Evening journal., 1918-03-05
PLANT Men
JOIN IN WALK-OUT
iConilnned rrom FIrsl page

JUN IU WnLn Jul
Continued From First Page
OF any kind. the men quietly leaving
The plant and going TO their homes
According TO the statements made by
some Of the men. 10 appears thc Pull
man Company has an age pension sys-
tenn and recently high 0lncials OF the
company In Chicago obtained efficiency
experts there 90 work out an efficiency
or speed up system for use In an OF
the c0mpanys plants There ar9 in the
employ OF the company many men who
have grown old IN Its service and who
are rapidly approaching the pension
list age.
Tho strikers assert that under this
efficiency system 10 would Oe almost
/ impossible for these older men who have
devoted the greater part Of their lives
to the company's service and interest 90
maintain the pace set IN the shops here.
/ n is said. 70 has been the policy OF the
/ younger men 20 assist these older men
In doing the work which their failing
strength and sight made 10 impossible
or impracticable for them TO do. In
fact the whole policy among the en-
ployes has been to take care OF the
older men.
Five members Of the committee which
was appointed about two weeks ago 10
protest against ihis s0-called efficiency
or sped-up system are: Frank Watson,
chairman Joseph Magnell, George
Young. George Smedley and Albert jam
lson. This committee waited on John
Cannon, general manager OF the local
plant. and his assistant and at that time
there was o threat of a walkout. Mr..
Cannon asked the men 20 remain at
work until he could law the case be-
fore the companys ofncials in Chicago.
This was on last Thursday. and the
men agreed 20 wait until Che arrival
OF the last mail from Chicago yester-
day afternoon Instead of O letter from
The Chicago Offices. +. Kramer. vice
president Of the Pullman Compang. ar
rived here. lie said the comn8ny has
spent $4,000 10 arrange ila enlciencl
system. and that thc company pro-
b poses 70 put it into effect and io ad
here 20 it and that f necessary th'
b company would close the Wilmington
shops and take all the work away from
here before lt would accede 10 the de
0 mands Of the men,
70 was following this declaration ina
the workmen walked ont The Pullman
b employees have been getting from as &
40 cents an hour for their work.
2 Mr.. Kramer, when seen at the Hote
dupont last night expressed himsel
+. as feeling that the men have acted i0l
81 hastily, and he expressed the hore ina
- some means Of adjusting the difficult
.aNH g.. ND H.H Cd
5 vet be arrived az. but confessed that D.
- did not at this time set much rrospec
of a settlement as thc company iel
- that IL was right and that as they own
4 ed the property they had q right 20 de
e. eide just how 10 should be operated.
- The system" said Mr.. Kramer. 81
not the Taylor system. as some Of ia
y men think, 10 Is the individual job car
|, system by means OF which the NOR
n industrious men are enabled 10 lncreas
i their earnings"
When asked il the company woul
% attempt 90 use strike-breakers here
1, the men refused 20 give in, Mr.. kra
: mer said that such action would hardl
., be necessary as The company hi
i. numerous shops and they NATURAL
O. would be compelled to have tho wor
q done. He hoped, however. that Il wou
n not prove necessary 20 take any woi
away.
% The Pullman Company at this tin
~ has a large amount Of repair work Il
10 the Federal Government, such
al freight cars and troop cars, for while
S there is urgent need. This the me
k seem 20 think may result In the worl
le being taken over by the government
and those seen last night eXpresse
themselves as favoring such a NOV
The Taylor system, said one Of %
men. was tried out at Wahhineton ar
r, was abandoned and If the governmel
h, takes charge Of the Pullman plant her
n will be dropped here Just as it was
Washington. and we can all 50 to woi
~ again lust as we were before the ne
a. system was forced upon US.
n a massmeeting Of the Pullman wor
,e ers who walked out has been CALF
20 for tomorrow afternoon az 230 o'cloI
80 in Irish-Amcrican Hall. The trouh
u that led 10 the men quitting work w
~ be discussed, and the advisabillty
~ appointing a committee 10 go TO Was
y. ineton 20 lay the matter before COVER
~ men authorities will be considered.
80 This evening there will be a meeti
Of the Central Labor Union, az whi
,b time the troubles at the Pullman pla
sd will be taken up but just what {
is Central body proposes TO do about {
bc matter could not be learned today.
~ There have been many telepho
81 calls from other cities, some Of ih'
no at considerable distance from W
.es mington. asking about the number
or men out. what kind OF work they
~ and II they could be engaged to so
.se these places 10 work. From Brlst
,is Pa. a representative OF a big compa
20 is coming TO this city this afternoon
endeavor to engage as many OF
workmen as he can.