The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-02
THEY FINALLY GAVE In
When Representative Cullinane Threatened
To Have the Sheriff Summons Them
Investigation is Continued
Until Monday.

Laverty, member of a committee app
pointed by the strikers to wait on Mn
J. A. Frye. He said the latter has pos
itvely refused to recognize unions
either personally or through commit
tees Of employees, ever since the strike
commenced.
When asked about the power exer-
clsed by labor agents he said they never
used the power delegated to them ar
bitrarily or took important action
without first consulting the unions
he declared 1t was a common prac-
tfee in the ]. A. Frye factory for a
clerk to make the rounds day or two
before pay day and ask those who
wanted money to 20 to the cashier and
get paid. Those who took advantage
Of the privilege had to forfeit a dis
count of per cent out OF their sal
aries.
Clifton q. Walcott, member of a
similar committee appointed to wait on
s. II. Howe told how set of Ques-
ti0ns had been presented to Mr.. Howe,
and how they had expressed their will
lingness to consent to any arbitrat M.
Alexander, GREENE, a member Of the
same committee, said Mr. Howe had
agreed to strike out the clause requir-
ing a signed contract, but had pointed
positively to copy of the "ironclad"
notice and had said that would have
to remain his answer Henry Goddard.
another member of 'the same commit
tee, gave similar testimony. So did
James A. Bennett.
Mrs. William =. Clark, member of
the same committee to wait on Mr..
Howe, said he had promised her that
the stitchers who had got 81 would get
$1.50 If they went to work.
John T.. Bradley told how he had
presented the same set of questions TO
Mr. Curtis rnf1rpgpOtiUp e Hutch.
ms. Frank $. Dewey told of a similar
mission to John A. Frye. John II. Tobin
here rested the strikers case, reserving
the privilege to call witnesses in re-
buttal. The incident described above
then took place, after which the morn
ing session adjourned.
w. b.. Rice, president OF Rice &
! Hutchins, was the first witness in the
| afternoon. He said he operated three
! factories in Marlboro when he could.
| At present he was only trying topper
ate them. He had never refused to
| treat with union men as such, but had
! frequently since the strike began, re-
| fused to treat with labor organizations
as such. He told how he was once
! called upon by telephone and asked il
he had anything to say before a boy
colt was declared on his goods
| When asked why he haa posted up
| the 'iron-clad" notice in the MtddleSeS
mill, he said 1t was simply because he
felt he could not make an outlay of
200 on material unless he was guar
anteed against a recurrence Of tr'ou-
| BILE like that OF last August, which re-
suited in loss of $4,000.
He then told In detail the causes
| leading up to the first strike In the
| Middlesex factory On August 10th,
he said, he had received n letter from
Murray informing him that unless
Mrs. Henderson, forewoman OF the mill,
was discharged, the stitchers would
strike. 1t was his custom never to dis
charge an employee without good cause.
He therefore left the matter with the
superintendent for investigation. He
received no reply. and the first he knew
the strike was on.
Mrs. Henderson had occupied her p2-
sition six years, and complaint might