The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-12
EMPLOYEES STOP WORK.
Trouble May Assume Serious Proportions
In the Batcheller Shops, Which EN-
ploy 100 Hands Bal Trimmers
Quit Work-W eavers In Sar-
anac Mills Strike Snag.

North BIpokfeld, July 11.--As a dark
thunder cloud arises in a clear, blue
sky, SO came to this town today trouble
that strikes at its very vitals and
threatens to throw it back into the
mtre from which it has been struggling
since the great labor trouble Of 's7.
Tonight, about half the force of en-
ployees at the E. & A. H. Batcheller
shoe factory, the largest in the world,
left their employment without the
slightest knowledge as to when they
will be able to return.
The trouble started early this morn
ing when the force of 10 ball trimmers
employed at the factory refused to
continue working without an increase
of wages. AT first it appeared of no
greater magnitude than a slight swell
! on the broad ocean, but tonight it had
assumed mammoth proportions.
From its inception the trouble grew
| all day until it affected all the help en-
ployed on what is known as bal OF
| light work, about one-half of the 11OC
people employed here by the concern
The 10 strikers stubbornly refused tc
go to work until they got what they
| consider their just due, and as long as
they stick to this decision or until men
| are put in their places, so long will II
be impossible to turn out any bal work
at the great factory.
The strikers want more money for
one quality of shoe on which they are
trimming the edges, which are known
as Baltimore edges. 1t is heavier work
than they have been accustomed to,
and for this they want more money
than they are now getting for trim
ming edges.
The justice of their request is not de-
MED, but the firm claims that it is in
no position to increase any wages, as it
has lost about $4,000 on the last run of
rs weeks. and that in the past three
years 1t has been doing losing bust
ness to the extent of $4,000.
TO put 1t frankly, the employees do
nor believe that such can be the case,
but say, on the other hand, the concern
-
workmen get wages so small as to al
low them not what can be properly
termed living, but a1mere existence.
The men who struck today are Daniel
Mahoney, Mortimer Howard, William
OBrien, Leonard Reynolds, James
Kane, John Mullen, Theodore Lupien
John Mulvey, Michael Noonan and
Lawrence /Cotter. Arthur Boyd. the
other man of the force, is i'll, but is
supposed to be in sympathy with the
movement Of his fellow -laborers.
The men started to work as usual
this morning and delegation was sent
to Francis Batcheller, president of the
corporation, to see what answer he had
10 make to the request of the men.
With his brother, Robert BatchelIer.
treasurer of the concern, the president
pointed out why it would be impossible
to increase the wages. Hettoh the men
that the company had lost in the neigh
oorhood of $4,000 in the last run and that
with the high prices of material and the
Keen competition, his company could
not at the present time see its way to
better the help. Moreover, he explained
that there was principle involved that
could not be broken into now.
That is to say, If the firm was able
ana did increase the wages of the edge
trlmmers, all the employees of the shop
VINO are now struggling under 10 per
cent cut down, would be up in arms for
restoration of part or whole of their
wages. The strikers argued that they
were not asking for return at present
to the old rate of wages, but that it
was unfair to ask them to put in as
much work as the new edge neeessi-
tated for the money they have received
for the common edge trimming.
The Batcheller brothers were firm and
the edge trimmers at once left the fac
tory and had a meeting in Duncan
block. Another conference was called
at the office of the big shop and this
lasted until well past the noon hour,
neither side giving in a peg. The
Messrs. Batcheller informed the strik-
ers that they were to start for Boston
this afternoon and would like to see the
trouble settled before they left, but no
settlement could be reached
Meanwhile shoes began to pile I'M
behind the places Of the heel trimmers.
and at noon about 100 cases of balls
ready for the edge trimmers' knife were
standing on trucks and choking up work
and traffic in the big room.
1t soon became evident that work. on
balls could not be continued for early
IN the afternoon some of the edgemok
ers who receive work after the edge
trimmers, were caught up and hal to
leave the shop as they had nothing to
do.
The order was issued that work on
balls should be stopped and that the
bal workers should quit work at G
O'Clock tonight until a solution of the
difficulty is reached. The Messrs.
Batcheller had nothing to say about
the trouble and the strikers themselves
were equally as retoent.
rs North Brookfield on the verge Of