The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-13
THESTRIKE
Mass Meeting Inaug-
urates
FOURTEENTH WEEK.
Speakers Cause the Great
est Enthusiasm at Marlboro.

week OF the great industrial battle
which is now agitating this city, by
holding mass meeting in the city hall
this afternoon.
Every seat in the hall was taken and
enthusiasm was at high pitch during
the entire meeting. Several of the
speakers expected to be present were
Kept away by the storm, but enough
was said to encourage the strikers to
maintain the fight for an indefinite pc
rioo, II indications count for any
thing.
Inc speakers were John H. Murray,
MRS. Mary Kenney O'Sullivan, Boston,
and P. ]. Byrne
Seated on the platform besides the
speakers were the % strikers who have
neen summoned to appear before the
superior court Tuesday to show cause
why an injunction should not be grant
ed against them.
Mr.. Murray called the meeting to or
aer. He thanked the strikers for
coming out in such large numbers on
d DAY 50 stormy. He said that this
was tne beginning of the fourteenth
week OF the strike, and the workers
are as determined as ever to maintain
thelr rights. In the beginning of the
contest, the manufacturers said that
they would win in two weeks. We
we're not looking for this contest: it
was forced upon us. The nnanufactur-
ers were not satisfied with the local
ponce The man who was elected by
your votes to the governors council.
by his own admission, asked for the
state police.
sun they could not drive the people
into the factories-and now they have
asked for an injunction. Replying to
tne charge that he had said he hoped
grass would grow in the Main street
OF marlboro. Mr.. Murray answered: I
never made that statement. l did saw
however that would rather have grass
growing in this city than to have Won
people go into slavery
mere are some business men in this
Guy VINO are with you When this
STRIKE is settled, remember your friends
ana punish your enemies. Just come
Win me tomorrow evening to street
corners as the people employed in the
factories are coming from work. and
you will find that five out of seven If
them come from Hudson Northboro
Southboro and other towns. They CONS
mere IN the morning with their break
iasts IN their stomachs; they carry
tneir dinner in a basket and thew EAT
thelr suppers out of town. They leave
not a dollar in the town. Are these
people a benefit to the business men
OF marlboro? They summon me to
court injunction case). What have
done L have not been near a fac
tory since the strike commenced
nave kept within the law and advised
others to respect the law.
Mr. Murray answered a cona1o11nica
zion IN local paper and turning to the
matter OF injunction said: "Rv voI,r
e eotes you nave placed me in my pres
ent position and if I go to Jail I win
not IeaVe the place while the people
want me to remain. I was in the W. W..
cester county strike. This was declared
on June 3, 1898. staid in North Brook
neio until July %. and I can go there
tomorrow. This is in reply to the asser-
tlon made that left there before tho
strike was settled. I have as many
trlends there as have here because
did right because
Speaking in regard to the refusal Of
certain merchants to honor orders ~
the union, Mr.. Murray remarked. at
only Know one case and that is TTnio,1
~. Last tuesday this union paid ali If
owed at a certain store and the orda,.s.
were refused the next day.
That don't discourage us. We CON
start store of our own by spending
'S!oVO or $1,000 and we can sell mncb
cheaper lhan the storekeepers. don't
W SuC PRICES as there are
business men with us and I don't u,o,t
you to go back on them. No mattar
what happens to us as a result of ~
injunction proceedings we have 49,,
picked out to carry on the fight mil
victory is assured "n III
Mrs. Mary Kenney O'SuIlivan Ros-
ton. formerly a factory insnector Of
Illinois, was the next speaker. Sha wos
the recipient of an enthusiastic ereet1
ing. She referred in the most scathing
Terms 70 those who had gone to work
IN the factories and whom she charac-
eSrlzeu the scum OF humanity She said
that she considered it IN honor to shake
hands with the young girls who had
been brought before the court. as tbav
had fought righteous battle. Tn ra-
gard to injunction cases, she said thew
can't get an injunction against sneak.
ing the truth. You are asked AT tbis
tlIne 10 give up your organization
when the whole world is organized
Mrs O'Sullivan spoke about the no.
htical parties. She showed several cases
wherein she was participant of the
effects of union upon wages. The
unions We're Just what the members
made them. The union label RECEIVED
no little of her attention, and she said
that she would not wear a shoe that
did not have the union label. If the
people would do this in all cases. such
things as strikes would not occur She
referred to her work as factory inspec-
tor of Illinois, and spoke In the HIGH
est terms of Gov. Altgeld, who was
chief magistrate of that state then.
She asked all to be true to them
selves and they would win.
p. j. Byrne was the concluding
speaker and like his two predecessors
aNynlxpna6 111lIoI ont