Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-07-29

comnany-the johnson and Motifs
ooncern-numbering about 400, are on
strike.
The Demands.
They are demanding:
First-Nine hours day. -
second-Time and one-half for over
time and double time for Sundays and
holidays.
Third-Return of conditions in the
can shop to the prices and wages pre-
vaiing in 1912.
Fourth-Ten per cent raise for all
workers, with a minimum of 81 per
day.
Fifth-Pay for time lost by Zine"
workers through machine breakdowns
if employees are held at~the factory.
Sixth Recognition of the union
through it's committees.
th-Reinstatement without pre-
iudice of all employees to positions held
prior to the presenting of the demands
Eighth-Wages to be paid weekly.
The Beginning.
The strike was not planned or pre-
meditated. 1t was spontaneous. 1t
broke out over night. Conditions had
been steadily growing worse through
the passing years, and things finally
reached the breaking point. The I'M
mediate straw that broke the camel's
bac kwas the demand of the manage
ment that the employees work over
time Friday evening. Some objected
and were promptly fired" They ap-
pealed to the others and the organized
resistance came.
On Friday the storm broke. Some
of the workers called at the Majority
Office and explained the situation, tell
ing of the workers desier to organize
and their realization that it was their
only protection. "a meeting was called
fJf that eyeAisat scherWinski's haH,
at Forty-sixth and Jacob streets, and
dodgers, announcing that fact were
distributed by those already out
among the workers still employed as
they left work at 6 o'clock.
Hundreds came to thee meeting.
They were addressed by W. B. Hilton,
L. M. Greer, president Of the Trades
Assembly, and Smith Calvert, chair
man of the organization committee OF
the Assembly. 1T was unanimously de-
cided oorganiz eand present demands
to the management, with the result
outlined above.
The Officers.
The following officers were elected:
Norman Jackson. presidents. Mary
Crosby, recording secretary; Name
Crawford, financial secretary; John
Cardona, treasurer.
Meet Management.
The meeting instructed. the commit
tee to meet with the management and
present the demands, and on Saturday
This was done. In the meantime the
members assembled at o'clock in the
morning and picketed the plant, with
the result that the place had to shut
down.
During the morning Mr.. Morris met
with the committee, and, suggested
that the employees return to work dur
ing the next week, for the reason that
Mr. Johnson was away on his vacation
and he did not like to call him back.
or make such an important decision In
his absence. He promised to take up
the points for consideration at the END
of the week, and agreed not to dis
charge anybody in the meantime.
Though he would not say what ne
would do at the end Of the week. In
deed, he made no rreal promises as
to the future.
Another MeetingA
This was presented to the employees
by the committee at another meeting
held Saturday night at the Polish hall,
on Wood street, below Forty-fifth. The
members unanimously decided to hold
out, many contending that it was Dut
scheme of the management to ger
them to work through the immediate
rush. and then handle them without
consideration afterward.
The Saturday night meeting was
larger and more enthusiastic than the
first one. 1t was addressed by Y. =
Brnkman, of the Carpenters; G. e.
Bartlebaugh, of the Street Railway
Employees, l. W. Smith of the Machin
lists, Calvert and Hilton. All the
speakers gave them the experience Of
their own crafts. and promised thai
all the assistance necessary would be
forthcoming. The machinists at tht
plant offered to come out with the
other workers, as did the Autograph
ers, but in both cases it was decided
not to call on them. but to allow eacl
craft to put in its own scale for sigma
ture before any would he signed.