Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-20

Mr.. Keppler made the announcement.
He said:
AT 4 o'clock this afternoon. the last
moment Of the time we agreed to al
low the man l conferred with in New
York in which to arrange settle
ment. if he possibly could, l was call
ed on the telephone. The man said
this to me: I cannot do anything. l
have tried my best. You can suit your
self as to any action YOU will take
II cannot tell you the name of the
man. Had he brought about a peaceful
settlement 1 was prepared to give him
the credit. But as he has failed it is best
that his name remain unknown. He has
interests here and to divulge his name
might do him some harm in business
way in the future.
The First Action
THE strike will start at noon tomor-
row. We first will pull all the nRn out
of the new Remington plant. That in
cludes all machinists. die sinkers. die
makers, drop forgers and tool makers
1t was said that it was planned to have
In the neighborhood of 500 men walk out
at first. Then. according to the plans
made by the labor leaders tonight, one
after another Of the various shops would
be emptied Of machinsts.
1900 in Strike
In addition there is one sub-contract-
ing shop which the leaders declined to
name. where the machinists will walk
out tomorrow. Unless the plans of the
labor organizations nrscarry tomorrow.
or there is some unexpected development
which speedily leads to a settlement Of
the demands of the machinists, 1000 men
at least are likely to be on strike BY to-
morrow night. The heads OF the labor or
CARNATIONS said that as soon as the men
walked out pickets would be put out.
Mr.. keppler said in his announcement
that this is the biggest job We have ever
undertaken in this country
Then he continued as follows:
AT this point I want to make one
statement most emphatic. l want 1t
known if there is a big argument in
this town the people of Bridgeport have
no one to blame but Major Penfield.
We have tried in every way to bring
about a peaceful settlement. AS for
the statement made by Major Penfield
that German influence brought about
this situation. 1 want to say This: If
anyone forced the issue it was Major
Penfield' We tried to confer with him
Even the Cnitde States government
recognizes the right Of the employee
to confer with the employer. Major
Penfield has denied US this right
Mr.. Keppler was asked what other
shops would be called out after the
men in the new plant of the Reming-
ton Co. went on strike. He said he
didn't care to give the names
You may depend upon it," he said,
that we will get out everything in
town, once we start. We will he forced
to call out machinists even in the
plants not engaged in sub contracting
for the Remington people. 1t would not
be right to have some Of orr men ont
on strike for eight hours eui the 9TH
ers working in other shops for 10 hours
a day. Within week we will have all
the manufactures in the city tied up"
The Bridgeport Manufacturers AS
ISOLATION at a meeting today deter
mined to stand as a body behind tne
Remington Co.. in its decision to main
tain an open shop
The general strike situation was still
further complicated tonight when 1t be-
came known that q vigorous attempt was