New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-18
OIL WEN TO VOTE
TODAY ON RETURN
Bayonne Mass Meeting to
Decide Whether Stand
ard Strike Ends

Following a deadlock over the wage
question between the committee rep
resenting the Standard Oil strikers in
Bayonne, n. j., and the officials acting
for the company, the former workers
will hold a mass meeting to-day to de-
termine whether TO give up the fight
and accept the company's invitation TO
return -under old conditions or TO con-
tue the strike indefinitely.
Il had been arranged TO hold the
mass meeting to receive the commit
tees report yesterday afternoon, but
the police refused TO issue permit
for the gathering, because, 1t is SAID,
George n. Melcher the strikers leader,
who has been referred to as an "aglta-
tor" was scheduled TO make a speech.
A group representing the strikers
called at Police Headquarters last night
to see Henry Wilson, Director OF Pub
lie Safety, and assure him Aelcher
would merely make a report for the
committee. On that condition, Di-
rector Wilson said he would issue
permit for the meeting to-day.
VIII Keep Agitators Out
The police are determined to keen
persons they consider agitators from
meddling Captain Edward VI. Griffin,
head of detectives, declared yesterday
that If Mrs. ]. Sergeant Cram, Eliza
beth Gurley Flynn, or any other out
siders" attempted 70 interfere they
would be promptly arrested.
1t vas reported last night that Fed
eral mediators we're to take hsnd IN
settling the strike, but Director Wilson
said he had no positive knowledge to
that effect. He said John A. Moiiit-'
one of the United States mediators,
had telephoned him from Washington
asking if the SERVES Of the government
peace makers were needed The director
replied they would be welcome, as far
as ne was concerned, but ne could not
sneak for the Standard Oil Company or
the strikers. Director Wilson ex-
planned he had heard nothing further
from Mr.. Moffitt Dispatches from
Washington last night said Mr.. Moi
fit and James A. Smyth, another con-
ciliation commissioner of the Depar.-
ment of Labor, had started for Bay
onne to investigate the situation.
George B. Hennessy, superintendent
of the Standard Oil Company's plant,
refused fatty, at yesterdays confer
ence with the strike committee, TO con-
slider demands for increased wages.
He said the men were welcome to re,
turn 10 work at their former pay ana
he was willing to discuss working con
ditions with them, but no increases
would be made now.
Superintendent Hennessy refused 10
treat with Melcher as representative
of the strikers, declaring he would mol
deal with outsiders" Melcher finally
left the conference.
The following statement regarding
the strike was issued yesterday a1te'
noon BIZ the Standard Oil Company
"Only very small proportion of our
men are out on strike. The strike
originated with thirty-siX pressmen en-
ragged in unskilled labor, who received
500 for an eight-hour day. The rest
went out by intimidation.
"In order not in any way to aggra-
waite the situation the company closed
its plant, and. pursuant 20 the PROVISIONS
of the New Jersey statutes, notified the
proper public authorities of the situa-
ton, since which time the maintenance
of peace and order has been left en-
tirely in their hands.
Drawn by Outsider
"The demands received by the COM
Iany were presented on behalf OF
very small portion Of our men. lhey
were formulated BY one who is not and
never has been in our employ. Their
general character is fully demonstrated
BY the fact that among them was IN
ciuded a demand for an eight-hour day.
The eight-hour day has been in force
in all departments of all our plants for
more than a year. All men are paid
on this basis, with the additional pro-
vision OF time and half pay for over
time.
tions are equally unfounded.
"The scale Of wages in our plants
for an eight.hour day ranges from S2.Z0
for common labor to over S. for skilled
labor.
1.-THE change to the eight-hour day
the company's payroll 70 per
cent, so that since August l, 1919, the
Increased cost of labor to the company
has amounted to over 46 per cent"
The strike of 1000 men st the stand
ard plant in Bayway, near Elizabeth,
ended Yesterday, when the men re-
turned 70 work at their old wages. The
strikers committee advised the action
after the company had firmly refused
anv increases. Many predict the Bay
onne strike will end the same way be-
fore the week is out. Several hundred
Rnyonne strikers are reported 20 nave
gone to the plant yesterday morning to
20 to work IL it should be reopened.
Several stray shots were fired early
Yesterday in the war zone" but the
Police did no shooting. Detectives
were rushed to Twenty-fourth Street
and Prospect Avenue when Policeman
Lyrch reported two shots had been
fred at him, but all was quiet when
they arrived.
A. r. E. Co. Gets More Time !,