The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-01
THE HEARING BEGUN.
Joint Standing Committee On Labor Listen
To the Wor<ingmen's Side-A Mighty
Crowd Present - Three
Sessions Today.

Marlboro, Feb. 2S.-Labor and capital
aired their respective grievances in the
city hall tonight. For the first time
since the big strike was called the strik-
ers and manufacturers, employers and
employees have met in joint debate.
Before the joint standing labor com
mittee as judges both sides slater the
facts in the disputes. 1t was an I'M
usually quiet and orderly meeting The
audience was impartial with its ap-
plause. In spite of the large crowd
present, the decorum of a court room
was observed. Witnesses We're exam
ined, questioned and cross examined.
The leaders in the controversy told
their story. Each side was provided
with counsel. In fact the whole pro-
ceeding savored as a trial.
Fully 5000 persons were present. The
large hall was packed to its utmost
capacity. AS early as O'Clock crowds
began to gather on the outside. When
the doors were opened at o'clock there
was stampede for seats. Soon
was impossible to get even standin
room.
The labor leaders We're the first To
arrive. John H. Murray was given
an ovation when he entered the hall
but the noise was quickly hushed in
cohiHl.Snce with orders given before
Inc IE"ag sing. The other two leaders
WEI '4a E. TObin. John F. Dalton.
Ihr u.rmbers of the joint committee
came IN soon after. All of the leading
I nall represented in the strike
The meeting was called TO order BY
hartman John Z. Mcclellan. John H.
Murray was recognized. He made the
request that the audience keep quiet
during the proceedings He wanted
Inc investigation conducted fairly with
out demonstrations on either side He
asked that every one be given a
chance
Thomas Kelley of Boston. whom the
strikers have elected as their counsel.
was next recognized. He said he had
come most hurriedly from Boston and
knew little of the details of the griey-
ance under investigation. The strikers.
he said, had understood that the COM
1nittee was to make the investigation
thoughtfully and judiciously. without
the questionable aid of lawyers. He
had hoped that the Wrangling over
small points and a legal controversy
might be avoided He therefore moved
that the chair rule that the inVestiga-
ton be continued without the aid of
lawyers ON either side. and that coun-
sci be refused
Boyd X. Jones, United States district
attorney, and counsel for the manu-
facturers, showed that it was custom,
airy TO have counsel in such investiga-
tons.
Chairman McCIeland ruled in favor
of the manufacturers. He said that
L
been delayed "A hours for the acCoIno-
dation OF the strikers, who wished to
provide themselves with counsel If
they wished to do away with lawyers
on either side. why had they not made
a motion to that effect the day before ?
In view of the situation, he felt that
he could only rule that counsel should
be retained
The manufacturers won the first tilt
Representative Driscoll Of Chieopee
moved that the orders of the legislature
empowering them to hold the investiga-
ton be read. After the reading Repre-
sentative Cullinane of Lawrence moved
that witnesses be summoned John H
Murray was the first witness He was
allowed to tell in his own way the story
OF the strike from its beginning to the
present day.
He said in part; up to last August
relations between the employers anC
employed had always been friendly
When the employees wanted rise ir
salary they always gave 30 days no.
tice, and similarly, when the employ
ers wanted to reduce salaries they also
give 30 days notice. About a year age
the manufacturers decided upon a re.
duction Of from ) to 40 per cent. We as
laborers didn't think that just, but we
We're willing TO submit the matter Il
the state board of arbitration. We took
our medicine and worked at reduced
salaries for six months.
We named our experts: the manufac
turers named theirs: we went even a,
far as North Adams TO procure our eX.
perts They gave a decision in favor n
a reduction Of from TO per cent. w,