The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-06

Marlboro, May 5.-Tonight Marlboro
is all excitement The big strike which
has hung like pail of gloom over this
city for. nearly 25 weeks, has been prac-
tically lifted, and the strikers have
been making applications at the fac
tories for their old jobs.
In nearly every case they were re-
fused. but it is the general opinion that
before many weeks large number of
the strikers will be at work, although
many will never work in Marlboro
again.
While, as was said at the outset Of
this article, the strike has been de-
clared off, those in charge Of labor
headquarters say the strike is still on,
and the boycott on Marlboro boots and
shoes win be maintained to the bitter
end.
The only change in the situation,
they say, is that the people are allowed
to procure work in the factories and
not be called sscabs. This step, they as
sert, was caused by empty exchequers
and they thought it was only right to
give people who had made such good
fght q chance to go into the factories
and earn something to procure the ne
cessitfes Of life for their families.
There seems no reason to doubt that
there is much suffering in this city as a
result Of the strike. The unions have
not received much outside financial aid
for several weeks past, and as a nNlu-
raj sequence were not able to give much
assistance to their members.
ANY number of members received no
Aid at all. and seem to glory in the -act
that they have gone all through the
strike without receiving assistance. oo
The strike was declared NOV. 49, 1880
and $500 people walked out of the rae
tories The cause of this action was
that s H. Howe Shoe company, Rice
q Hutchins and John A. Frye had post
ed notices in their factories in Whlch
thov stated that after Nov. 20 they
would deal with their help individual
" or by committee. the operatives
took this as a blow at the unions anu
decided to strike, and afterward car
fied their decision into effect
The strike had the approval OF John
F. Tobin, general president of the BOOT
and Shoe Workers union, ana was al
terward Endorsed by the American RED
Grafton of Labor in convention at Ran
sas City.
After the strike was declared, the
manufacturers shut down their faclo-
.1.jes for seven weeks. In January they
opened the factories and had much dl1-
fcultv in running them for a Time
Large crowds gathered in front OF
the shops each night, and Missed ana
hooted the operatives as they came
from work. The state police We're
have been held from time TO time, anu
aside from a few local disturbances, the
citv has been extremely quiet when II
Il considered that nearly 1000 dlssalls-
fed operatives were in the streets.
II became evident several weeks ago
that the strike was losing cause anu
yn,,rnurings of discomfort have Deeh
haard freGuentlv during the past few
weeks. Many have in that time VI aN Gu
fhe tantalizing word "scab" and nave
eaiIght employment in the various
ahons driven TO this measure from
shear desperation. Many nave peen
received, and put to work, while otheIs
were refused the work tiny SO Illuc -iI
were refused the work they so MUCH
needed. - ,o,,
Hundreds of the strikers, both men
and women, sought work in other cities
and towns, their places being taken sil- III
the Marlboro shops by shoe "oIheI9
from various of the manufacturers
centres Of New England. Hence II
transpires that in this the hlghlahd
city, are many divided households anu
many strangers to the customs OF TINS
once promising city 49,,
The true state of affairs mas oeen
yelled so far as possible by the lapor
leaders. Mass meetings nave peen
held and encouraging stories told the
striking men and women. AT Hrsl thS
whole affair was treated as a grand
holiday. Forenoon, midday, AFTER
noon and evening hops, diversified with
kilograms of the vaudeville type, were
81 daily occurrence Money came IN
freely from several sources, ana at the
outset the strikers were Jubllant' en-
thusiastic, confident.
The American Federation Of LABOR
ar its kansas city convention, en-
dorsed the strike Samuel GoihpeIs'
fine national president, took an IN
SixiduaI interest in the matter and
came east to aid the cause of the MARI
boro shoe workers. Money was raised
nv dint of personal solicitation OF the
Local and state leaders Of the strike
Martha Moore Avery took hand,
.nJ endeavored to introduce her wen
Lnov-r socialistic views, but II must De
sa5d 70 the credit of the strikers that
fhev could not accept the views OF TINS
woman. and many stormy scene re-
suited as a consequence.
rrbesa were DAYS of excitement and
.h,,,t This time the state police We're
ssnt for nv ex-Mayor Hoitt. Gov VOL
"a responded and as a result chief
wade and his entire force were reslo-
80 ~ Marlboro for several weeks.
ISSnsIlv the sober thinking men and