The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-16
ALL CLINTON READS.
Mr.. Tates' Report on Certain Abuses
Discussed by Friends of Labor.


Discussed by Friends of Labor.
The report of Thomas Dawson Tate
Of Clinton on the abuses of labor in con
nection with the construction of the
Wachusett was one of the things that
was read today by nearly everybody.
The report had been expected for some
time, and there was much interest in It.
There was an extra sale Of Spys, in
which the report was exclusively pub
lished, III consequence of the natural
desire of the people to know what the
investigation had developed.
The report is now in the hands of the
executive committee of the association
of which President Warren Goodale is
chairman. The committee will consider
the report in detail at a meeting to be
held next Monday night. The meeting
will be in executive session, but Mr.
Tate has been invited to be present.
Thoughtful people who have read the
report hold to the opinion that there is
not much to be done at present.
The report advises against attempt
ing to upset any of the contractors be-
fore the metropolitan water board.
Mr.. Tate takes the view that the
board is the chief aggressor, and that
it is useless to try little offenders be-
fore big ones.
He recommends asking the legislature
for an investigation as the only effect
ual way Of getting at the abuses which
the report discloses.
Mr.. Tates view of this course, as he
explains it to a representative of The
Spy, is that the Legislature can hardly
refrain from causing the investigation
to be made if definite charges are pre-
ferred against the water board.
He stands to the opinion that the
commonwealth is Jealous of the inter-
ests of its laborers, and that the sena-
tors are responsive to the influence of
labor organizations and quick to RENE
dy any pronounced abuse of labor that
is brought to their attention.
The circumstances, in his opinion,
need only be brought to the attention
of the labor organizations of the state
to enlist them actively in the support
of measure for legislative investiga-
ton.
In fact, he has talked, as has the
representative Of The Spy, with NUM-
Der of labor leaders, here and in Bos-
ton. TO man they expressed not only
keen interest in the work Mr. Tate was
then engaged in, but were eager to nave
q par in urging upon the Legislature
the need of reform.
Labor men are angered over two
things that the report has brought out
The first matter they object to is the
employment of alien labor almost en-
tirely, In spite of the circumstance thar
the law says the preference shall be
given to citizens Of the commonwealth.
But they are also arrayed against the
treatment that the alien laborers re-
eeive. Their view is that II men are
to be employed in the construction OF
the reservoir, whether they are citizens
or aliens, they should be treated like
human beings.
In talking with a representative Of
labor Mr.. Tate found that as a matter
of policy the labor organizations of the
state are opposed to the plan Of identi-
flying workmen by numbers instead Of
by names
This man made the claim that even
Italian laborers can be known by their
names without too great, Inconvenience.
The Number is frequently used, he said.
to make one set of naturalization pa
pers do for several men.
In subject report Mr.. Tate may Of
fer suggestions as to the best methods
to be pursued to stop the sale of beer
in the shanties. Some of the shanties
would have to suspend business IL tnev
could not sell beer Then the laborers
would board In town with people who
make their purchases of local mer-
chants.