The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-15
ARE INDIGNANT.
Striking Moulders Dis
cuss j. w. Halls
Attack.

fiocked around labor headquarters to
discuss an attack upon labor unions
published in morning paper, not The
Spy, written by J. NJ Hall.
To a Spy man one of the strike lead
ers said: Mr.. Hall win never COM
mand the respect of the public unless
he confines himself to uncolored facts.
He had a perfect right to express his
opinion, but when he calls us loaIers.
he is wrong"
President E. P. Huntoon of the
Moulders' union made few pointed
remarks concerning Mr.. Halls views
President Huntoon said: II have never
seen this man Hall, but | would like
to, because there is some doubt In my
mind as to whether he walks on two
legs or four. He says that the union
destroys a mans ambition. That is a
foolish statement, for does not the
union aim to better the conditions OF
the workingman? He believes that
man should be allowed to work as
moulder on the piecework system. he
argues that a man should be allowed
to work as many hours as he pleases
and thereby accumulate wealth for OLD
age, That is a good theory for mlsef,
but it does not indicate thought OF the
condition of fellow workmen. Piece
work makes men hustle, but IT gives
work only to a few and they have too
much of it, and get wages that result
in a general cutdown. BY piece work
systems employers are enabled TO have
their labor done by a few men, who
are overwoTked, while other mechanics
are idle. Such a system forces ldleneSs
on the majority and gives wealth TO
few.
A member of the Moulders' union does
not need to fear that his old age Will
be spent in poverty The union endea-
vors to get wages so that a man can
enjoy old age, and If by chance he has
spent his savings, the union pays ms
living expenses.
The reason why we are struggling to
get more money Is not so that we can
be like Mr.. Hall in later years. We
want to be as wealthy as he and able
to criticise workingmen, but the chanc-
es are that if any of US attain his posi-
ton, we will not forget our fellow
workmen in earlier life. He says that
unions are needless. He intimates that
unions of worlzingmen are not needed,
but he says nothing of unions whose
members are employers. The National
Founders Association is union Of
foundry owners banded for their own
interest just as the Moulders' Union
contains moulders who are working for
l do not think any of the founders be-
lieve as Mr.. Hall does that the mould
ers are "muckers'' and drunkards. The
union seeks sober, industrious, am
bilious men ard wants no idlers. Mr..
Hall warns us not TO let the sword we
are forging fly up and hit us in the
face. We are not forging the sword. The
founders have done that, and it is two
edged one, and the crippled condition
of the non-union foundries indicates
that it has been flying up pretty hard
and regularly since the beginning of the
strike.
Mr.. Hall says that we do not recog-
nize the fact that all men cannot do the
same amount of work and are not, con-
sequently worth the same amount to
the founder We do not urge that all
men should be paid the same wages,
but we believe that the minimum price
Of a days work by a moulder should be
49, If the founder has men in his en-
ploy who are worth more than that, we
do not restrict him in the amount he
shall pay them, save that it shall not
be less than SO per day.
The union is aware of the fact that
there are men posing as moulders to-
day who are not capable of filing
position except in certain lines Of work
The founder has caused this by not
allowing apprentices to serve their
time In many of the local shops after
an apprentice has served a few months
and has learned the rudiments of the
trade, the founder places him on sec
ond grade moulder's work and confines
him to one branch of work. with the
result that the man is never a first
class hand in all the departments of
moulding.
He says that we spend too many
nickels in bar-rooms and do not place
enough in banks. The former assertion
is true in many cases, but the members
Of the local Moulders' Union are sober,
industrious men. Many Of them have
bank accounts and own homes, but it
is probable that they would not be as
we'll fixed if there had been on mould
ers' union. An individual could get no
satisfaction by demanding more pay.
In union there is strength.
One of the leaders in the Carpenters
Union said that Mr.. Halls statement
concerning labor unions had its start
several months ago, when he tried to
hire carpenters at 10 cents an hour to
work on a block he was erecting. Mem
bers of all the labor unions said that
Mr. Hall would be welcomed at labor
headquarters. There is a meeting of
the Moulders' union this evening, and
President Huntoon said that Mr.. Hall
would be given an opportunity to eX-
pound his doctrine if he chose to, after
hearing the labor union arguments.
National officers Of the Moulders' I'M
ion are expected to arrive in Worces-
ter today, although no word was re-
eefved last night to indicate it. Third
Vice President James E. Roach did not
return yesterday, but viii probably be
here when an adjustment of the Hol-
yoke Machine Company difficulty is be-
gun. It was said last night that Thos.
Woods one of the moulders who de-
serted the union and returned to Rice,
Barton & Fales' and later promised to
come out. has received tempting offers
from members of the firm, which he is
considering. If he enters the foundry
today he will be placed on the black
list by the Moulders' union.
Woods has been treated like a lord
since he has been "scabbing' at the
foundry. He has been driven to work
in a hack, and yesterday he is reported
to have boosted that a member of the
firm had promised him a room in his
house and absolute security from the
cutting remarks of the strikers. Some
of the strike leaders say that Rice.
Barton & Fales are weakening the men
by fiattering offers.
At the meeting of the Moulders' I'm
ion. tonight, action viii be taken re-
garding the men who came out of Rice.
Barton & Fales as the result of plead
ing by the pickets and union men. Pres
ident HuntoOn said that the men would
probably be restored to their former
places in the union.