The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-25
THE STRIKE ENDED.
City PAYERS Will
Probably Return to
Their Work.
CONFERENCE AND ARBITRATION.
1t is Believed Langfeldt
Will Join the PAYERS
Union.
CONFERENCE AND ARBITRATION.

The strike of six union PAYERS in the
employ of the city highway department
ended yesterday, and this morning the
men will return to work. Mayor r. B.
Dodge, Jr., Street Commissioners w. S.
Prior. Councilman j. F. Ryan and Pres
ident j. D. Pierce of the Central Labor
union had a conference in the city hall,
yesterday morning.
The conference developed the fact
that Langfedlt, the non-union payer,
whose views caused disruption, has no
great disliking for labor unions. Ac-
cording to Langfeldt, his obstinacy re-
suited from belief that the unionism
would mean decapitation. In other
words, August ]. Langfeldt believed
that Street Commissioner Prior would
fire him when he became unioniZed.
The fear of this ending caused hesita-
ton on Langfeldt's part, and that pause
for reflection gave time for the PAYERS
to decide to cult work.
Yesterday Mayor Dodge and Street
Commissioner Prior said that Langfeldt
had received no such information Off
cially, and as proof of sincerity, Mayor
Dodge suggested that Langfeldt be adj
vised to join the union. 1t was also
suggested that the non-unionist be in
formed that his refusal to join the
union, when repeatedly asked to do so,
resulted in strike.
An effort will be made to have the
matter ended today If Langfeldt in
sists upon remaining a non-union man.
the strike will probably develop on
broader lines than at it's first inception.
This phase of the situation was not dis
cussed yesterday, and matters were left
70 heal themselves. Messrs. Pierce and
Ryan believed last night that there
would be no further trouble
President Pierce said to The Spy. man
last night 81 feel confident of an ami
cable adjustment of this difficulty. If
Street Commissioner Prior talks calm
ly with Langfeldt concerning the differ
ences which have existed, believe that
there Will be new member in the Pa
vers' Union. When I first talked with
Langfeldt, / was quite sure that he
would Join the union, but later some
one discouraged his efforts, and he re-
mained outside the fold Until he does
join, Langfeldt will have work which
VIII keep him away from the union men.
II Langfeldt persists in keeping iso-
lated, / cannot figure upon the result
1t will have upon the union PAYERS, or
what action will be taken"
After the conference, Street Commits
sioner Prior said:
ut was arranged that I should see
Langfeldt and tell him that he is at
liberty to join the union if he wants to.
lie could have done so at any time, as
never have made any distinction be-
tween union and non-union men. |
am guided by the civil service list en-
urely. Some time ago, l wanted a
payer to do odd jobs and found that
there were none on the list. In such
cases, / am at liberty to hire whom
choose, and as this man was in the
city, had him registered on the civil
service list, and set him to work AS
TO the statement that this man is not
voter, / couldn't say, but he has GER
talnly been living in Massachusetts for
three years.
The number of men we keep on
paving is seven. two on blocks, two
on Brick work, two on cobble cutters
and one for odd jobs. AS soon as the
regular men quit yesterday, l began
hunting up others to take their places,
and by this morning was able to set
six other men to work so the trouble
has only kept us back one day" When
asked what action would be taken in
case Langfeldt did not care to Join the
union, Mr. Prior said: THAT is a mat
ter that has TO do with the future and
which / don't know anything about"
Mayor Dodge was satisfied with the
result OF the conference His honor aid
not believe that the matter was one
in which he could well interfere. In
speaking of the case, he said: IN hlr-
ing Haen the city goes by the civil SER
vice list. The heads of departments
have no hostility against the unions.
and would not prevent a workman
from joining one, nor would they COM
pei him to Join, if he didn't want to
do 30. Mr. Pierce, this morning, seemed
to keep Langefeldt from joining the
PAYERS union. told him that hardly
believed such was the case, and H. was
for thar reason that suggested MIR.
Pierce's seeing the man I'm question and
impressing on him that he was free to
do what he chose"
There was an absence of harsh crit