Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-10
.BLACksM|THS ON STRIKE
PRESENT NO GRIEVANCE
About 100 Quit Places Mt Locomo-
tive Works Without Stating
y14s Their Reasons.
OTHER SHOPS NOT AFFECTED
Plant Is Rushing Work on Engines
Needed by Railroads to Haul War
Material - Strike May Violate
Agreement With Government.

Approx ima;ely $50 union blacksmiths
at the Richmond branch or the Amcri-
can Locomotive Works arc out on n
strike on instructions from their ma
tional officers. IL became known yester-
day. These men left their positions
about $3.50 o'clock Monday morning.
officials OF the plant stated. without
giving any reason for their action other
than that they were acting upon advice
from superior union officers. The strike
is not expected in its present stage.
10 affect the production of locomo-
t!vcs a the Richmond brarcn.
1t was reported last night that the
men had walked out because OF the
recent dismissal or an employee VINO
was member OF the Blacksmiths'
Union. This statement could not be
verified. however, while officials of tho
company declared that the men had
given no grievance. On the other hand.
IL was rumorcd that THO movement hero
was in sympathy with strike at an
other one of the company's plants. but
no other strike had been reported In
this city last night.
No definite statement could be Cd
tanned from the strikers last night.
Many union officials were out OF the
city on other business, and the matter
seemed TO he held in allegiance A. ].
Dixon, general organizer Of the Inter
national Brotherhood OF Boilermakers,
lea, who has been organizing the boiler
makers here for several weeks. WAS
also out Of the city, but II is not known
that he had any connection with the
strike because the b,ackgmiths have
been union workmen for some time.
OFFICIALS DENY THAT
PLANT WILL BE CLOSED
Unless relief is obtained. the Rich
mond plant ultimately will be forced
to suspend operations unless materials
can be secured from other sources. for
the blacksmith shop yesterday was de-
serted but for few iaborers making
repairs TO machinery. Officials OF the
plant. however, declared cmphatically
last night that there was no such dan
ger. and that the plant would not be
closed. II is presumed that they be-
licve the strike will be settled quickly.
or that other workmen will be obtained
Two heavy cnGines-thc first OF a
large order for the Southern Railway
will be completed to-day at the plant.
The local plant also has large order,
IL is reported. for the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway. and another for a West
crn railroad Because of the urgent
need for additional railroad equipment
FOR the successful prosecution of the
war. IL was generally believed that the
Federal 6 government would take a hand
III the strike Il II is not quickly set
tied.
In certain quarters the strike here
while affecting only about l5n men out
OF nearly $500 employed at the plant.
was looked upon in a more serious as
pcct. the belief being held, in the alb
sence of full information that the walk
out was in violation o; the recent
agreement between the Federal author
tiles and organized labor which pro-
hibited strikes for the duration of the
war, but which recognized the right
20 unionize nonun!on shops and plants.