
10 have ASA lllted John Schubach, II
years old, OF SO Boyd street, last
night so that he was compelled to go
to st. Barnab.as's Hospital, were ar
raigned before Judge Hahn in the
First Criminal Court today and held
in $500 bail each for the grand jury
on a charge, OF assault and battery
made by sShubach. Shubach was