Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-25
Machinists Call Off Monday
Meeting, Expecting Only
Few Days Delay.
DISTRICT UNION HEAD
VOICES DISSATISFACTION
Insists That Mr.. Wilson Must Take
Up Navy Yard Wage Reduction
Within the Week.

In view of President Wilson's DISPOSE
ton to listen to the machinists side OF
the wage question at the Washington
navy yard. the officers of Columbia
Lodge. International Association OF
Machinists. decided late yesterday
afternoon to call off the meeting which
had been planned for tomorrow night.
At this meeting the men were to take
a determined stand on the wage ques-
ton, the meeting having been called on
the belief that the President had ig-
nored their appeal for hearing.
However, 1T was made plain last night
by n. P. Atlas. president of district A,
International Association of Machinists.
that the action postponing the meeting
was purely the work of the officers.
He declared that Monday the men who
signed the original petition for the
meeting may insist that it be called to
give them a chance to make known
their desire as to what action should
be taken in the matter in the event
that the President upholds Secretary
Daniels and declines to restore the
machinists to their original wage
schedule.
The men insist that there must be a
quick settlement of the whole matter,
said Mr.. Alias, as the wage question
mas dragged along now LOT nearly q
month. They believe that they are
entitled to restoration to the former
wage scale, and they want it, he de-
clared. They cannot be made to see
why so much delay is forced upon
them, when they know that every day
they are put OFF they are losing that
much salary, said Mr.. Alias.
Refuses to Wait Three Weeks.
If the President remains at Cornish
for three weeks, MIR. Alias said that
would be too long to wait for the con-
ference. He declared that when the
meeting was called off yesterday by
the offers of the machinists' associa-
ton, it was done in the belief that the
President would return to Washington
within the next three of four days.
They did not believe that they would have
TO wait three or four weeks before they
would have a chance to lay the matter
before the chief executive, and he init
mated that the men, under no circum-
stances. would wait that long for a
IF it is found out that the President
will remain at Cornish for three
weeks" said Mr.. Alias. II will see Mr..
municate with the President with a
view to having the representatives of
the machinists go to Cornish and con-
fer with him there. 1t would save
tiHc, anu WOulu satisfy the men. AT
any rate. the men will not wait three
or four weeks. If anything is done, it
will have to be done within the cur
rent week"
Mr.. Alias said that the machinists
committee was ready and willing to
hurry to Cornish and lay the whole
wage question before President Will
son. He declared that it would take
but short time to present the ma
chinists' side of the case to the Presi-
dent. In the event that the President
decides to listen to the men at the
summer White House, those who will
go will be Nelson p Alias. Stuart G.
McAlister. president of Columbia
Lodge: J.. A. Berries. secretary-treas-
urer of the metal trades department.
and F. j. MCGUIRE, the same committee
which has been handling the whole
matter. both before the Navy Depart
ment and at the White House
When the machinists hear that the
President probably will remain at Cor
nish for three weeks" said Mr.. Alias
they undoubtedly will insist upon the
meeting which had been planned for
tomorrow night. They probably will de-
mand that the President receive the
committee at Cornish and listen to the
machinists' side of the case, so that a
decision may be made one way or the
other. When the Presidents decision
10 made then the men will know def
nite!y what action they should take to
meet il.
The officers of the machinists' local"
continued Mr.. Alias. Seemed to be
pleased with the letter from Secretary
Tumulty telling them of the Presidents
desire to listen to the machinists' side
OF the case. 1t indicated that the Presi-
dent was taking an interest in the mat
ter. but they did not believe that the
matter might be passed off for about
three weeks. or until the Presidents re-
turn to Washington. II they have to
wait that long it may not be so pleas
ing to the men, who want wages equal,
al least to those being paid by outside
firms