Evening star., 1936-06-04
4,6()O MACH|N|STS
VOTE BACKING To
AUTO MECHANICS
Strike Fund Given ST. 900 by
Lodge TIA, International
Association.
INCOME TO BE STEADY
DURING CONTROVERSY
Enthusiasm Greets News at Meet
ing of Auto Workers-More
May Be Called Out.

The four weeks old automobile me-
chanicS' strike last night received the
most substantial support since it
started, when Lodge l74. Inter
national Association of Machinists,
with 1900 members in the Navy Yard,
Government Printing Office and some
other Federal establishments, voted
to throw its financial strength into
the fight.
The action was taken at a regular
meeting Of Lodge l74 at Naval Lodge
Hall, Fourth and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. southeast. Immediate action was
to give $1,000 to the auto mechanics
assessments on each of the 4,600
members of the big lodge. to contribute
literally each week to the support of
the strikers
The gift of $1,000. Oh account of
certain bylaws of the lodge, had to
be advanced in the form of loan"
which the auto mechanics will not be
asked to repay. The loan" will be
Cancelled through contributions made
by members of Lodge ia. machinists.
This will conform to the bylaws of
their union.
Strike Progress Outlined.
Action was taken by the union after
an address by David Kaplan of the
International Association of Ma
chinists, who outlined the progress
OF the strike Also present represent
ing the mechanics was H. r. Dennis,
president Of the Mechanics Lodge, No.
1873
The meeting was presided over by
George Weathersby, president of
Lodge 174. There was a large at
tendance, on account Of balloting for
election OF delegates to the annual
convention of the International Asso-
citation of Machinists at Milwaukee
in September.
Kaplan and Dennis left the Naval
Lodge Hall after support for the strike
had been voted. and went direct to
a meeting of the strikers. at the
Machinists Building where Oliver N.
Garrison, business agent of the strik-
ing mechanics union, was outlining
the situation. Announcement by Kap-
Ian of support from the big machin-
lists union was greeted with enthusi-
asm.
Kaplan told the strikers that the
support of the other machiniSts would
give every one of the strikers a steady
income while out on strike. This, he
explained, will tremendously strength
en- the movement
With this development last night,
the leaders began today to consolidate
their gains and prepare to call out
more men on strike, probably within
few days.
Working Members Assessed.
Not all the men in Lodge 1873 of
the automobile mechanics are on
strike. Those who are working have
been assessed by their union 50 a
week toward support of the strikers.
In the period of four weeks II diff
ferent shops have been struck by
Business Agent Garrison, at various
places throughout the city, including
dealers in several different makes of
cars. About 300 men are now out on
strike from these II shops.
The men are asking for an agree
ment with employers, including 90
cents an hour for mechanics, so
cents an hour for helpers. a 44-hour
week and time and a half for over
time.
The Washignton Automotive Trade
Association keeps insisting that it will
maintain an "open-shop policy" The
uion, on the other hand, maintains
the open shop" is not involved, but
only the question of an agreement
on wages and hours.
The mechanics union is distribut-
ing list of shops in town considered
fair to organized labor, where union
mechanics are working.