The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-03
HALL WAS FILLED.
Marlboro Mass Meet
ing Attended by
Visitors.
IMPRISONED WORDS.
Many Speakers Recall the
Details Of the Past
Twenty Weeks.

Marlboro, April Hundreds of strik-
ling shoemakers who have been obliged
/ to secure work in Brockton, Barre and
many other places, spent Easter with
their families and friends in this city,
As a result of these people being in
town the mass meeting of the strikers
in the city hall was unusually well at
tended and enthusiastic.
| The return of the spring, coupled with
/ the assistance of the labor organiza-
tons of Boston, New York and else
where has had an invigorating effect
on the spirits of the strikers. This 1eel-
I ing showed itself at the meeting in the
spontaneous applause and enthusiasm
that greeted the sentiments Of the
/ speakers. p. j. Byrne presided, and
seated upon the platform were Presl-
dent j. +. Tobin of the Boot and Shoe
! Workers Union; Thomas DoWd OF the
Bottlers Union, Boston; Thomas Bro
ply Of the Hatters' Union, Boston; Geo.
e. Mcneil, Boston; j. II. Murray ana
members of the local labor unions.
! Mr.. Byrne called the meeting to or
der, and in the course of few intro
ceiVed any communication from w. Is.
Rice published in a Worcester paper,
regarding the settlement of the strike
/ last December. Mr.. Byrne said the city
government Of Marlboro was anxious TO
I have the hall kept clean. Placards mad
! been posted about the hall not to spit
on the floor-and by union city gov
eminent, said Mr.. Byrne. There is 20
union label on those placards. We don
know whether they were printed in
union or scab shop.
There are many of the old help home
today from outside. The press says
| that you people are not as good as those
working in the factories. (Laughter)
Those who are forced to go outside the
city for work are far superior to any
thing working in the MiddleseX, Getting
avenue or other non-union factories in
this city. You who are working abroad
do not forget those who are fighting at
home, and send them a little contribu-
ton each week. Mr.. Byrne closed by
urging all to remain firm and victory
would surely come.
John f. Tobin said that the last time
he spoke on the $40 platform some peo-
pie placed a false construction on his
remarks, wherein he admitted the pos
sibility of defeat. Mr.. Tobin asserted
that what he did say was that In the
event Of defeat such and such things
would happen. Should victory perez
upon the labor banner credit should bt
given to certain people, i. e., the RAM
and file.
The speaker thought then that thu
| struggle would continue for an indeh
mite period 49, until the manufacturer
acknowledge the right of the shot
workers to organize. The attempt Of
the manufacturers to wreck the Ameri'
can Federation of Labor, Mr.. Tobll
said, would end in dismal failure. HI
thought that a victory had already beer
, won on account of the strikers being
united and the sacrifices they had made
John Dowd Of Boston was the next
speaker. He said that the union people
of Boston would leave no stone IN
turned in order to have the strikers win
He spoke on the righteousness Of the
strikers cause and asked all to stand
together.
John H Murray was received with an
old time volley Of cheers and spoke in
his usual vigorous manner. He said he
| was glad to see the old Marlboro shoe
workers who were forced to leave
their friends and seek employment else
where. He hoped they had a pleasant
Easter. During Mr.. Murray's remarks
he referred to noise made in the armory
of Company f and which was over the
city hall. He said he was sorry to find
it necessary for Company f to make
noise to disturb this meeting.
Several months ago, said Mr.. Murray
the people OF this city rendered a re-
ception to the members of this COM
pany. These men went to free the
| Cubans-a people they never saw, and
now they turn traitor to the cause OF
humanity and labor. The speaker said
that out of 5000 people that went out on
strike not over 400 had returned to the
factories. Furthermore the manufacture
ers were not turning out the shoes and
could not until they had their old helI
back. Mr.. Murray spoke very scathing.
! ly of the sobriety Of some Of the new
| help, saying that not only do some Of
| the men of that class get dizzy, but the
| women also. Thomas BrOphy and Geo
e. Mcneil the two last speakers
aroused the audience to a high pitcI