The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-07
Placed On the Attend
ance at the Hearing.
THE STATE BOARD
Of Arbitration Appeared at
Marlboro.

Marlboro, March 6.-The investiga-
ton of the Marlboro strike by the state
Legislative committee on labor was re-
sumed in the city hall, this evening
But that the interest in the subject was
as great as ever was seen by the large
crowd which gathered about the build
ing before the hall was opened.
In order to prevent accident, the city
authorities decided to limit the attend,
ance to the seating capacity of the hall
Inc crowd began to gather about the
nall as early as o'clock.
Nlty MARSHAL Pope was on hand with
detail of three to prevent disorder
and to see that no larger crowd thar
was determined upon should enter the
nall AT 7.S0, the time for the hearing
20 peg1n, every seat in the hall was
taken and hundreds were turned away
unable to gain admfttance.
Inc entire Legislative committee or
iapor was present and nearly all the
II ttIiuiacturers. Hon, S. H. Howe and
"a aon. william b. Rice were the manu-
LacturerS, with United States District
attorney Boyd B. Jones as their com
sci: John A. O'Connell, of John A.
OConnell & Son, and e. Irving SAWYER
and Walter P. Frye occupied seats at
the side of the hall, g
Inc labor leaders, John f. Tobin
ana Horace NJ. Eaton of the Boot and
Shoe W orkers' Union of Boston, and the
IOcai LABOR leaders, John H. Murray
Hl1p j.: Byfne, Bernard P. Dorsey and
1onn j. Dalton, with their attorney
left sat DIT the
Inc state board of arbitration. con-
Slstlng of Messrs. WoIcott. Barry and
Falfner, We're present. 1t was sur-
prise to great many people. Senator
1ohn u. Mcclellan, chairman of tbe
committee, called the meeting to or
The first witness was Chairman VOL
Tott OF the state board of arbitration
lie was on the witness stand for a Iono
time S''iiu loF d long
ne SAID that the members of the
noaiu were present at the committee
IequeSt, IN reply to a question. he
salQ that every decision made by the
state BOARD in Marlboro had been ac-
copied cheerfully by both sides, as far
as they knew: He didn't mean to saw
Ia .hal everybody was satisfied. Still
tIey accepted the decision of the hoard
lie said he had been on the bot,rd sinea
lIS organization, twelve years ago,
he read from that part of the state
BOARD regarding the Marlboro strike
men ne referred to the visit Of the
BOARD 70 Marlboro, to the MAYOR of the
city lie told how they had called on
uLliereht parties interested in the
strike He was asked If the state
podro nag made any proposition. He
sdid no. lie was also asked concernine
the price list of the manufacturers uno
aer the new regime. He said the man
u1acturers didn't care to make those
prices public. 'iio''e
1t had been stated by one Of the
manufacturers that their chief com
petltlon was outside of the state. He
SAID he consulted with Gov. Wolcott
concerning 1t, if the board would ac-
Gept evidence as to prices in the New
England states outside of Massachu-
Setts. In reply to Mr.. Ross of New
Beotord, he said he thought the pri-
mary motive of the manufacturers in
taxing the action they took was to re-
duce the labor cost of their produc-
ZION and incidentally get rid of the me-
dlation of the union. Mr.. WoIcott said
that Marlboro was the banner citv of
Massachusetts in the question of ar
bitration.
Ihey understood the prin-
clples of arbitration better
there, he said, than anvwhere
else in the state. He said the board
had gone there at the request of both
parties to the controversy He said he
didn't know he had ever found the
people on strike when he went there
John A. O'Connell was next to an
pear. He gave testimony about the
posting of the notices in his factory,
he SAID the notices were posted Nov. 26
and the men quit work next Monday,
lie said he never refused to employ a
man because he was a member of a la
Dor organization, nor did he refuse to
receive committee. He never recog-
nized the officers of the union. State
Representative Driscoll of Chicopee
asked him If he believed in labor I'M
ions. OConnell said he did.
Then the lawyers made their argu-
ments, Jones for the employers and Ri
ley for the employees. O'Connell was
asked II the matter couldn't be com
promised, and he said no, not outside
of the rules posted in his shop. The
meeting then adjourned.