The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-05
Still TROUBLE.
The Strike at BrOckton Shoe
Factories Still Unsettled.
Indications Of an Early Settlement
of the Difficulty.
Some Of the Firms Refuse to Make any Con.
cessions to Their Employees.

Brockton. Mass, Feb. 5.-Contrary to
expectations the strike among the en-
ployes of the shoe factories here Is still
unsettled Barry Il Co. opened their
factory yesterday, according to agree-
tnent, and the old hands returned to
their places.
The sole fasteners and edge-makers,
whose grievance started the trouble.
are dissatisfied with the settlement, and
say that 1t was made under protest from
their union.
The war Of the machines was resumed.
At the factory Of c. A. Eaton & Co. a
''free" shop was opened.
Although they had previously an
nounced that they had more than enough
help to fill the different departments
only four rooms were started. In the
freeing room everyone there was an old
operative. and Mr.. Eaton stated that
each one had signed the agreement. The
labor officials announce that they will
spare no efforts to make the firm come
no terms. II Is not SO much a question
of wages. but the so-called ''ironclad"
agreement. which they declare deprives
the operative Of his liberty.
The Eaton agreement, which that firm
nationally known The factory has
been declared unfair by President j. f.
Tobin, representing the organized shoe
workers Of the country. II is proposed
to publish the agreement broadcast. in
the belief that it will be more potent
without any comment than any ordinary
boycott.
President Tobin held a long conference
Gr,it tn aft
From the factory Mr.. Tobin went to
Cutters hall, where the recent Eaton
employees were gathered. Mr.. Tobin ad.
dressed the meeting briefly, saying that
no settlement could be reached. He
had, he said. suggested every measure,
but Mr.. Eaton would make no conces-
Sion. He desired to run his factory ac-
cording to plans made, and IL he made
a change In the plans.he would consult
with the union officials. President
Tobin said that there was nothing left
for the union but to prepare for bitter
fight. The agent of the union would
Gnd out where Eaton's goods were Of
fered for sale, and everywhere people
would be discouraged from buying them.
The American Federation of Labor
hyould receive notice of the trouble and
lnion officials. and they would make
1he case one of national interest. The
boycott is illegal but the union would
use as its greatest weapon the iron
clad agreement which was condemned
by all who knew its effect. He said
that the chief allies of the union would
be the sellers of other manufacturers
who made the same line of goods that
MIR. Eaton manufactured. They would
acquaint the buyers with the system
under which the shoes were made. The
inferior quality of the work and the fact
that the goods would probably not be
ready on time on account of the changes
i'm the help would also assist in the
tight. President Tobin, accompanied
by the executive officers of the local
union, went to the factory Of Joyce &
Fletcher, where a previous conference
had been held early in the afternoon.
1Ie remained until after 6 p. m. and an
nounced that no settlement had been
reached, but that an appointment had
been made for today, when the diff
Guilty will probably be settled. The
proposition made by the firm was that
the conditions existing at the close Of
last season he restored. This would
mean a noticeable increase in the wages
of one or two departments. and il is gen.
orally understood that the firm win agree
to the proposition. President Tobin
called at the factory of T. d. Barry &
Co. to investigate a rumor to the effect
that the firm was not living up to the
agreement signed Wednesday, and Mr..
Barry explained that he had retained
some of the new help in order to give
them chance to finish the work which
they had begun. President Tobin was
satisfied with the EXPLANATION.
Mrs. Nancy Wirts, 1901 Caroline ST.,
Baltimore, Nd, thus gives her experience: !:
''We have used Dr. Bulls Cough Syrup
md have never found its equal for our