The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-17
MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION IS CALLED UPON TO PRESENT
 SOLID FRONT AGAINST UNION


 Word to stand firm and refuse the demands of the international Associa- tion of Machinists was sent from the headquarters of the Manufacturers association today to some twenty fac tories. These manufacturers are working on sub contracts from the Remington ArTns-U. M. Go. Go. It. was the belief of James G. LudIun. president of the Manufacturers as- sociationf that only these manufacture CTS will be affected by the strike vote of the nachinists last night.
 As a matter Of fact every manufac- tilrer in the city who employs union machinists is affected and according to the statement made by Interna- tionaI Vice-Presidenf J.AJ. Keppler. all union machinists in the city will be called out in a general strike on Mon-. day unless the demands of the union are granted. That the demands of the union men would not be granted seems to be the general opinion of the members of the Manufacturers as- ssociatien.
 MT Ludlum, who is president of the association and manager of the Bridgeport factory Of the Interna atfonal Silver Co, said today that he was not familiar enough with the demands of the AIaehinista' union or the strike situation to make any statement. He was Of the opinion that the members pf the association would stand to- Rgether and take concerted action. President Lud1un said he did not be- IIeVe that a general strike of the ma cainists would seriously cripple BFidgeport's industries. Pressed for a further statement as for his opinion of the justice of the claims Of the union nlachtnists he said:
 You must excuse me. It is a very hot day.
 While he would make no definite statement Mr. Ludlurn indicated his belief that the demands of the ma chinists would not be granted Rep resentatives of the following firms held meeting at the Manufa cturers association rooms in the Court Ex- change Building Thursday afternoon:
 The Harris Engineering Company Eullard Machine Tool Company, Couf- ter & Mckenzie Company. Standard Manufacturing Company, Grant Man ufacturing Company, Gaynor Manu- featuring Company, Bridgeport Brass Company, Smith & Egge Manufacture ing Company Bridgeport Engineering Company, Remington Yoaf Company. Rreul Manufacturing Company. Baird Machine Tool Company, Co1umbia Nut & Bolt Company, Burns & Bassick Company, Automatic Machine Conn pany.
 President Iudluxn presided After the meeting he would say nothing for S0O0 authority that the manufacturers Vot-s Ied to take no concerted action but to allow each manufactures to do as he saw fit regarding granting or refus- ing the demands of the union. Today however this situation has changed and all these manufacturers Us well as all members of the association have been asked to stand together and re- fuse the demands of the union.
 The telephone wire at the Manufae- turers Headquarters was kept busy this morning while word was passed for united front in opposition to the demands of their workmen.
 Regarding the situation one preuni- nent manufactures said today: Tt is all 8, matter of lbookkeeping. The eight hour day demand does not amount to very much when you con- sider that all factories that are mak- ing war munitions are working night and day. In our factory we are work ing two shifts at present. One of nine hours and one of seven hours. In or der to keep up with our contracts we must soon work three shifts which will of course mean an eight hour day All of the factories who are making war munitions find themselves in the. same situation. Yhe regular union rate of wages of $3s5o for toolnnakers and s2.75. for machinists. Not man working at either of those trades in our factory gets less than $4 per day We can't get men euogh of the kind we want. It is the samesin the other factories. If the union enforces it's demands why we can simply reduce to union wages and all things will ba equal as before.
 All these things adjust them selves in time. When this rush is over and the work siacl1ens, while most of these manufacturers will have to reduce their working force and also reduce wages. Our factory has always had q nine hour day and I believe the n1achfnists could get a nine hour day sooner than what they are asking for.''
 There are a number of factories making munitions under sub-con- tracts from the U. M c. Co. who also