The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-23
But Little Left For
Moulders to
Fight For.
TWENTY RETURN TO WORK.
Vice President Roach Says
the Strike is Not
Lost.

stares the striking moulders in the
face.
Today 20 of the moulders formerly in
the employ of Edgar B. Pierce will re-
turn to work, pending the decision of
the arbitration board in the Holyoke
Machine Company's case. Vice-Presi-
dent James E. Roach of the Iron Moul-
ders' Union of America, arrived from
Boston yesterday morning. After read
| ing the exclusive announcement in
The Spy of Mr.. Pierces return from
Pittsburg, he visited labor headquar-
tiers. The men were itching for a
change.
| They were assured that their cravings
for new phase in the situation would
| be gratified after Vice-President Roach
| and the shop committee met at
| Pierce's foundry and had conferred
with Mr.. Pierce relative to opening his
| foundry. After a meeting lasting near
| ly two hours, Vice-President Roach re-
| turned to labor headquarters and an
nounced that Mr.. Pierce had agreed to
| open his foundry to union men at a
minimum wage rate, S2.75 per day.
| Mr.. Pierce did not sign any agree
|
that the moulders had moved toward
| him, and that he was conceding moth
| ing by hiring the men at practically the
same rate of wages that existed when
! the strike was inaugurated, May 1. Mr..
| Pierce has rush orders on hand which
will necessitate completion before June
1. According to Vice-President Roach,
| Mr.. Pierce agreed to abide by the de-
ciSion of the arbitration board.
n Lob
headquarters last evening was full of
ginger In the opinion of many of the
stauneh unionists, it was an admission
| of weakness to return to the Pierce
foundry. and they did not hesitate in
declaring the action one which would
tend to cause public sentiment to watt
in the direction of the founders. Not
until after the meeting of three hours
! was ii positively decided that the men
would return to work with the sanction
of the Moulders' Union.
Arthur Brown, a moulder, who was
| reported in a local paper to have de-
serted and returned at Rice, Barton &
Fales' foundry, announced at the meet
ing that he has not forsaken the union
and would stick to 1t to the last Rice,
Barton & Fales succeeded in inducing
two union men to return to work yester-
day.
Labor leaders declared last night
that the fight was not lost, and it was
admitted that Rice Barton & Fales
and the union would not be partici-
pants in a love feast for weeks after
the adjustment of the difficulties in
other foundries. Vice President Roach
will leave early this morning for Low
ell, and will later visit Biddeford, Me.
He is expected to return by the latter
part of the week, and meanwhile non
will have q DAVIS
to ponder over the labor problem.
There remains in the possession of
the Moulders' union one more card to
play It is said to be a good one ard
relates to the power of the union to
call upon the American Federation of
Labor. Jefferson D. Pierce, president
of the Massachusetts division of that
body, told Spy man last night that
the union had not appealed to him yet
for aid. He did not consider 1t i'm
probable, and said that there was no
limit to the amount of assistance the
American Federation of Labor could
render.
Last night Vice President Roach said
that the strike was not lost, but he
could give no statement relative to the
future battle ground Of the strikers.
He admitted that there was practl-
cally nothing left to fight for, save in
the case of Rice, Barton & Fales. lie
reluctantly said that any of the foun-
ders have the privilege of calling upon
him and the shop committee relative to
opening their foundries pending the de-
cision of the arbitration board.
Vice President Roach talked regard
ing The Spys exclusive story yester-
day morning concerning the local and
National Moulders' unions, and admit
ted that the local union did not have
A., sanotion of fbe Iron MOulderS
union of America in demanding a min
mum wage rate of SO per day, ard
consequently was inaugurating strike
which the national union did not APP
prove. Vice President Roach said that
the national body would assist the To-
cal union financially, if 1t became nee
essary.