Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-07
'G'0iON STRIKE, WHILE
army CONTRACT WAITS
ewenty.Seven Girls in Labelling De-
- partment of Southern Manufac-
turing Company Quit.
sWANT NEW GIRLS DISCHARGED
Manager Capitainc Declines to Re-
qutre New Employees to Join
Union, and Is Rushing Government
Contract With Other Help.

The twenty-scven young women in
{. 3the labelling department OF the South
i ernr' Manufacturing Company. who
( struck on Wednesday, evidently do not
belong to that part OF American wo-
: manhood who believe in doing their
g bit" for their country in time OF war.
When they walked gu; OF the plant
at Ninth and Perry Streets, III" COM
pany was striving might and main
!. to fill rush order for baking powder
for the use OF the United states Army
and Navy. One freight car stood on
the companys siding. partly loaded.
and another one WAS at hand ready to
be loaded and both were 10 be rushed
s to}a quartermaster's depo;.
But the company has brought peo-
plA in from other departments. and the
shipment will so forward without de-
lay.
The action OF these unpatriotic
young women which led to the strike
began on Tuesday afternoon. AT that
time committee of five waited upon
Manager w. G. Capitaine. They told
him that there were three new girls
in their labelling department WHO did
not, and would not belong TO the
union. They asked him whether he
preferred to keep these three girls and
lose the twcnty-scven. or to keep the
twenty-Seven and either get rid of
the three or force them to join the
union.
COMPANY WILL CONTINUE
80 TO MAINTAIN AN OPEN SHOP
Manager Capitaine replied that the
Southern Manufacturing Company
maintained an open shop, and had
never taken any part whatsoever in
regard either TO their employees join
ing q union. but that If they put their
demand in the form of an ultimatum.
the company would certainly stand be-
hind the three new girls. as ii could
not be dictated to in the running OF
the business.
The committee replied that i, was an
nltimatum, and Mr.. Capitane said he
would keep the three girls and dis
missed the committee.
The following morning. the girls ap-
peared in the workroom in their
street clothes, and five minutes after
the shop opened they left the build
ing.
The strikers then appealed to II. T.
Colvin. local representative OF the
American Federation of Labor, and he
held an interview with Manager Capt.
taine. At this interview Mr.. Co!vin
told the manager that the girls com
planned against the strictness of their
forewoman and had declared this TO
be the cause of the strike.
Mr.. Capitaine told Mr.. Colvin that
such claim was preposierous. as he
could prove that il was the question
OF the employment OF the three new
girls that precipitated the trouble.
IN the meantime, work was being
rushed by other employees of the com
pan" on the government contract
STRIKERS PICKET PLANT
But NO TROUBLE Is REPORTED
Wednesday afternoon and yesterday
the strikers picketed the companys
plant, but no violence has been reported
SO far.
Yesterday morning, word having evil
IDENTIFY reached Mr.. Colvin that the
strikers had quit in the midst OF work
for the government he telephoned.
asking for an interview with Mr.. Capt.
taine. SO that they could arrange for
the completion OF the contract.
The manager replied that while Mr.
Colvin could come to see him, so far
as the government contract was con-
cerned the action of the strikers would
make no difference, as the company
would pull all its people from their
other work in order to get 1t out on
time. should such action he necessary,
and that the company did not propose
to ask or accept any faVors from the
The strikers. on their part, claim
that II was the actions of tho fore
woman-who has satisfactorily served
the company for seventeen years-that
caused them TO walk out, and declare
that they are not worrying, as plenty
of other Richmond CONCERNS are advcr-
Using for female help.
There was a report that an agent
from the Department OF Labor was
coming from Washington to adjust the
strike, but up to o'clock last night
he had not appered at the company's
plant, and no notice Of his coming had
been received