The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-16
WILL MAKE A TEST.
Labor Men Threaten
to Co to the Su.
perior Court.
THE EIGHT-HOUR LAW AGAIN.
Counsel Advises a Petition
for a " rit of Man
damus.
THE EIGHT-HOUR LAW AGAIN.

The throw down of the petition of
local labor unions by the board of al
dermen, Monday evening, may result in
a court case the decision In which will
establish a precedent for the state, and
result in a revision of the statutes.
Last night the Central Labor union
voted to apply to the superior court for
writ of mandamus, compelling the
mayor and board of aldermen to in
struct the city clerk to have the eight
hour question made a part of the Off
| cial ballot
| According to ]. D. Pierce president of
the central body, who is arranging for
| the case, three lawyers have delved
into law, and believe that there is a
strong foundation for application for a
| writ of mandamus. Until we are pos
| tive that we have grounds upon which
| to stand, which are unquestionably
strong in the opinions of the lawyers
we have visited, we will delay action, y
said Mr.. Pierce to The Spy man, last
night
It is not probable that favorable
decision by the court could be rendered
| in time to have the question made a
| part of the official ballot, but the labor
unionistS who have worked hardest for
| the adoption of the law in this city, are
| determined to discover the meaning of
| the law placed upon the statute books.
The youngest of Worcester's labor
unions, the Freight Handlers, could
not arrange to send delegates last eve
ming, as there is too much activity in
railroad circles, keeping the men en-
| plOyed nights. William Reyes Of the
| Cigarmakers' union reported that
Henry L. Green, druggist, is unfair to
| organized labor, and the action of the
| Cigarmakers' union was Endorsed. The
action of the board of aldermen Mon
day night was condemned by the cen
trail body.
There was an incident in the meeting
| last evening which was somewhat of a
poser to William C. Hennelly, who is
working in this city in the interests of
the United Hatters of North America.
Mr.. Hennelly had no doubts as to
whether the delegates to the Central
Labor union wore bonafide Union made
hats, but he was urging that the mem
bers encourage their friends in the eff
fort to Gust non-union product out of
the hat market. Five of the delegates
had hats which were manufactured by
non-union firms. Counterfeit labels
were pasted upon the sweat bands, and
Mr.. Hennelly recognized them at once.
Today he will make an investigation,
as the hats were purchased in the same
store.
The following officers were elected:
President, J. D. Pierce, Cigarmakers'
union; first vice president, E. T. Has
tings, Street Railway Mems union; sec
ond vice president, John B. Lamothe,
Steam Filters; secretary, James F.
| Burns, Cigarmakers'; treasurer, Jere-
miah Mara, Coremakers; trustees, AL
| bert Needham, Coremakers' John F.
| Shea, Machinists'; William A. Rossley,
! Carpenters and Joiners'; auditors, P.
B. Keefe, Carpenters end Joiners'; ].
E. Perkins, Machinists'; John Flana-
gan Moulders': ergeant-at-arms, Will
liam Dunn, Bottlers and Drivers
union. Albert Needham Of the Core
makers union was appointed to serve
on the board of hall trustees as a del
egate from the Central Labor union.