The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-16
Twenty-Six Hundred Shoe Workers
Are Idle In Marlboro.
Seven Factories Involved In
the Movement.
TradesTnen Are Much Worried and Hope For
Speedy Settlement.

mas already taken on serious aspect
to each workman Of the thousands who
have left their work with the idea of
correcting either a 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-
cislon of the firms named to conduct
their factories without recognizing the
shoe workers organization, an act the
strikers claim, which would eventually
lead to lower scale of wages and the
general Generalization of the industry
here, while other factories, it is believed
would probably take similar action pro-
vidng 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 it is impossible to tell wheth-
err 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 a 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 a strike at the four
factories of the S. H. Howe company.
two factories of Rice e Hutchins and at
j. A. Frye q Co.'S factories. The en-
ployes, numbering about 1900 in all, were
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 a 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 APP
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,
| 1t 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 400 hands, the Rice & Hutchins
| factories about 600 and j. A. Frye & Co.
| 600.
All the unions in the city agreed to
abide by the decision of the general coun-
| ell 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
| ing. President Tobin and Secretary
| Eaton were in consultation with refer
ence to the difficulties, and they left
| town last night, to return in few days
when they will advise as to the manner
| of procedure best to the interests of the
| laborers.
| There was a largely attended meeting
| of the upper leather cutters, at which
1t 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
| 1t 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 says
there Is not a single man who has not
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
II. Hail. president of the Merchants as
sociation. in response to an inquiry, said
they had taken no action in the matter,
as they regard it as family quarrel, and
all they wish is for a 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 their
own protection.
| Twas Close Call
Medford, Mass, Nov. 15,-The recount
| of the tie vote in the Ninth Middlesex