The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-18
LOCAL UNION.
Refuses Picket Duty at Rice
& Hutchins'.


in peculiar position, as they do not
know what to do regarding the coming
of the Rice & Hutohins boot shop to
this city. They are undecided as to
whether they had better take a hand
with the Marlboro strikers and do
picket duty with them.
This matter was brought up at the
meeting of the union at labor headquar-
tiers on Southbridge street last night,
and for over two hours the members
occupied their time in discussing 1t.
They have reason to believe that the
taking hold of such thing is a deli
cate matter. while ON the other hand,
If they get right down to union princi-
pies something on their part should be
done.
The National Union, which is located
In Boston, a week or SO ago notified
the Worcester Union that the Rice &
Hutchins shop which was located in
Worcester. had been pronounced by
that body as scab shop. In sending
that report, the Boston Union advised
the lasters of this city to declare the
same as had been done by the National
Union. When the lasters receive this
message, the advice was to be carried
out. but many of the members of the
Union objected on the grounds that the
local union was not compelled to take
such an action.
A special meeting was then called for
the following night, and what the ma
t1enal body called upon them to do was
brought up for the members to discuss.
Many of the lasters were with the Bos-
ton people, as they thought it a good
idea to declare the shop a scab one, for
they said that there was surely evil
dence enough to show it was. The
matter was put to a vote, and the re-
suit the Union refused to give
for publication, but nevertheless, moth
ing definite was decided upon Word
was then received from Marlboro from
the leaders of the big strike, saying that
the strikers of that city would in the
course of few days send a commit
tee appointed by them to Worcester to
confer with the executive board of the
Lasters' Union.
Since the receiving of that Informal
ton, the local union has waited pa
tiently for the committee to put In an
appearance, but it's wait has been in
vain.
If the committee does not come to
worcester before many days have
passed. the union lasters will probably
have nothing to do towards helping the
Marlboro people, for they feel incensed
against the boot and shoe workers of
that city. A large number of them
think that the Marlboro unions have
the idea that the Worcester union is
one of small standing and that it could
not do much toward helping the cause
along.
After the meeting last night a few of
the lasters expressed their views to
spy man. saying that UP to day or
two ago they were only too eager to side
with the strikers, and do what they
could for them, but when they failed to
respond to what they said they would
and keep the local union guessing, it
was about time something was done
one way or the other
Those who wished TO declare the Rice
& Hutchins scab shop when the ma
tional union sent word, have changed
their minds. and say that the brother
unions will have to cater to them in
stead Of the lasters Ill this city cater
ing to others as they have always done.
They fail to see why the Marlboro
strikers do not realize the fact that
this city is overcrowded with boot and
shoe workers, the majority Of them
persons who never belonged to a union.
With such conditions to face, the strils-
ers would have hard time trying to
dissuade men from going to work and
1t would be an easy matter for the
owners of the shop to get all the work
men they wanted.
What action the lasters will take If
the Marlboro strikers send a commit
tee to this city, remains to be wit
messed, but taking it from the way the
lasters talk, the committee will be Civ
en- a cold reception. If the local union
refuses to extend help in doing picket
duty or work Of any sort, the Marlboro
men will have their hands full to make
workers desist from going in to work.
1t was rumored that one OF the mem
Der Of the union, ct the meeting last
night, asked permission to go to work
for Rice & Hutchins, as he claims
that he was offered more money to go
there than he is getting at the present
time in another shop in the city. Mem
bers, when approached on that subject
after the meeting, refused to divulge
whether a member asked to be allowed