The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-25
In Vigorous
Tones Sent
FROM MARLBORO.
Strikers to Fortify Their
Position Strongly.

Marlboro, Nov 24-The developments
in the labor situation in this city today
took on an entirely new phase, when
it became known that the striking boot
and shoe workers had issued an appeal
for aid to be sent broadcast among
labor organizations throughout the
country. This appeal is supplemented
by plans locally, and in the immediate
vicinity, to secure funds by personal
effort on the part of the shoe workers.
Again assurances have been received
by the labor organizations that mate
rial aid viii be forthcoming from or
CARNATIONS in various places, and that
sympathy with the Marlboro strikers
is becoming widespread.
There can be but one deduction
drawn, so think the most conservative
among the boot and shoe workers, and
indeed among other sober thinking per-
sons outside, and that is the working
men are in earnest. terribly in earnest.
The thought of a speedy settlement of
the difficulty, so far as the boot and
shoe workers are concerned, is scorned
by the majority of people in this city.
-
which are developing day by day.
Following is a copy of the appeal sent
out by the officials of the Boot and Shoe
Workers Union, with the union stamp,
label and seal, which explains itself:
ASSIST TIE STRIKING SHOE WORK
ERS OF MARLBORO. MASS.
Fellow Workers of All Trades:
The union shoe workers of Marlboro.
Mass, about 1000 in number are obliged to
call upon their fellow unionists and all
sympathizers throughout the country for
financial assistance. For many wears
our unions and our employers have met
on equal terms and settled prices and con-
ton of labor but Nov. 10, 1898, our manu-
facturers posted notices requiring each
diVidual agreements for one year, at
prices reduced from Is to 40 per cent. Our
members have unanimously decided TO re
fuse to surrender their right to maintain
organization, and Nov. A. 1898. the union
men and women unanimously ceased work
TO remain out until such time as the en-
ployers viii recognize them as Unionists.
Our early appeal is rendered necessary
because a three months strike in one of
the factories has reduced our funds, and
besides, we have large numbers and are
making preparations for a long contest.
If the hundreds Of thousands of organized
wage workers will make a small weekly
contribution we shall be able to hold out
indefinitely. We ask our af1liated trades
to circulate these subscriptions by relia-
BILE parties each week in factories quar-
ries or other places and keep them going
each week until our victory is won. All
favors, small or large, will be thankfully
received. Send all money to John ]. DaI-
ton, n Washington street, treasurer relief
committee, Marlboro, Mass, and send no
Main street. Marlboro. Mass. AS the S
H. Howe Shoe Company. J. A. Frye and
Rice & Hutchins have boycotted organ
lied labor. we deem it the DUTY of all la
Dor unions TO withdraw their patronage
from all shoe dealers who sell shoes made
by either of the above mentioned firms.
Please appoint committees at once to wait
upon your shoe dealers with the above OBJ
tect in view. Thanking all in anticipa-
ton OF their generous assistance, we re-
main, in the noble cause of labor
Joint Council, No. s,
Boot and Shoe Workers Union.
To All Affiliated Trades:
The undersigned heartily indorse the
above appeal. and on behalf of our ma
tional union, which is now facing a crisis
we beg unionists of all trades to circulate
these petitions weekly, and thus aid our
worthy members in Marlboro, Mass, In
their determined struggle to maintain
their organization
Boot and Shoe Workers Union.
John f. .Tobin, General President.
Horace NJ. Eaton,
General Secretary Treasurer.
There win be a mass meeting Of
the boot and shoe workers. in City Hall
Saturday afternoon. Speeches will be
made by John F. Tobin. general presi-
dent of the Boot and Shoe Makers
Union; Horace NJ. Eaton, general sec
rotary and treasurer; John Fl. Murray
Philip J. Byrne and Bernard P. Dorsey
The Shea cAuliffe Stock Company
will give a production tomorrow eve
ming for the benefit Of the fund to as
sist the boot and shoe workers when
the Man -Warsman' will be present
ed with a full cast.
That the strikers intend to secure as
many good dollars to fortify their posi-
ton in what they fear will be a long
struggle, from personal effort, is evil
dent from the fact that their commit
tees are reaching out into neighboring
communities, and will endeavor to add
to their treasury in this manner. Today
a delegate representing the local unions
visited Worcester and engaged Worces-
ter Theatre for three performances.
The bill will be Andrew Mack in THE
Ragged Earl" and the dates are the
evenings of Dec. and Z, with a matinee
performance on the afternoon of the
It'll.
Today the labor organizations re-
ceived a letter from the Central Labor
Union of New Bedford, stating that
that organization would hold a mass
meeting next Sunday afternoon in be-
half of the Marlboro strikers, and re-
questing the local unions to send a
speaker from Marlboro. 1t has been
settled that a speaker will be sent down
to the eX-whaling city.
A secret committee has been appoint
ed by the Boot and Shoe Workers
Union, whose duties are to be as i'm
portant as they are secret. The COM
mittee is to determine, IL possible, the
boarding places of the present en-
ployees in the MiddleseX mills and their
various methods of securing the neces-
sites of life. For what purpose this
information is wanted is not pro-
claimed from the house tops by the
working people interested
As an offset to the grewsome reports
of the day there was another rumor
which gained considerable currency on
the street that the manufacturers had
determined to open the various fac
tories in the near future. In many
circles there is n belief that this re-
port is true. and if So it means a prac-
teal concession of certain points in the
wage question bur what effect it will
have on the general strike can only be
conjectured.
In connection with this rumor. it is
stated that in case the workmen re-