The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-09
Graphophone Tied Up When 1900 Quit
 For Wage Increase
(Continued from Page D

tcitement attending the walkout, work CTS in other factories quit their ma chimes and crowded to the windows expecting that trouble might follow. John J. Flynn, first vice-president of the Metal Polishers', Buffers, Platers', Brass and Silver Workers Union of North America, appeared on the scene and arranged for mass meeting at Eagles hall. He led the procession away from the factory. Flight Hour cards were distributed among the 1 workers and were worn in the hat. 1 The police, who were quickly tn- formed of the situation, were soon Gn the scene under command of Captain William Anderson. Although Motor cycle Policeman c. N. Gorgas was kept patrolling about the block and two po- licemen were, stationed on each cor ner, there was no evidence of disturb
 ance, the. stragg1ers moving quickly from the scene.
 1 At Il o'clock the power was shut off and work of closing the factory win
 dows began. The only persons work ing in the buildings were saIaried en1- ployes in the office and general fore- men who looked occasionally from the
 windows in apparent astonishment at the quick transition which had come over the factory that b1uanaed so bus lily but few hours before. | Members of a Jewish synagogue, which had been engaged in prayer for
 fi1e Jewish New Year, were somewhat disturbed in their service on Cherry street by the cries of 1aborers to their
 companions as the gates swung open l at 10 o'clock. After crowding the door way of the edtfce and watching the l crowds for some minutes they returned 1 to their deyotions. | Although negotiations had been pending for some days between Man ager F'unneH and the strikers com mittee, the waIkout came somewhat as a surprise to the officials this morning l as it was hoped that the workers lfwould grant a further extension of
 time before the ultimate decision was given.
 lf In an effort to stay any possible trou- b1e at this time the following notice was posted at all entrances and on the
 time clocks at 9:5O 9. m. today: NOTICE TO EA1PLoYEs. i September g, 1915.
 Effective September 10th, 4S
 hours will constitute a weeks work in this factory-the work 1 ing hours to be as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, SThursuay, Friday, 7:oO a. m. to 12s00 m; 1900 p. m. to 80 p. m. Saturday, 7:oo a. m. to 12;30 p. i m.
 Day work rates will be revised ,s to cover the same amount for 4a hours as now. paid for 50 hours I2 Piece work rates will be in- creased ip the same proportion as day rates
 Time and half will be paid
 for overtime and Sunday work Double time will be paid for holiday work.
 50 per cent. increase will be 1, paid on piece work prices done on overtime.
 This company will pay as high wages as commonly paid for
 similar operations in Bridgeport factories and will as soon as possible make such adjustments as may :be necessary to carry this out.s
 The management will, as here- 1 tofore. receive and consider at
 any time grienances submitted hy
 individual employees.
 G. L. FUNNELL. Manager.
 Approvsd:
 P. T. DODGE.
 President In an interview granted. to a re- porter of The Farmer shortly after the strike had been declared erfec- tive Manager Funne1l said:
 we are somewhat surprised at the attitude taken by the employees of this factory, for we have always tried to meet their demands. When the mat Fer was brought, to my attention, last Thursday, asked fthe committee that time be given our heads to consider fully the demands made.
 'tOn Tuesday I went to New York city and consulted with P. T. Dodge, our president. over the situation. Mir. Dodge, who is high official in the Mergenthaler Linotype concern as well the International Paper Go, wanted time to consider and work out plans that might be acceptable to the workers here. returned and asked for an extension of the time set by the committee. Twenty-four hours were granted.
 While we are willing, as stated in our notice, to make the concession of eight hours and pay which will be equal to any other factory doing a comes over a 20 per cent general in crease in wages. As far as we have been able to work out costs. such an increase would be a physical irnpossi- bility in the present conditions here and I can see nothing but closing down the plant we are now forced to do. Practically every person in the factory has gone.''
 Assistant foremen and others who are forced out of employment by to-
 days actions. said that a general meeting of factory foremen called at o'clock yesterday afternoon lasted until nearly midnight Wednesday,. i The strike came at time when or derS had been nearly doubled oyer the maximum of the last two months. Rumors that time limit contracts would play a, big part in the settle
 ment of the strike was not confirmed by those in authority today. It is l known that the company never had more orders on hand at one time than
 at the present.
 | Nearly 800 of the strikers gathered
 in Eagles Hall for a mass meeting to consider the situation. A vote was | taken and approved unanimously to
 stand pat and hold out for the 20 per cent increase. l ! Various speakers addressed the
 neeting.5 Vice President Flynn of the Metal .Po1ishers' union was the first