The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-19
THE sHoEMAkERs' STRIKE.
The Cutters and Bottomers at Shaw,
Cooling 4 Co.'s 90 Out.
what Mr.. shaw and Mr.. Moulton
Say About u.

what Mr.. shaw and Mr.. Moulton
Say About u.
Yesterday morning about 10 O'Clock about nifty
Of the cutters and bottomers employed at the fac
tory Of Shaw. Goding & Co., shoe manufacturers
laid down their tools put their coats and walk
ed out OF the factory. The lasters and female EN-
ployes kept at work.
Mr.. II. II. Shaw, senior member OF the nrm, said
that Mr.. Moulton called on him yesterday morn
ing and asked him II he meant to abide by what
he said In his statement pull llshed In yesterdays
PRESS. Mr.. Shaw emphatically answered yes.
Upon that Mr.. Moulton left the shop and walked
up and down on the sidewalk In front. Then, as
by some preconeerted signal, all the cutters and
bottomers left their work and proceeded TO their
hall at The corner Of Middle and Exchange streets
in the Boyd block. About so men went out, leay-
ing considerably more than that number In the
shop. The lasters, who have a separate union
did not go out. Mr. Shaw declared that the firm
would I'LL the places Of the strikers and continue
work. He did not expect difneulty In securing
help. In Freeport work was given TO everybody
in that town who desired It. But In Portland
plenty Of non union men were procurabIe. In.
case the firm could not get men they would close
the factory. He should abate nothing
from the published statement. The factory has
no special definite contract on hand but is doing
good business. The firm drums up trade as lt
goes along, and the prospect for the winter season
Is good.
Mr.. Moulton general organizer of the Interna-
iional Union OF Boot and Shoe Workers, said his
business was to travel wherever there is dlficu-
ty to settle, and that the Freeport workmen sent
for him. having tried to settle the difieulty with
A. W. Shaw s. Co. unsuecessfully. He only ad-
vised the men what to do. Each union manages
its own affairs. The lasters, he said, had not
struck, but II Shaw, GOdng & Co. should employ
non-union man in the place OF a striker who
went out yesterday morning they would strike.
There are 95per cent. OF the firms employees union
men. = The women here do not belong to the
union. He didn't think Shaw, Goding & Co. would
go out Of business as they threatened, and he
didn't think they would find capable help as
readily as they imagined. He said he had not or
dered the strke that the hands voted TO go out at
10 O'Clock yesterday morning-at a meeting held
by them on Tuesday evening-unlessa a settlement
was re .ched before that time. Mr.. Moulton said
there was no quarrel with Webb s. Cushing and
no strike would be ordered there. He had ar
ranged for satlsf tctory scale Of prices with G
A. Allen s. Co.
Some Of the operatives said yesterday that the
firm OF Shaw. Cooling & Co. were informed that II
they did not do the right thing at Freeport the
men would strike. They dlsclaimed any desire to
injure Mr.. Shaw's business, but claimed the point
at issue was reduction Of pay and not techni
calitles.
1t Is reported that hoodlums attacked the new
operatives that came TO Freeport by train from
Brunswick with approbrious epithets, and Man
ager Tucker sent Deputy Sherin Sargent to Free
port, who found everything quiet There were
100 employees in the factory, only 20 less than
usual.
Mr.. Moulton issues the following:
To tee Shoeneakers Of Nel0 E,l0isssOs and to the
Public In General.
In the early part OF the summer was called to
s Co. for the purpose OF establishing local union
to be attached TO the Boot and Shoe Workers In
The employees Of this nrm gave several illustra-
tions OF the abuses that they had TO endure. The
employees had repeatedly waited upon the nrm In
divdually to have their grievances righted, but
the firm, as Is usually the case when men attempt
to fight their battles single handed. paid little at
called their attention to. The Union
appointed committee TO walt on the firm and
asked that the firm reirsiu from Cutting wages
lower than was already being paid TO them. The
firm replied that it was necessary TO make the re-
shVes and the firm would not oblige the old help
20 work on the new grades unless they saw ft.
they wish to Introduce "new grade" IL means
that the firm will make two grades, hrst and sec
marx, first and second quality. The prices for
the first quality viii prevail for while. Soon the
they did quite large business in first grade shoes
at better prices than were demanded on the sec
low figure. II the attention OF the frm Is called
20 the matter and even an explanation asked
thai the first grade has BEEN discontinued as there
Is no profit in them. We investigate the matter
and find that no change has been made In the
has been in the habit of using We go from
the cutting room to the stock room and ind that
no changes have been made there. All the
visible change made Is in the marking OF the
ityS marks second quality" IL Is
way ffhs 81 r% oi 4 W. sSa% Coz
wanted to be in fashion. But the shoeworkers Of
adopt these fashionable methods at their expense
Ine frm % was S waited u P., upon by your humble ser
their might be between them and their employees.
The firm would listen and pay strict attention,
but they made the ,prices which their employees
he or she was at liberty to seek situation else
where. The result Of the matter lis that the firm
had IN the past made wDateyer changes IN prices
sachusetts agent" When the firm were told
that the people who were to receive the pay for
| few suggestions as TO what the prices
should be the frm declined to allow them
that faYOr the snOp struck because the nrm would
not right their wrongs We held public meet
ing and Mr.. A. w. Shaw spoke 10 the citizens, but
he did not convince the people that his position
was Iustinable. Mr.. II. H. Shaw. who Is an able
speaker, was given the privilege TO address the
strikers, and still he failed to make them believe
that his position was right The contest Is one
that will be watched by all shoeworkers In New
England. While we are sorry that the matter
could not be settled without a strike, 10 was the
last resor. and while we are In the contest we
shall stay to win or lose.
III. G. MoULroN.
The PRESS correspondent at Freeport writes
that the strike continues to be the absorbing top
ic Of the day. Groups Of men may be seen about
the streets discussing the affair in all Its bearings
Many express themselves hopeful OF a speedy
settlement Of differences. In the meantime there
Is work going on at the factory. train from
Brunswick transports different operators, 20 or
more in all. And the end IS not yet. The firm
does not seem inclined to yield TO the demand Of
accept the terms OF the firm and here the matter
remains at the present time OF writing.
The striking shoemakerS from shaw, Goding
last evening. A reporter for the PRESS called
| aud offered 20 print any statement that the
Union would like 70 make, but was Informed that
| the Union had decided to say nothing at present
| except what had been forwarded TO the press for
Publication.
A Difficulty at Yarmouth.
IL was reported yesterday that on Monday the
firm Of Hodsdon Brothers & Co., manu- facturers
of ladies' shoes at Yarmouthvile, announced re-
ductton OF 80 per cent In wages. The 75 hands
employed by them Immediately went out. The
next day, Tuesday. the old prices were restored
and work went on as usual. But yesterday the
reduced price list was again put in operation.
understood that they have not finally accepted
the new scale, although they will continue to
work under it pending a final settlement Of the