The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-09
PROTEST Ar
SO-CALlEO
BLACK HAND

Establishment OF so-cailed bull pen"
and black list' caused 149 machinists to
strike at the New England Butt company
yesterday afternoon.
They protest against the methods
which the company Is said TO be adopting
at the suggestion OF the Metal Trades as
sociation 10 procure the family history of
the men In their employ for future use
by the Metal Trades association. which
the machinists claim is no more or less
than black list" That the procuring
Of this history. which has attached the
rate OF salary which every man has re-
pany has adopted. which will forever
keep the men from rising to any higher
position, whether he be a good or bad
workman. and when II finally dawned
their number to give the information
asked for. and they had been discharged,
the machinists at the noon hour, after a
consultation and the comparing OF notes,
decided to ask for the reinstatement OF
their discharged shopmates. which being
refused. the entire force, amounting TO
14s men. left the employ.
The machinsts also object 10 tho estab-
Main street. where strike breakers are
housed and fed, and also TO the importa-
tion of about 20 detectives, whose badges
read "O'Neilfs Patrolmen's Protective
Agency" These men. they claim who
are not licensed by the city or state. are
doing policemen's work about the city un-
der pay from the Metal Trades associa-
ton, which association is bringing unde-
sirable citizens into the city and housing
them on Pine street and at other boarding
places about the city.
THEY DECLINE.
A member of the executive COMMITTEES
of the Rhode Island branch OF the Nation
al Metal Trades association said In ex-
planation:
''The strike was caused by a disinclina-
ton on the part OF certain OF the en-
ployes TO be registered in the local labor
bureau of the Metal Trades association
AS has been previously stated this labor
employment bureau is run by the loca
association for the benefit Of the mem
bers and their employees. The registra.
ton is in no sense a blacklist, nor is II
TO ascertain whether man Is a membe,
of union or not, as that question Il
never asked
"All members of the association secure
their employees through this labor bureau
which is now we'll established and sup
plying many men positions free of all cos
10 them, and the actions of the men al
the New England Butt company in declin
ing TO register Is not understood. II they
do not reaurn TO work Immediately theii
places can readily be filled by applicants
now waiting for positions at this bureau
1--WE will walt perhaps two or three days
at the most before filling their places
but after that we cannot make any prom
ises. Our labor bureau is open alike for
union and non-union men, and their stand
ing in that regard is never asked. All
who apply receive the same treatment"
PLACES TO BE FILLED.
II was also said by members OF the as
ISOLATION That the three men would not be
reinstated. and that the positions of the
strikers would be filled within few days
X the men did not come back to work
The labor employment bureau system OF
card cataloguing is employed in many ot
the large cities where the association has
a branch, and all the employees OF firms
belonging TO the association are registered
and the statistics filed by card index.
Vice-President J. q. Aldrich of the Butt
company said that most OF the men were
willing to give the information wanted
but the three in question, when they found
out that II was for the benefit of the
trades association as well as the COM
pany, refused fatty.