The Washington times., 1915-08-17
MACH|N|STS PLAN
TO GET RAISE ON
MUNITIONS ORDERS
Sessions Of international Asso.
citation Here Considered
Most Important in Years.

whether q nation wide demand By
the 100000 or more organized machin.
lists In this country shall be made for
higher wages, or whether individual
groups shall act for themselves. 10
one OF the most pressing questions
to be decided by the executive coun.
Gil OF the International Machinists'
Association now in session here. TNVp
meeting Of the council. machinists b..
lieve, is the most important session.
for many years. and the policies to
be laid down are being watched close.
" By working men from coast to
coast
The going abroad Of about 10000 Of
their number to work in English mu.
nitions factories will furnish one Of
the most powerful arguments of those
who believe that the time is ripe for
a concerted demand. to be emphasized
by strikes when necessary. for higher
wages for machtnists. These de-
mands will be made in practically
every line OF the industry. except
among the railroad workers. It II be-
lieved.
Railroads To Be Excepted.
Tho railroads are to be excepted be-
cause conditions in the railroad shops
already are good. and because the rail-
roads are not beneflting any by the
unusually large war orders that the
other machinists use as q basis for
their plea for higher wages.
That pressure is being brought to bear
on the machinists' headquarters here
from all parts Of the country to Or
ganize a movement by which the
machinists can get their share Of the
war order profits is admitted by officers
Of the council.
Reports show that. as in the case of
already have been secured. W. H.
Johnston. president Of the association,
said that In nearly every place where
the machintsts are organized an eight
where a ffty-hour week had been Of
fered as a compromise.
That the association will mako no eff
fort to prevent the tire Of machinists
made today by President Johnston.
British Agents at Work.
""e are neutral on that score" he
said. IF men ask US about conditions
We endeavor to find out and give them
the facts. Then the men may act on
their own Judgment. There are many
British agents working here to obtain
additional men to 90 abroad"
Tho question OF whether German
agents have been active in fomenting
trouble among workmen here is one
point which will be taken up by the
council; though members were reticent
about It. President Johnston said that
II any evidence were found to prove
these charges the machinists who al
lowed themselves to be Influenced would
be dealt with by the unions.
The members Of the executive council
here to confer with President Johnston
are E. L. Tucker, Of Washington; c. T.
Fechner. Of Savannah; James Sommer-
Vile. Of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan, and
T. J. Savage. Of Boston.
Machinists in tho Government employ
are about to take advantage Of the
situation offered by tho increasing out
put OF munitions and arms in all Gov
ernment factories to urge the removal
OF every trace Of the Taylor efficiency
system from United States arsenals
and navy yards.
This fact was made dear today With
the announcement Of President N. p
Alias. who heads the machinists in
Government employ. that he would CON-
International Machinists' Association
this week about the abolition Of the
Taylor system at the Watertown ar
senal. the only Government works using