Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-02
BOSTON STRIKE.
Some Boston Book and JOB
Compositors Quit Work
New Schedule Not Accepted by Some
of the Firms.
Both Parties Say They Are Confident
of Victory.

Roston. Feb. with the close OF
the first day Of the strike of the booA
and Job ComPesitors in TINS CIT! anu
vicinity, 80 men and women are OUT
and indications point to as many HOT
leaving their work, tomorrow, Whiit
others are expected to quit, Nedhes-
day. In most instances the demand or
the committee was promptly refused
TODAY. although some Of the smaller
firms belonging to the Typothetae, ac-
cepted the new schedule, as did sorne
of the larger firms not connected with
the Typothetae. Tonight. both parties
were confident Of n victory.
Wright & Potter, the State printers.
with the permission Of the Typothetae.
effected a compromise with the PRINT
ers, agreeing to the new rate pending
q settlement OF the strike. BY direc-
lion OF Mayor Collins the new sched-
nj. has been temporarily accepted at
the municipal printing plant.
At a meeting Of the strikers, this
afternoon. IT was announced that !;
Offices employing go journeymen pratt
ers had signed the new scale and La
non-uniol men who struck with tn.
NoNip'''N'i'
membership.
Sunday, at a meeting Of the Typo
graphical Union, it was voted 10 Civ.
the TyDOthetae another chance to avert
a strike. 1t was decided that the COM
positors should report as usual. Mon
day. that a committee of the unionists
then should call upon the employers
as individual hirers OF labor, offer the
10, ;v,f no nf h..
refusal OF an employer TO sign tn"
agreement the printers were to be
called out.
The delegates from the Topographic
cal Union met with refusals at the out
set Of their tour Of the printing estab-
lishments. One of the first to decline
was Samuel Usher proprietor of the
biggest printing establishment in the
business district. Mr. Usher employs
40 cOmpositOrs and job workers.
When Mr.. Usher's refusal becam"
known to the compositors. 20, who ar"
members of the union. walked out in Il
body and inaugurated the strike. SINH
lar action was taken at the l.. Barta (
Co plant, where - men and wOmen
went out, and at the establishment Of
A. r. Bliss & CO.. where % joined the
strike movement.
During the forenoon, George W.
Siminds, secretary Of the TypOthetae.
stated that while he had not had ad-
vices from all the affiliated printers,
he was confident that all would refuse
the demands of the committee. II"
added that he had sent circular to
every job printer in Greater Boston.
both those within and Wit hout the Ty-
h,
agreement proposed, and inviting them
to attend IA special meeting of the mas
ter printers TO be held AT = O'Clock.
Monday afternoon. at the headquarters
Of the Printers Board of Trade this
city. These circulars were sent to at
least 400 job printers, employing APP
proximately $500 printers. Fifty-seven
of these master printers are affiliated
with the Typothetae.
At this meeting which WAS lergeir
attended. il was voted unanimously t,
adhere to the proposition submitted to
the Typographical Union No. 13. Sat
urday.
There was cOnsidera BILE anxiety at
the state House. this forenoon. over
the threatened extension of the strike
to the firm of Wright 4 Potter. the
state printers The clerks of the two
houses stated that any shut down OF
the business of printing these calan-
dars would not only seriously incOn-
Eenience but might possibly cause an
interruption OF the business OF the
Legislature. Such a strike would also
hamper the printing of nearly a thous-
and bills and resolves which have been
nled with the Legislature during the
past few days. As all these measures
are referred to different committees il
is impossible to hold hearings on them
soon as they are printed.
At | O'Clock. however. it was stated
ut Wright & Potters that the strike
had not extended TO their firm and il
was hoped that it would be avoided
Later on Treasurer Lyman of the
Wright < Potter Co, announced they had
accepted the new scale OF wages Hfrd,
by the union and that there would be no
interference in any way with the print
Ing done under the firms contract with
the commonwealth. He added. however.
that they would lose heavily.
About | O'Clock. from $50 to no strikers
had assembled at the headquarters in the
ers from about 10 printing establishments
which had refused to abide by the new
scale. According to President Henry Me
Mahon OF the Typographical Union. seN-
eral of the largest. shops in the city had
agreed to sign the new wage scale but he
did not think it wise To publish the names
of the firms which had done He add
ed that many of the master printers who
are not affiliated with the Typothrtae had
willingly accepted the new order Of things
Mayor Collins decided. this afternoon.
that the city would accede temporary to
the new schedule pending final settle
meut of the trouble
BY , o'clock. about 30 printers We're
out. Sixty men and women stopped work
at the plant of Alfred Nudge X Sons. and
II at the shop Of Rockwell 4 Churchill