Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-11
NAVY YARD MEN
QUIT THEIR Jobs
Over. 300 Mechanics Accept
Work Offered by Reming-
ton Arms Company.

An officer of the Remington Arms
Company is expected in Washington
today to make employment contracts
with from 800 to 500 mechanics for the
new plant which the company is erect
ing at Eddystone. Pa, about ten miles
from Chester. Walter Francis Smith
formerly of the Washington navy yard
and mechanical engineer Of wide ex-
periencc, has been in the city getting
applications from high-grade me-
chanics, machinists and toolmakers
and said last night he expected that
at least 800 mechanics would leave the
navy yard for the Eddystone plant. A
reporter for The Star last night saw
the signed applications, with names
and addresses. of scores Of navy yard
men who had called on Mr.. Smith in
the last two days.
The Remington Arms Company.
which will have employment at Eddy
stone for 10000 men, is offering to the
best men here a minimum wage of SO
cents an hour, and seems nearly ready
to promise a ten-hour day. In that
case the navy, yard wages would be
left far behind, as the average wage
there is less than 81 a day.
Company's Precautionary Measure.
The contracts are distinctly marked
SO that no man with contract with
the government will be taken by the
arms company, and it is understood
here that the Remington company
knew nothing at all about the dis
satisfaction among the union men at
the Washington navy yard over the re-
Gently announced reduction in pay of
cents day.
The Eddystone plant. it is claimed. is
not being built for war product alone
very strong reason for the company
erecting ten factories capable of en-
ploying a thousand men each. Me-
chanics from here who ask what are the
chances of employment in case the war
plenty of other work for them. At the
same time, the war product chances
have induced several naval officers to
make inquiries of the arms company.
Used as Object Lesson.
Although it is claimed by the COM
pany representative here that the
eight -cents-a- a-day trouble was un-
known to the company, the labor lead
ers at the navy yard have begun to
make capital of it and will use the
threatened exodus as an object les
son. The recruiting officer for the
private concern said it was evident
a great dissatisfaction existed at the
navy yard, but that the company was
not taking any part in the trouble and
simply wanted to get the best me-
chanics in the country and pay them
the best price. Labor leaders who
heard that applications were being
taken broadcast at first did not know
whether or not the rumors were true,
but a call at the recruiting office
showed them the facts as stated.
Desertions From Frankford Arsenal.
Two hundred mechanics recently left
the Frankford arsenal at PHILADELPHIA
in order to take up work at Eddystone.
it is claimed, and a few have left from
one or two navy yards in the east.
The applications signed here in WASH
inrton are rather intricate, and show a
desire to get the best men The ap-
nlicants must have excellent Rnowledge
of the workings of the finest tools.
must know as much about steel as the
best mechanics know and must be able
to show by talking on mechanical SUBJ
iects that they have been years in
training. It is said there will be en-
ployment as early as next month, as
the new plant is being rushed - COM
pletiOn.