The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-15
SPIES WATCHING
But Rice & Hutchins' Fac
tory Goes Right On.

Rice & Hutchins' factory will be a
says. More machinery will be in oper-
alton and all the rooms will be full ex-
cept the lasting department, which will
not begin work until the latter part of
the week. At the present there are %
women and about 80 men employed in
the cutting and stitching rooms, and all
of these have had more or less expert
ence in the work
The lasting will be done on what are
known as niger head machines,
which do much more work for the same
number OF operatives necessary than
the old Chase machines. There will be
three Chase machines in operation
however. The management Of the fac
tory think that there will be but little
trouble In getting operatives enough in
worcester to run these machines,
though they are rather complicated.
rive Marlboro pickets were reported
70 have been seen yesterday. Two of
them were men and the other three
women. The women were closely yelled
and 1t was impossible to distinguish
their features. They were satisfied
with simply watching the factory as
tney passed. The policeman on duty
there will allow no suspicious character
10 stand for any time on the side
walk.
j.. D. Pierce, state president Of the
national union, arrived in Worcester
yesterday, after his trip to Albany. and
was seen by Spy reporter IT haven't
much to say" he said. II haven't had
time to look over the Rice G. Hutchins
matter yet, and don't know what To
say ABOUT 1t. There has never been any
question as to whether member of a
worcester union would be wrong 10
accept a position with Rice & Hutch
ms. Ihere would be about as much
sense IN asking If they could work in
any OF the Marlboro shops"
IL seems that whenever a manufac-
curer IN a neighboring town has trouble
with age-earners, he immediately
comes 10 Worcester, and thinks himself
safe 1t gives the impression that Wor-
cester laporing men are a cheap lot
and can be bought at a low price. |
oont know whether any action will be
taken by the Worcester union or not.
There isn't any need for action VET
except to show that they are not a
cheap lot
don't know anything as to whether
the Rice & Hutchings people want to
nave conference with me. l should
De very glad to get to talk with all the
manufacturers about the strike. It Is
very unfortunate affair. Strikes al
ways are, and should be very happy
70 see 1t terminate as soon as possible
L may be asked to take hand in the
matter, and shall do my best to bring
about reconciliation. 1t Is hurting the
shoe-workers and the manufacturers,
and want to see it ended"
In regard to the Pero strike, he had
very little to say
That doesn't come under my juris-
diction," he said 1.-THE Moulders'
Union will settle it themselves. If the
local union finds it cannot do anything
1t must appeal to the National Iron
Workers Union for assistance, and
only in an extreme case will be brought
before the state branch OF the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor, through the
Central Labor Union. / think Mr.. Pero
thinks he is right in the matter, and
that he holds out from principle and
not from obstinacy. The MouIders
Union may or may not win, l can't
say"
The Central Labor Union will meet
Wednesday, and it is probable that
something definite will be decided upon
then,