The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-09-21
THE BATH TROUBLE.
The Situation Not Changed Much
Since Saturday.
Interesting Interviews with Supt.
Hyde and Others.

~O%%N>~~-
ing whom stories were circulated injurious
to his reputation 1t was thought by the
Knights that he went with Captain Goss in
search of labor. This he denies, saying that
he never spoke to Captain Goss in his life
and that Captain Goss does not know him
even by sight. He states that he had
planned to go to Boston sometime since on
private business and that he had nothing
whatever to do with importing labor. The
feeling is very bitter against him among the
strikers and he is regarded by them as spy.
AS he bears good reputation among his as
sociates and is well spoken of by such men
as the Rev. A. F. Dunnells of Central
Church, it is safe to assume that the charges
against him have no foundation.
About eight men was the force at work in
the shop. Mr.. Weeks, the man who was ru-
mored to be on the blacklist was off duty.
One of his fellow workmen stated that he
had gone to his native town in Massachu-
sets to attend a centennial celebration,
while Superintendent Hyde states that he
plead a severe cold as an excuse for not 60
ing to work this morning.
One of the strikers has returned. He was
formerly Knight but had withdrawn sew
eral months since. Your reporter found
Potter at the planer. He appeared as usual
and was much calmer than last night. He
said: have cooled off considerably since
last night, but don't intend to back down.
Have you seen anything of that committee
today?
No, not yet, but they said they said they
would be around before night and l suppose
they will.
Did they say they would use violence?
Well, they said violence had been used in
other places and gave me to understand that
it would be used in my case if necessary.
Don't you think you are going a little too
far with them?
am not doing anything. came here to
work because / see no reason why l
shouldn't. | was at work here before the
strike and have a perfect right to remain.
Please be careful what you say about me
not to misrepresent me.
A number of the most intelligent men at
the Marine Works are talking of organizing
an iron workers union similar to those in
England. A draughtsman who had been
employed in English yards said to your re-
porter that those in England grew out Of
just such troubles as these, where the ma
chinists are obliged to suffer for the ills of
men in other trades. The subject is being
earnestly discussed and it is learned on good
authority that when the strike is over the
machinists will withdraw from the Knights
of Labor and form union of their own.
There are already two assemblies in Bath.
The Sagadahock assembly is the parent Of
the other, which is called the Woodworkers
Union, and was organized to deal especially
with shipyard problems 1t is in this assem-
bly, that the strike originated
Superintendent Hyde had not heard of the
strikers interfering with Potter till inter-
viewed by your reporter when he expressed
much surprise that they should have taken
such course.
What will you do in case the committee
offer to use violence with Potter? was asked.
do not apprehend they will go as far as
that. hut if they do shall talra stapr 70 pro
tect him.
What steps shall you take?
shall call upon the police.
But there are not enough of them to afford
much protection
They can easily be increased.
During the conversation tall fine looking
young man entered the office and asked
Superintendent Hyde if he might go in to
see his brother. He had soldierly bearing
and the scribe was not surprised to learn
that he was West Point graduate. he is a
brother to Potter, the man threatened by the
strikers. He wore very troubled expression,
and it is safe to assume that his mission is to
dissuade his brother from incurTing the i'll
will of the strikers.
Superintendent Hyde further stated that
he thought the strikers had begun to see the
folly of ordering out the Marine Works men
and that he would not be surprised if they
returned shortly. l shall not wait for them
much longer, he said, but shall fill their
places with outsiders, which / have not at
tempted to do yet.
The feeling among the Knights is that the
company will soon come to an agreement
This is stoutly denied by the directors, who
say that they will not even talk with the
Knights until the men are ordered back into
| the Marine Works. They are indignant that
| the Knights should send the district board
| to treat with them on matters pertaining to
shipbuilding which they claim ''candy ped
| der and Shoemaker know nothing
about. While the Knights retort that ''they
know whether man can support family
on $1.5O or $1.75 per day.
| A rumor is current TO the effect that the
company are going to bring a steamer load
| of carpenters from Nova Scotia, and that
| they will live ON board the steamer, which
10 vf OF
this and remark show easy it would be to
put dynamite cartridge under the steamer
| and blow the Dagoes all over the county,
AS far as your correspondent has been
able to sound, public opinion is divided or
| the question of sympathy 1t is safe to say
however, that the strikers have as many
hackers as the company The comments tt
| be heard are mostly in sympathy with the
| strike at the yard, but not with that at The
Marine Works. Many unite in bitterness
| against Capt. Goss, saying that he has brought
the cost of shipbuilding down to so low
| figure by undertaking other yards, that M
contracts eau now be secured at anything
| approaching fair prices, and that his zeal ha
resulted in killing all the other yards, ane
his own included. On the other hand, man!
| prominent men sustain him, and speak
his efforts to keep business in the yard al
heroic. His friends state that he has brough
much money into Bath that would have gon
elsewhere and that it has enriched workmel
and sub-contractors, many Of whom ar
| well-off
| One week has elapsed since the labo
| trouble commenced in Bath, and the situa
| tion remains practically unchanged Th
striking mechanics are still out and they EN-
phatically declare that they will not return
to work at the present cut down in wages
| The trouble is the theme of conversation
among mechanics who daily collect in group
| and discuss the situation Every incoming
| train is met by strikers and strangers are &C
costed But none have been found seek1n
work Mr.. Mains, an employe at the Irol
| Work, returned to the city Saturday, and ha
resumed work. 1t was reported he had gon
to Boston to procure machinists, but
| states his visit to Boston was on private bus
mess in no wise connected with the works
| labor trouble. E. T. Weeks, a macEinist 0
many years experience, who is reporte'
blacklisted by the knights, was away fror
the city on vacation when the labo
trouble commenced. He returned Tuesda
and resumed work at the Iron Works. Th
large yard of the New England Shipbuildin
| Comnany presents a deSertpd annaarance