Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-22
Obtains From Secretary DAN
ieIs Data on Complaints
of Workmen.
CONGRESS MUST ACT,
is IMPRESSION GIVEN
Strikes at Other Arms Plants Out
Of Town Compicate Situa-
ton Here.

uation, following the threat of a
strike there, came into considera-
ton today in connection with the
general strike situation through
out the country at arms and am
munition plants, by reason of the
fact that some of the Washington
machinists are reported to be en-
gagged to go to work for the Rem
lngton Arms Company at out-of-
town plants. President Wilson
took up the case today.
The situation is complicated in
consequence of the fact that the
men can obtain employment out
of town at higher rates of pay
than the government is paying.
President Wilson took up the
papers regarding the decrease in
wages at the Washington yard
and will give careful considera-
ton to the petition of the, men
that the old scale of wages be re-
stored.
Get Data From Mr.. Daniels.
The President sent to Secretary
Daniels for all the data, already hav-
ing upon his desk the petition ad-
, dressed to him by the men. The i'm
preston around the White House today
was that the President would sustain
Secretary Daniels in the matter Of
wages, and that the question of an
increase will be laid before Congress.
if the men are to get what they ask
| for.
n. p. Alias, representative of the
machinists' organization. is out of town
today. but it is said to be possible that
strike may come at the Washington
| yard unless the grievances of the men
are adjusted. The men, however, are
| placing their reliance in President Will
son,,and they feel sure that they will
get justice at his hands.
There did not seem to be an appre-
hension in government circles today
that there will be strike at the yard
| over the question of wages. even if the
| petition is not granted. Such thing
has never happened before. although
of labor leaders and the general tend
ency to strike throughout the country
| would make a strike possible. Gov
ernment officials say that the great
ma jority of navy yard employees are
men of family, many of them owning
their homes in Washington, and that
they would not wish to take chances of
breaking with the government and find
ing employment in private concerns.
Offered Out-of-Town Jobs.
Nevertheless, some of the Washing
ton yard men, it is said, had agreed to
go to the Eddystone. Pa. plant of the
Remington Arms Company. at an in
crease in pay, when the strike at the
Bridgeport plant of the Remington
company complicated the situation. as
it is not believed that any of the Wash
ington navy yard machinists would
serve as "strike-breakers' or work for
a company with a machiniStS strike on.
1t is said that some of the men at the
Washington navy yard are being paid
by agents of the Remington Arms Com
pany, awaiting the settlement of the
strike at the Remington plant at
Bridgeport, this rate of pay, it is said,
being the difference between the Wash
ington navy yard pay and the pay
promised at the Eddystone Remington
plant.
1t is not understood that there is be-
a ''black list of men quitting the gov
ernment service for higher wages is be-:
ing kept, owing to the statement of the
commander of the navy yard that
there is no such list and that cards that
were prepared containing statements
that men had left the service of the
government when their services were
most needed would not be used.
Explanation of Eberle.
Secretary Daniels said that Capt
Eberle. commandant of the navy yard.
had explained to him the circumstances
in regard to the so-called "black list"
1t appeared that the commandant had
given a card to workman who had
resigned which contained the words,
"You are leaving the government at a
time when 1t most needs your serv-
ices," but that subsequently the card
had been withdrawn at the request Of
the workman. The Secretary said that
the card showed clearly that the man
had an excellent record, but that he
had complained that the words added
to the card might interfere with his
employment in other establishments
When that phase of the case was pre-
drew the card and decided not to issue
any more, and" said Secretary Dan
iels. Il have approved his action in
that respect"
Inc oeCTetdTy dQOed InaC COM
mandant Eberle had reported to him
that there had been no special change
in the labor situation at the yard and
that very few men were going out.
THE government is the best en-
ployer of labor" said the Secretary.
but if any of the men at the navy
yard want to go out ii is not my pur-
pose to put any obstacle in his way"
He appreciated the high class of men
employed at the navy yard and said he
would regret that any of them should
feel impelled to leave the government
service. At the same time he would
not stand in the way of their bettering
their condition.
Secretary Daniels said that he hasl
supplied the President with all the data
in his possession relating to his action
in including the employees at the prov
ing grounds at Indian Head. Md, in
the benefits of the special appropria-
ton of $4,000 to increase wages at
the Washington navy yard and at the
Indian Head proving grounds. instead
of applying the total appropriation to
the Washington establishment, as had
been done in previous years.
He Had No Option.
To the newspaper men this morning
Secretary Daniels reiterated his state
ment that he had no option whatever in |
that diatrfhution of the aDnronHia n tion