The Portland daily press., 1885-08-25
THE NORWAY TROUBLE.
The Result of a Correspondent s
Investigation.

The correspondent of the Boston Journal,
speaking of the troubles of l.. p. Bartlett &
Co., with the Lasters' Union, says: A care
full estimate of the cost of manufacture in the
two places at present prices showed the firm
that saving of $4,000 year could be made
by moving their Norway business to Lynn.
The citizens, realizing that under these cir
cumstances the firm would not remain in
Norway, have endeayored to dislodge the
Union lasters, even to offering them the sum
of $500 to get out in order that about 260
other employees might not suffer because of
the action of the 40 who h9S joined the
Union. Nothing has, however, succeeded
in moving them, but on their part they say
they care nothing for Norway, and if the
firm should be driven from the town they
would consider it point gained by the
Union. Inquiries made by the the Journals
representative failed to find any reasonable
grievance the lasters had against the firm.
They have been more poorly paid than some
other classes of help, though receiving twen-
ty cents case more for their work than 9th
er Maine firms have been paying. Further
inquiries showed that it was not the entire
fault of the firm if the weekly pay roll did
not bring the lasters a larger amount of
money. Previous to the advance of two
weeks ago the lasters would finish only from
twenty-eight to thirty-one cases of shoes a
day. and this was the best the firm could get
done, though the other work was getting
ahead of the lasters. Since the advance in
pay the same body of lasters have finished
from forty to forty-five cases daily, and have
cleared away all the work they had allowed
to get ahead of them. Ask how it happens
that they can do more work now than preyl-
onsly, and they reply: Because, we are get
ting more pay" An answer that conveys
little information to people who had Suppos-
ed that poorly paid persons were the most
eager to improve their opportunities The
situation has thus become perpleXing one
to deal with and has resulted in exciting
good deal OF feeling among the citizens OF the
place. Had the laSterS grievance resulting
from series of reductions in their wages
there would be more sympathy with them
than can be found among the people of Nor
way at the present time. Thesfirm says that
the lasters of Norway are making as good
average wages as are made in other shops in
the State making different classes Of goods
AID from inquiries made by the Journals
representative at Mechanic Falls and Lewis
ton and Auburn yesterday, it would appear
to be the case. About the same average rate
of wages was given by all the firms inquired
of. Unless the firm of B. F. Spinney 4 Co.
of which Bartlett & Co. is branch-can
solve the questions presented to them so as
to continue their business in Norway, it is
quite possible that the citizens may
take hold of the matter themselves,
and, taking advantage Of the under
standing always maintained with the firm
that no union men should be employed, so
arrange matters that the firm will only be
able to obtain non-union help, though still
maintaining their business at Norway. Mr..
Chase had consultation with the members
of the firm in Lynn last Friday and returned
to Norway yesterday, where he will have
another consultation with the citizens of that
place before any changes are made.
At Mechanic Falls in the shoe factory Of
j. Harris d5 Son no union men have ever
been employed When it becomes necessary
for them to have Lynn prices dictated to
them they say they will at once remove their
business back to Marblehead. Last fall an
assembly Of the Knights of Labor was or
ganized in the village, and a large number of
the employees of Harris & Son became con-
nected with it. Every one of them was at
once discharged, on the ground that the firm
had come to Mechanic Falls purposely to
keep clear Of all labor organizations. No
trouble was experienced in the Massachu-
sets shops, as has been threatened by the
Lasters' Union if the members of the union
are discharged from the Norway shop. The
result of this action at Mechanic Falls was a
severe blow to the Knights of Labor organ
ization, and Wednesday evening, the 18th
inst, but eight men attended the meeting Of
the assembly. Quite a number Of the men
have been taken back into the
shop, but it has only been after promising to
pay no attention to any dictation that may
ever be attempted by the Knights of Labor.
The firm of Gay, Woodman & Co. of Lew
iston has maintained lockout against men,
bers of the Lasters' Union ever since the
strike in their shop year and half ago.
AT that time many of their customers ex-
pressed sympathy with the firm and allowed
the fulfillment of their orders to be delayed
that the firm might have time to obtain enough
nOn-union men to run their shop.