The labor standard., 1919-08-15
FREQUENT STRIKES CAUSE UNDERWOOD
 PLANT TO CLOSE
Employees Not on Strike, Refused to Do Work of Those on Strike and Join First Strikers

dently increases from day to day. On Saturday, August 9, about HOO more workers, men and women, joined the ranks of the previous strikers. Be- fore the strike, the Underwood com pany employed over 4000 hands, about half of this number are now on strike.
 Many of the strikers contend that the "walkout" on Saturday was in re- ality lockout" as Manager Rice's notice gave the employees no alterna- tive but to quit unless that they took the places of those already on strike.
 Manager Rice's Notice.
 The notice posted in the factory read as~follows:
 "The evenhow of work of assemb- ling in Department 23 has been inter fered with through the leaving of many of certain units.
 "There are others who are still with us who have the training necessary for the performance of any such work.
 "The company offers them the op- portunity for performing any such necessary work without reduction in the earnings, yet should any so re- fuse to do what seems necessary for the best interests of all, when the has become exhausted, this will auto
 
 person involved until such time as he or she is again needed.
 .tThis ruling becomes effective at once. c. D. RICE.
 Manager of Factory. Aug. 8, 1919."
 Would Not "Scab.'
 The walkout occurred fifteen min utes after the shop opened, and was the result of conference of delega- tion of employees with Works Manager c. D. Rice the previous afternoon in which he announced that work in the departments on strike would have to be done by those in other departments not on strike and in which he asked the delegation, it is said, to induce the strikers to return.
 A strong feeling grew up among the employees against "scabbing" and the workers decided they would do their own work but no other. Some did not come to work at all Saturday morning, but the others, coming to work and finding that they had no work of their vn, and would have to do the strikers work, walked out.
 Women Led Parade. A parade was formed, led by the women, and the strikers marched ln a very orderly manner to Central La bor Union headquarters on Central row. The c. l.. U. halls were not large enough to accommodate all the dis satisfied workers and some were ob- hged to remain outside the building. All were very enthusiastic and the women workers in the building sang popular songs before the meeting was called to order. Machinists hall, on American Row was pressed into Serv- ice to care for the overflow.
 Those who walked out are aligners, second adjustors, correctors, first in- spectors, final inspectors, men on the free-up job, sample writers, skeleton carriage workers, stock room em- ployes, and some of the members of the training school.
 The others who came out were from Room 37. They came out in sympathy with the other departments.
 Determined to Win Strike.
 Albert P. Krone, president of the Hartford Central Labor Union, a member of the Polishers' Union, and >one of the advisory board of the strik- CTS, said that the opposition of the workers to the arbitrary attitude of the Underwood company official was such that nothing would be legitima- tely left undone to win the strike, and that the strikers would maintain the same orderly conduct that had pre- vailed since the strike began at the time those employed in the polishing department walked out.
 Conciliator Not Wanted.
 Referring to the attempt of Con- ciliator Feury of the United States Department of Labor to settle the strike, MT. Krone said that the state ment of the conciliator appearing in the daily press clearly conveyed to the public the attitude of the factory man. ager as it exists between the manager and the employees, and as the strikers believe that they have given the man agement ample time to adjust griev- ances, they now feel justified in re- sisting the arbitrary methods em- ployed by the management to defeat the workers in the effort to secure what they have set out to. Continu- ing, MT. Krone said, that it would seem that the company, knowing that the workers have been unable to ac- cumulate any reserve funds, owing to living conditions, are striving to starve the workers into submission; that the public is in sympathy with the strik- CTS; that some of the strikers, being unable to secure employment in other Hartford factories, are leaving town and obtaining jobs in other cities.
 A committee has been appointed, bearing proper credentials, to collect funds for the strikers; ball games have also been arranged, the revenue from which has also applied to the strikers benefit fund.
 Factory Practically Closed.
 The plant was practically closed down indefinitely on Monday after . noon, August II. The shut down mo- tice as posted, read:
 "These works will close indefinitely at 5 p. m. to-day, August II, with the dining room and non-producing de- partments: 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 27, 2S, 30, 32, B, 39."
 It is said that John Underwood, of New York, president of the company, has been at the factory during the