Daily globe., 1879-05-16
COOPERS RAMPANT.
IN EnthWstasttc Mass Meeting on Bridge
t.s l3sss i2fj" Square. il&


Gts s la5tu Square, htf
The coopers' strike eliminated, last even
ing, in mass meeting at Bridge square.
During the day dodgers had been scattered
throughout the city, calling together, and at
8o'clock the square wrs filled. There could
not have been less than 1000 persons pres
ent. Mr.. G. w. Curtis was called to preside,
but that gentleman not making his appear
anoe Mr.. Ahern was loudly called for, and,
stepping up 10 the lamp post he addressed
the immense gathering in concise speech
in which he gave the history of the strike.
He said that three weeks ago Hall and Damn
discharged their hands and hired others at
lower rates. 1t was thought by tho coopers
that other shops intended to do the same,
and that it was preconcerted plan to reduce
what were already starvation wages,
and the coopers ali turned out
and most of them have remained out to
the present day. The bosses wanted the
men to make -four barrels at eight cents each,
and the speaker wanted to know if the citi-
zens thought that was enough. Vociferous
cries of ''No.' The speaker stated that the
best workmen, let them labor like slaves at
the old prices, could not earn more than
81 90 and 1925 q day, and their tools-their
kit would cost them 1926 or $50. He want
ed to know if the coopers were justified in
striking. From a thousand voices, "Yes.''l
The speaker went on to show how the bosses
had got men from Chicago and Milwaukee
under false pretenses to come here, bat the
men when they found out the situation re-
fused to work. Ansen, the speaker said, was
the cause of the whole strife; he had been
the bane of the coopers for five years cheers.
He (Ansen) telegraphed to Chicago that
new mill wss starting, and thirty or thirty
five coopers were wanted, when the
fact was that hundred coopers
were walking about with nothing to do.
He got thirty men, paid their fare here
(men who were broke), and took them to
boarding house, and when he found they
would not work told the landlord not to give
| them breakfast. Ansen is man, he said,
! to be detested- d-"one of the mlserablest,
Gods green earth to-day" Loud and con-
tinuous cheers.
| Martin Devereaux was next called on, and
said it Was time the coopers did something
for their families. No man could support .
wife and children on $5 or sc week. He
had worked for Ansen for ten months, and
he would state the facts as they we're. Ansen
had told the millers that man could hoop
fifteen barrels day, when he knew we'll, and
had before stated, that ton barrels was big
days work, and he would defy the
bosses to show from their books
when any man has earned for tho last six
months $1.25 a day, and nov they want to
cut down the price. The coopers pay the
bosses cents barrel for the use Of machin-
cry, when it does not cost them ~ or cts.
The coopers' plan is to hire about twenty oys
to care Tor the machinery, and twice as many
coopers is necessary, 50 that the coopefs
could hoop up in three days work enough
for the boys and machinery for week, and
in this way the ooopers work only half time.
| How can man keep family on IS week?
Ansen, Hall and the rest telegraph to Chicago
and get the men here by misstatements.
The telegram purported to be from the
chairman of the coopers for the men to
come on. A great deal had been said about
threats and shooting and arrests. If any
arrests we're made it would be the boss
coopers. The men we're peaceable but the
bosses had drawn their pistols on them.
Ansen had threatened to shoot them. All
the men wanted vas Justice and . fair
eempensation for their work. bar
i Messss. G. w. Curtis, president of the
Voopcs' Onion; Hodsdon ami W. Grim
saaw, also addressed the meeting at con-
siderable length.