Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-20
Men Walk Out in Bridge
port, Conn, Ammunition
Factories at Noon Hour.
MAY AFFECT 25,OOO
Leaders of the Machinists'
Union Refuse to Heed
Call of Gompers.

Bridgeport, Conn. July 20.-while
labor leaders announced today that ap-
proximately 600 machlnists employ
ed in the shops of the Remington Arms
and Ammunition company and four
sub-conractors had walked out on
strike, indications were that difficulty
in accomplishing the aim Of the union
men had been experienced in some of
the plants
An Official Of the Remington COM
pany denied emphatcally that any of
the men in that plant had walked out.
Rumor had it that Major W G. PEN
field had offered the machiuists an
ejEht-hour day with other concessionss
and that they had decided 10 remainl
Sub-contractors. on the other hand,
admitted that all OF their machinists :
had walked out
Among the sub-contracting firms ad-
mittiBg that their men had struck, were
the Gaynor Manufacturing company.
making bullets for the armies of the
allies, and the Columbia Nut and Bolt
company. These concerns employ be-
tween them less than 200 men.
No Strike in Main Plant.
John A. Johnston, vice president of
the Structural Iron Workers union,
and a member of the machinists' COM
mittea which went to the Remington
company plant to present demands on
Saturday, admitted this afternoon that
the machinists in the main plant of
the Remington company we're not on
strike.
The management Of the Bullard Ma
chine Tool company denied that any
men had quit II was said earlier In
the day that the Columbia Nut G. Bolt
company admitted the walkout OF its
machiuists.
Labor leaders assert that the walk
out was successful at the branch of
the Remington company. known as the
Middle street plant. Thirty men quit
there, # was said,
Efforts to settle the complicated la
Dor troubles so far have failed.
Neither Samuel Gompers nor the
president Of the United States can stop
this strike now" said J J Keppler,
international vice president Of the Ma
chinists union. Mr.. Gompers, as head
Of the American Federation OF Labor,
has called a conference Of machinists'
officials at Washington, but those in
charge of the situation here assert
they VIII not heed the call
Involves 25,0OO Men.
within a week, according to plans
of labor leaders. ali work in the Rem
ington shops and in the factories Of
sub-c0ntractors Will be at a standstill.
There are from eight to ten thousand
persons employed by the Remington
company and # is estimated that, in
cluding other local factories, 25,000 or
more would be thrown out OF work.
In addition to the new plant of the
Remington Arms and Munition COM
pany, strike calls were today issued for
the machinists working In the Bridge
port Engineering company the Column
bia Nut and Bolt company and the
Gaynor Manufacturing company. The
men were to walk out at noon, Less
than 500 machinists are employed in
the three last named plants
Queer Strike Cause.
At the Bridgeport Engineering COM
pany the men demanded that they be
given the strike call because they said
they were dissatisfied with working
conditions. The call was issued for
the Columbia Nut and Bolt company,
J. J. Eeppler, international vice presi-
dent Of the Machiniats' union. said, be-
cause Of a statement attributed to
Fred Atwater, treasurer Of the com
pany, that the more hours they make
and the less money they receive the
better of they are. They will not have
time TO hang around in saloons"
The Gaynor Manufacturing com
pany IS engaged In making rife bullets
for Great Britain and her allies. When
announcement was made that the men
in these three plants would walk out,
ali was In readiness for the beginning
Of the strike at the Remington plant.
Militia in Readiness.
A member Of the militia here said
today that a quantity Of riot ammuni-
tion had been received at q local ar
mory late last night The members Of
the militia, he said, had been instruct
cd 10 mold themselves in readiness.
This Information could not be conhrnl-
ed this forenoon.
Extraordinary precautions to pre-
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