St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-11-16
GEORGE M. HOGAN,
Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs
Strike in Earnest.


Marlboro, Mass, Nov. 15.-The great
strike in this shoe manufacturing town
has already taken on serious aspect
to each workman of the thousands who
have left riseir work with the idea OF
correcting either real or imaginary
wrong. Last night, as the union men
met at their several headquarters, there
seemed to be 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 to a lower scale of wages and the
general decentralization Of the industry
here, while other factories, 1t 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 depressed con-
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 1t is impossible to 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 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 H. 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 strike at the foul
factories of the S. H. Howe company
two factories of Rice & Hutchins and a
]. A. Frye e. Co.'S factories. The EN-
ployes, numbering about $500 in all, wer
ordered to leave their work at noon.
Practically all the union men am
women in the seven factories involve
obeyed the order of the council. AS 500
/ as the employees left the factories the
assembled at Union hall, where a mas
meeting was held. General Presiden
Tobn addressed the strikers at length
+. advising them to remain away from tn
= shops. He cautioned them to be Garrett
and prevent any overt act against tn
t peace by anybody. The strikers az
/. peared enthusiastic and determined
!, resist the attack on the union in ever
t legitimate way possible.
n The leaders contend that II the move
!. ment Of the manufacturers is successful
k 1t will prove an entering wedge for sim
lar action in nearly every shoe factor
In Marlboro. They say that wages hay
been on the decline here for months, ar
= that the war on the unions Is actuatt
j. by desire to further cut wages.
l. The S. H. Howe company emplo.
n about 1400 hands, the Rice & Hutchil
a factories about 600 and j. A. Frye &
If 600.
N All the unions in the city agreed
n abide by the decision Of the general cou
q ell after their conference with the thr
. firms.
~ The firms called upon by the coun
"a did not appear to care whether their Ell
~ ployes struck or not Business is n
~ very good at the factories here, and sol
~ of the manufacturers maintain that tn
will lose but little by few weeks sh,
down.
A Joint council Of the Boot and ST
-, Workers association was in session
greater part Of the afternoon and eve
ing. President Tobin and Secrets
W Eaton were in consultation with ref
w y ence to the difficulties, and they
.. town last night, to return in few da
-, when they will advise as to the man
n of procedure best to the interests of
th laborers
NJ There was largely attended meet
ho of the upper leather cutters, at VIII
o. Il was voted to act in concert with
o.. other unions. Forty new memb
were initiated. The meeting Of the 6
Ter ledlneT men last night IcSultSu III
err organization Of union which is to
lie known as the Stock Filters union.
nd The joint council would only say
ok It had used its influence to avert
ING strike, visiting the manufacturers
of obtaining their views with reference
mt possible settlement. No favorable
by swer having been received, the alter
old tive was the declaration of the strilS
are President Tobin expressed himself
md pleased with the way the men respon
axe to the call made upon them, and {
any there is not single man who has
shown his allegiance to the union.
will A report had been circulated arc
etc. 'ts citv that the merchants would re