The Detroit times., 1915-12-06
Girl Munitions Work
ers Are Accompanied
By Their Beaux
COMPANY MAKES
A STATEMENT
N OF Serious ly En-
barassed By Trouble,
Says Official

About 30 birls, accompanied In
most instances by their beaux or by
fellow workers who had quit their
jobs In sympathy with them, paraded
the downtown streets, Monday
morning, to lay before the public
their reasons for going on strike
In the Detroit Screw works. where
they were employed as munitions
workers.
Around the screw works, 1t was
reported that 200 men had not re-
ported for work Monday morning.
having joined the young women In
their fight for more wages and
better working conditions. The girls
receive $3.50 per week. They de-
manded 80 per week. shorter hours.
and an Improvement of factory con-
ditions, which, they declare are un-
sanitary at present. The men also
demand shorter hours and more pay
While the striking workers were
marching through the heart Of the
city, Frank p. Johnson, vice presi-
dent and general manager of the
concern. sat in his spacious office,
and delivered a broadside at a
newspaper, which, he alleged, en-.
couraged the girls and did 80 against
the interests of the city Of Detroit.
Johnson also denied that large
number of men had gone on strike
in sympathy with the girls. While
he was talking. two OF the feminine
strikers shyly entered the offices
and saksd Hat they be given their
jobs baeoE~ s4--~-ses H..
There were some men absent
from work this morning." said Mr..
Johnson. ''but It was only the usual
number of Monday morning absent
ees. We have.them every week, be
cause they have to have their little
'wash-days' at the weekend. We
are hiring no men or women. We
are sitting back to see how things
come out. I'll admit that this trou-
BILE causes some inconvenience, but
you can see that the factory is run
ming along about the same. and !
know Il will continue to do so.
There's no particular rush in any
of our work. The automobile bust
ness we have slows up at this sea-
son OF the year. The munitions?
They aren't rush orders, either.
We've been in Detroit almost 40
years. and with the exception Of
One little dificulty, back IN 1889,
this is the flrst trouble of the kind
we have had. We have employees
here who have been with us Is. 20,
25 and even 35 years A disturbing
element enters the factory. Some
Of the girls quit work. The publicity
given them attracts scores Of men
who have nothing else TO do around
the plant. II makes Il necessary to
summon the police, and the taxpay-
ers stand the expense. ! saw men
around here this morning who had
never been about the plant before.
They just came to see Il they could
find n little excitement"
Several hundred men and women
gathered around the plant at $50
o'clock in the morning. when the
whistle blew. The women re-
mained until about 3 O'Clock. when
they went downtown 70 parade. A
squad OF police officers we're on
hand. There was no violence After
the parade. the strikers returned to
the factory.
The girl strikers held meetings
Friday and Saturday In the library
Of the Detroit Federation of Labor.
In the Wayne County Savings Bank
building. They propose to organize
n union. and in this manner enlist
the aid Of union workers throughout
the city. The men friends Of the
strikers were urged to sign the peti-
ton pledglng support to the
strikers.