The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-02
BOTH SIDES FIRM.
FRS t of May Brings
N D Change in the
Moulders' Strike.
IN MASS NEE TING.
tEkers Vote to Extend
Time One Month in
One Case.

The first day of May brought nothing
inIthe way of a peace offering to the
Striking moulders and foundry owners.
Pi,kets are posted at the foundries in
vbved in the strike, and their efforts
wire so earnest yesterday that so far
as is known but three men obtained
endowment in the positions vacated by
tie moulders. The three men, who will
b, stamped as "scabs" by the union
Rorkmen. are Finlanders supposed to
ta inexperienced, and are in the foun-
frv of Rice, Barton & Fales at South
Worcester.
Z Early. Yesterday morning Labor
Headquarters was the scene of activity,
md at least 200 moulders rallied and
outlined their policy. There were no
demonstrations, indicating bitter ha-
tired existing between workmen and
former employers, and before the men
left Labor headquarters, they were
ordered by the strike leaders to be
watchful and alive to the interests of
the moulders' union, but to keep their
troubles to themselves.
One of the most peculiar phases ever
resulting from strike occurred yes
terday morning. Half hundred
moulders paraded down Mechanic
street and halted when they reached
Edgar B. Pierce's foundry. Greetings
were exchanged between pickets and
fellow moulders, and the men were in
the midst of conversation when a win
dow in the foundry office opened and
Mr.. Pierces head was exposed. Have
A good time, boys" he yelled, sit will
only be for a few days" The men
gave three cheers, and went back to
labor headquarters.
Mr.. Pierce talked with Spy man la
ter in the day. He said: Il have not
got man employed in the foundry in
the places left by the moulders. My
force at the present time consists of
about a dozen yard hands and helpers
and we are having a spring cleaning.
/ have decided not to attempt to run
my foundry until this trouble is settled,
The demands of the union are fair to
a certain extent, but l am not hasten
ing to make advances towards set
Element. When the strike blows over
I'll open up, and 1 suppose the men
will be back at work"
Mr.. Pierce smiled as he added: you
know it is about this time every year
that the men long to get out in the
fresh air and enjoy themselves. II
makes no difference to any one but my
self if 1 am losing money by my present
policy 1 can afford it If the mel can
get along without their wages"
At Rice, Barton & Fales', George H.
Writer refused to'answer any questiohS'
A. B. Davidson, manager of the juno
ton foundry said: Il lost money dur
ing the hard times, and at the present
time the demands of the moulders are
very hard ones for me to fill. do not
know when any settlement Will ne
made"
The managers of the Holyoke Ma
chine company had nothing to say IN
regard to the situation. At Pero
foundry, Prespey Pero said: Il have
got seven moulders at work, and have
% men in the foundry, so my plant Is
not idle. I have no doubt of the FAIR
ness of parts of the schedule the Moul-
ers' union wishes US to adopt, but l am
opposed to recognition of the unio1
card / do not object to paying gooo
men as we'll and better, if necessary
than other foundrymen, but when II
comes to paying a man big wages be-
cause he belongs to the union, 1 object
If the union recognized the fact thai
all worl1men are not worth the same
amount to the employer, there wouc
not be the existing differences OF. opin'
ion"
At William Allen & Sons no member
of the firm would make a statement
concerning the situation. The place
looked deserted yesterday and the pic
kets posted near the entrances to the
yards and office had nothing to do.
The owners of the six foundries put
under the ban by the moulders' unior
act as one man. Labor leaders declare
that none of the foundry owners dareS
to take the initiative. AS soon as one OF
the leading foundrymen yields, the 9th
ers will, is the belief of the labor men.
The moulders' mass melting was held
in Father Mathew hall last night, anH
300 union men, 'cOremakers and mould
ers, attended. Considerable discussion
resulted because of the fact that Kab
ley's agent signed the agreement n
stead of a member of the firm. Cooler
judgment prevailed and the act was
declared valid.
Caleb Colvin was given until the
first of June to recognize the union
card and day work. Men at the ColviT
foundry have been working by the
piece on weaving machine parts. which
the company will complete by the lat
ter part of the month.
IneSe delegates were elecleu " 11le
national convention of moulders at
Minneapolis. Mimi, July s: D. J. Sui
livan, 100 votes; P. f. Frye, 157; W. o.
Porter, 20: John Gale, 100 Mr.. Sulli-
van was elected chairman of the dele
gates.
No communication was received
from foundry owners. and it was voted
to have the executive committee meet
at Labor headquarters every night un-
I'll a settlement is made.