Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-11-18

met at their several headquarters, there
seemed to- be a firm determination TO
make a long fight.
The strike was directly due to the de-
cision of the firms named to conduct
their factories without recognizing the
shoe workers organization, an act, the
strikers claim, which would eventually
lead 10 a lower scale of wages and the
general decentralization of the industry
here. while other factories, it is believed,
would probably take similar action pro-
viding the attempt of the three firms is
successful.
The feeling among a majority OF. the
manufacturers is that the depressedcon-
dition Of the shoe industry has been still
further hampered for long time by the
unions, whose terms many of the factory
owners assert, make trade Improbable.
At present it is impossible 10 tell wheth-
er any Of the other firms will declare
war on the unions. A number of them
will probably refrain from interference
until the present struggle is settled.
The cutters. stitchers, lasters, sole
fasteners, treers and other unions who
accepted the action of these three firms
as a declaration of war on the shoe work.
ers' organizations at once began to pre-
pare for a contest. Meetings were held
last week and Sunday, and measures
were taken for strengthening the unions
wherever defect was found. John f.
Tobin of Boston, president of the Boot
and Shoe Workers International union,
General SECRETARY Treasurer II. A.
Eaton and other officers of the general
organization, who are in the city with
the secretaries of the local unions. en-
gagged yesterday in conference with the
three firms. They could not secure any
compromise or any concession from the
manufacturers, and, late in the forenoon,
the council ordered a strike at the four
factories of the 5. II. Howe company,
two factories of Rice & HutChirs and at
j. a. Frye & Co.'S factories. The en-
ployes. numbering about 300 in all, We're
ordered to leave their work at noon.
Practically all the union men and
women in the seven factories involved
obeyed the order Of the council. As soon
as the employees left the factories they
assembled at Union hall, where mass
meeting was held. General President
TObin addressed the strikers at length.
! advising them to remain away from the
shops. He cautioned them to be careful
and prevent any overt act against the
peace by anybody. The strikers ap-
peared enthusiastic and determined to
resist the attack on the union in every
legitimate way possible.
The leaders contend that if the move
ment of the manufacturers is successful,
| it will prove an entering wedge for SINH
lar action in nearly every shoe factory
in Marlboro. They say that wages have
/ been on the decline here for months. and
| that the war on the unions is actuated
! by desire to further cut wages.
/ The s II. Howe company employs
about li0o hands, the Rice & Hutchins
/ factories about 600 and J, A. Frye G. Co.
| 600
All the unions in the city agreed to
abide by the decision of the general coun-
Gil after their conference with the three
firms.
| The firms called upon by the council
did not appear to care whether their en-
ployes struck or not Business is not
! very good at the factories here. and some
of the manufacturers maintain that they
will lose but little by few weeks shut
down.
A joint council of the Boot and Shoe
! Workers association was in session the
| greater part of the afternoon and even
iug. President Tobin and Secretary
Eaton were in consultation with refer
ence to the difficulties. and they left
town last night, to return in a few DAYS,
when they will advise as to the manner
OF procedure best to the interests of the
lab0rers.
There was a largely attended meeting
of the upper leather cutters at which
it was voted to act in concert with the
other unions. Forty new members
We're initiated. The meeting of the sole
leather men last night resulted in the
organization of a union which is to be
known as the Stock Filters union.
The joint council would only say that
it had used it's influence to avert the
strike, visiting the manufacturers and
obtaining their views with reference to a
possible settlement. No favorable an
sWer having been received. the alterna-
tive was the declaration of the strike.
President Tobin expressed himself as
pleased with the way the men responded
to the call made upon them, and saws
there Is not a single man who has moi
shown his allegiance to the union.
A report had been circulated around
the city that the merchants would refuse
to give credit to the strikers William
Fl. Hall, president of the Merchants as.
sociaton, in response to an inquiry, sait
they bad taken no action in the matter
as they regard it as family quarrel, anC
all they wish is for speedy and peace
full settlement.
The manufacturers say that they have
been forced to compete against the low
prices in New Hampshire, and especially
those in certain parts of New York
state, and their action in opening free
shops has become necessary for theil
own protection.
A Bad Boy From Taunton.
Taunton, Mass, Nov. Is. - Joseph
Paradis of Manchester, N. H.. under in
dictment for assault with intent to kill
withdrew his plea of not guilty yester-
day and, pleading guilty was sentenced
to five years and one day in the Concord