Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-21
FEW MACHINISTS AT
BRIDGEPORT STRIKE
Men Employed by subcontractors
Quit Work at Noon-Main Plant
Not Affected, Says Company.
RUMoRS OF CONCESSIONS TO MEN

BRIDGEPORT. Conn, July 20
While labor letslers announced to-
day that approximately 1000 ma
chinists employed in the shops of the
Remington Arms and Ammunition
company and four subcontractors
had walked out on strike, ind cations
were that difficulty in accomplishing
the aim Of the union men had been
experienced in some Of the plans.
An Official Of the Remington COM
pany denied emphatically that any
OF the men in that plant had walked
out
Rumors had IL that Major w. @.
Penfield had offered the machinists an
eight hour day with other concessions
and that they had decided to remain.
sub-contractors on the other hand. ad-
mittcd that all Of their machinists had
walked out.
Among the sub-contractng firms adj
hitting that their men had struck we're
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 300 men.
Attempt at settlement.
Efforts 90 settle the complicated labor
troubles 90 far have failed. Neither
Samuel Gompers not the president Of the
United States can stop this strike now"
said J. J. Keppler. International vice
president Of the mRchinists' union. Mr..
Gompers, as mead OF tho American FEEDER
alton OK ,-abor. has called a conference Of
machinists officials at Washington. but
those In charge II the situation here as
scrt they will not heed the call
Within week, according TO plans OF
labor leaders. all work in the bennington
shops and In the factories Il subcon-
tractors vii be at a standstiil There
are 5000 TO 10. 900 persons employed by che
Remington company and It IL estimated
that including )thcr heal factories $500
or more would be thrown out Of work.
Other strike Calls Issued.
In addition to the new plan, OF the
Remington Arms q siunition Co. strike
calls today were Issued for the ma
chinlsts working in the Bridgeport I'm
cheering company. the Columbia %ut
q Bolt Co. and the Gaynor Manufacturing
company. Less than l,COl machinlsts are
employed In the three last named plants.
At the Bridgeport Engineering company
the men demanded that they be given the
strike call because they were dissatisfied
with working conditions. The call was Is
sued for the Columbia Nut and Bolt com
pany. J. j. Keppler. international vice
president OF the Machinists' union said,
because OF a statement attributed to Fred
Atwater. treasurer OF the company. which
quoted him a. saying. the moro hours
they work and the less money they re-
ceive the better off they are They viii
not have time TO hang around in saloons"
The Gaynor Manufacturing company In
engaged In making rifle bullets for Great
Britain and its allies when announcement
was made that the men In these three
plants would walk out all was In readi-
ness for the beginning OF the strike at
the Remington plant.
A mlliiiaman here said today that
quantity Of riot ammunition had been re-
oeived at q local armory late last night
The militia, he said, had been instructed
TO be ready. THIS information could not
be confirmed this forenoon. Additional
policemen were stationed in various parts
OF the city.
Fifth Plant Affected.
Later Il was announced that a strike
call also would be issued for the Billiard
Machine Tool company. where thirty five
men were discharged last week. II was
said that only a few machinists were
working at the Billiard plant now Adver-
tisements for machinistH have appeared,
however.
II was said at the headquarters OF the
Brcklayers union here today that I0C
men who had been working ON new build
inss being erected for the Remington com
pany by the Stewart Construction com.
pany did not go to. work today. They
were Informed last night that because Of
lack OF work they were not needed. Al
the brieklayers on the new plant. II wal
said. would have to stop work within IN,
next few days.
A6itators today were going among IN,
great number OF Hungarian workers Of
bridgeport urging them 10 attend 8
strike mass meeting called for tonight
More copies OF a Hungarian newspaper
containing articles advocating the walk
out OF the Hungarian workers In Tn,
plants OF the Remington Arms and Am
munition company and various plants Of
the sab-eontractors. were circulated.
one OF the editors OF the paper stil
denied that he had received any insplra
ton from the articles printed. He re
iterated his statement OF last night tina
the Hungarian workers were entitled 1
the Immense profits being made by tn
war munition factories. That idea an
that alone, he added. was responsible
for the agitation