The Washington herald., 1915-07-26
YARD MECHANICS
POSTPONE ACTION
Executive Committee of In
ternational Body Puts
Off Meeting.
WILL AWAIT CONFERENCE
Delegation May Go to Cornish to Dis
WILL AWAIT CONFERENCE
Delegation May Go to Cornish to Dis
cuss Wage Scale with Presi-
dent Wilson.

Final action looking toward a gem
eral strike OF organized mechanics in
the Washington Navy Yard was post
poned yesterday by the executive COM
mite OF Columbia Lodge, International
Association OF Machinists. The action
was taken pending the outcome of di-
rect negotiations with President Will
son. preparations for which are now
under way.
The most specific proceeding taken
yesterday by the executive committee
was the putting OFF Of a mass meet
ing OF the yard mechanics which had
been planned for tonight, and when
the waIk-out was to have been con-
sidered. The machinists had de-
termined upon the meeting when il
was learned the conference with the
Presiden: might be delayed from thres
TO four weeks because of his plans
for a prolonged stay in Cornish, y. H
Some of the radicals at that time
urged the instant breaking off of
parleying with Federal authorities and
their walking out, but, through de
ference to the President" the executive
committee yesterday held out for post
ponement.
That the committees decision is not
wholly popular with the mechanics is
apparent from a statement of n. P.
Alias, president of district IL, of the
international! association when he
said the mass meeting would not be
held tonight unless another demand
was made for it" While the Presi
dent will be given time to treat the
matter thoroughly. II is possible
more conservative meeting than that
planned for tonight will be held the
latter part OF the week to discuss de-
Velopments.
To See Secretary Tumu:ty.
Mr. Atlas today will confer with
Secretary to the President Tumulty
regarding an appointment of the exc
cutive committee of the lodge with
President Wilson. Secretary -Tumulty
had informed the lodge the President
would grant them a hearing. but the
information was received with dissp
pointment when it was learned he
would BE- out of the Capital from three
weeks to a month. rather than the
three or four days the men had antici-
pated.
Mr.. Alias said yesterday the men
had fully determined not to wait the
three weeks for final adjustment.
unless the President granted them
their old wage-an increase of five
cents a day over their present pay
during his consideration of their APP
peal II is expected the committee will
decide today when to go to Cornish
for the conference. On the committee
are y. P. Atlas. Stuart q. MCAllister. |
president of Columbia Lodge: J. 7. !
DonnelIy. A. DeGreet. vice president;
Bernard Dadd. treasurer.
The position of the employees was |
strengthened yesterday, with the re-
ceipt of informa ton from the Reming |
ton plant at Eddystone. Pa. Rumors
had been CirCulatinG about the yard for |
several days that the Eddystone plant
employed the Taylor. or premium sys-
tenn of compensation, a system obnox- |
ious to laborers. The lodge was in /
formed yesterday. however. that the |
plant had not introduced the Taylor |
method. The information is consider |
ed important. as it comes during |
crisis in relations between the govern
rnent and its gun makers and arsenal |
mechanics. serving to encourage the |
men in their stand.