Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-05-20
NO, Thank YOU.
HalIoweII Granite Workers Have
No Use for Arbitration.
They Say They Are Right and Mean
to Fight 1t Out.
East Barre. w.. Companies Signing Men S
Bill Of Prices. with Old Date.

H,LLowELL. May I9-f Special The
situation in the granite trouble continues
unchanged. but the men are daily growing
more encouraged and continue TO present a
/ firm and immoyable front. The eomm1ni-
cations received al the meetings today from
the different, headquarters are said TO have
been most encouraging Each day takes
away few more men from town. Each
das sees the faces of the business men
growing more and more gloomy.
A JorRSAL reporter made tour of Water
stree, yesterday and found that there has
been a general falling away in trade since
fhe trouble began. In none OF the stores
was trade reported a brisk or even as fair.
The general desire is for speedy settle
ment of the trouble. The business life OF
fiallowell depends on this being done and
Immediately at that.
On the eompany's side increased conf
dence is said to prevail, aud the officials are
said to have been greatly encouraged by
the results of the past few days. Ii is un-
dersIood that new members are joining the
Manufacturers Association daily.
If public opinion will have any influence
in the matter the trouble will soon be sub
mitted to arbitration and compromise ef-
fected.
The men are winning universal praise ON
account of the manner in which they are
behaving. mike the unions in some of
the other places where the fight is on, no
attempt has been made to persuade the few
men at work TO leave the company's en-
ploy. No piekets are out and nothing has
been done TO keep men from going 10 work
No disturbance has been reported in any
part of the city.
The Journal recently published sug-
gestion that the granite trouble should be
submitted 10 arbitration Since then il has
been proposed in New York City to submit
the whole matter to an arbitration commits
sion. 10 be composed of the Rt. Rev. Phillips
Brooks, the Protestant Episcopal bishop of
Massachusetts, the Rt. Rev. Archbishop
Williams of the Roman Catholic arch
diocese of Boston and thir,l member 10 be
| selected by these two.
In order to find out how this plan was re-
gardcd in lIallowell JorR>AL reporter
called on several OF the leading union men
tonight. The general and unqualified
opinion among them is that there is nothing
which should be submitted TO arbitration.
We did not bring this trouble about, "
said one of them, ''it was the manufactnr-
er-' fault, not ours. g For many
years the bills of prices have end
ed on the first of May, and it
has worked well Why do they want TO
change now: We can't help thinking they
made this demand simply to bring about Il
struggle in which they hoped 10 down the
unions. But they can't do it. If the man
ufacturers will Withdraw their uncalled-for
and unnecessary demand for change OF
dates, we might be willing to submit the
question of an increase in our pay to ar
bitrators, but we will never, never consent
to compromise on the prime question. \
fair compromise would be impossible for
the demand in the first place is not fair, so
we would be bound to lose something no
matter how the matter was compromised.
The other union men said substantially
the same, and the determination not to
yield on the main question is marked and
is apparently unmoyable. ......
The reporter was unable to see any of
the officials of the company on account of
the lateness of the hour but n gentleman
close in their confidence told him there is
no hope of their consenting to arhitratc,
think for they believe that they are right
and that it would be useless TO compromise
when they would be sure To lose. They be-
licvc that their men in time will see that they
are right in their demand as to having the
/ dates of the expiration of the bills of prices
changed. As to the wages question there
is no need of arbitratlng that as they have
/ always been able to settle such questions
! directly with the men. No, there is no use
of talking of such commission. The
/ manufacturers, think, would never accept