Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-27
ITALIANS ON STRIKE.
Trouble on the w., W. & F.
Narrow Guage Railroad.
Unpaid Laborers Barricade Track and
Generally Block Work.
Pres. Atwood at Watervlle and
Trouble viii Be Over, Today.


salDoro has been having considerable
experience with strikes ana strikers,
this year. First it was the Weavers in
the mill, but they refused to strike I'M
der any consideration in spite of all the
efforts Of the walking delegates. But
they gave some uneasiness for 4 time
especially as tie town is not used to
sucn things. Now it is the railroad
men ON the little narrow gauge that
have been the center of considerable
interest for the past few days.
The story Of the difficulty, 50 far as
can ~ learned, is this. The men en-
gagged in construction work on the little
road aIe paid monthly, two weeks be
ing held back, as is customary in many
places. The men have received their
money regularly up to May -, the reg
ular pay day. Then there was a hitch
ana no one got any Of the money due
him. The men thought it over some
ana talked it over a good deal ana de
cidcd to quit work until the money ar
rived.
There had been Il delay Of a few days
once before ana when the payment was
made the men knew nothing about it
until the paymaster walked in on them
as they were at work ana paid every
man all that was coming to him. This
was rather disconcerting and perhaps
the men thought they could prevent
anything like this happening again by
ioafing ana watching for the money.
I!ut at any rate they quit work when
the money was not forthcoming on the
appointed day.
Things moved along in the town much
rs usual for several days. There was
an unusual number of Workingmen
about the streets in the day time ana
some indications that money from
somewhere had gone for something soft
and wet. The tangle had apparently
been caused by little misunderstand-
ing somewhere. Mr.. Atwood, the presi-
dent Of the road. was away from home
50 that he could not sign the check.
Along about Saturday things began
to liven mp bit. The men were get
ting tired Of the peaceful monotOuy of
the country village and were prime for
some sort of excitement. More of the
soft wet stuff apparently went out Of
sight some wild threats We're made in
regard to what might happen if the
money did not come pretty soon, and
the citizens Of the town began to get a
bit alarmed.
The story was freely circulated that
the new station would be burned, the
rats tern up ana lots Of other things
done If tho men were not paid. The
Italians employed on the road-there
are something like 100 of them now
are quart"rcd in a comfortable build
| ing just south Of the new station. Some
Of the more impulsivc ones placed q
| heavy stick Of timber across the track
| in front of their quarters and fastened
it securely. Then they hoisted a couple
of red flags. one of these was a ban
| danna handkerchief, but it answered
| The purpose.
According to the story Of one Of the
American strikers, the italians have
| been drilling. using heavy sticks for
weapons. The rolling stock that hap
| pened to be in North Vassalboro when
the blow fell was moved by the COM
pany down the line a few miles and
| securely fastened with chains ana
heavy padlocks. Eut beyond the rails
| ing Of the barriers on either side of the
Italian camp and the hosting of the
| red flags no sort of a demonstration
was made by this element up to Mon
day. There was of course more or less
Of hilarity on the streets on the part
Of the strikers VINO had been crookinE
the elbow as a pastime. but nothing of
| 4 serious nature developed.
In order To make the situation clear
ana to discuss tie possibility Of trouble
intcligently, something ought to De
| said about the railroad men who are
| involved in the strike. These are di-
| vidcd into two general classes, Italians
and Americans, with the former in the
| majority. The Italians are also diyi-
| ed into two classes. One of these are
subject to 4 kind Of padrone system
| and in charge Of nm Italion named NJ.
| Seretto. who takes the place of the
| padrone. Another and small class are
independent of Mr.. Seretto although
he has the others we'll in hand.
| From what can be learned it would
| seem that initiative in any serious
| trouble would come from the Ameri-
cans or the small part Of the italians
not influenced by their padrone. The
men under his control are hired by the
| company through him and are practic-
| ally his employees. although the men
get their pay direct. The American
strikers are Of the typical class found
engaged in railroad construction all
over the country. They go wherever
| their work takes them and have no
permanent abiding place. Their wages
are all that they work for and natural
| ly when anything goes wrong with
| them they are indignant.
| 1t is this class CHIEFLY that has been
disposng Of its claims against the
| company at a low figure, in some cases
ridculously low one. \ good many of
them have left town and sought work
elsewhere. Those who remain. if all
stories are true. have been in an ugly
mood and win be in an uglier one.
| Tuesday, if they DO not receive their
money.
| According to the story of one striker
the men We're ready for anything, sat
urday evening. and only lacked lead
Iraptip,ta5 - nara \