Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-16
sept16eodtf

agents OF the unions hunted IN the
members of tie executive board to de-
eide what should be done.
The balloting began at o'clock ant
up to the italian invasion had pro.
ceeded peaceably and orderly. 1t ha(
been arranged that the polls should
close at 9 r. NJ
Pending the result Of the vote the
ARA rgementS for the return of the
| strikers to their benches were held ur
temporarily as was also the conference
between the union agents and the of
ficials Of the Caunt factory
1t was expected by the union Official Is
that the result of today's hallotine
| would sustain Yesterdays voice vote
by q proportion of three or four to one
1t was realized. however. that the anti
settlement faction Of the strikers had
had sufficient time to muster all its
forces and would show much greater
strength than at yesterdays meeting
During the forenoon no less than six
mass meetings. conducted in as many
different languages. We're in progress
in the street in front of LasterS' hall
and 1t was from one of these mass
meanings that the belligerent Italian
strikers proceeded on their raid of the
ballot box. Among the different ma :
tionalitles represented at these meet
ings were Swedes. Polacks. Lithuani-
ans, Greeks. ArmenianS. Russians and
Italians
The manufacturers today began to
arrange a plan whereby industrial
peace in The shoe industry in this city
Nc nu-t, III AL
Every manufacturer in the city today
received today a circular letter signed
b. A. f. Little. president of the Lynn
She Manufacturers Association, and
james W. Hitchings of the firm of Lu-
Their s. johnson & Co. calling for a
meeting of the manufacturers to con-
slider proposition directed against the
recurrence OF strikes and lockOutS. In
the circular was copy of the arbitra-
ton agreement existing previous to the
strike in the factory of A. f. Little &
Co. 1t was pointed out that the men by
their sympathetic strike had violated
the agreement and attention was called
tC the with which some agreements
might be broken. This is used as text
to emphasize the fact that practical ex-
perlence has proven that such agree
ments. made without forfeiture provi-
slonS, are easier to break than others.
In the circular the suggestion was
offered that all the shoe workers I'M
ions i'll the city amalgamated into one
strong union. the representatives of
which could meet the representatives
Of the manufacturers to arrange wage
schedules, working conditions, hours
of labor and other matters of dispute,
with the understanding that whenever
such conferences were unable to re-
suit in an agreement. the question at
whose decision should be final and
binding on both parties
1t is understood that the Knights of
Lstbc1. which controls the cutters and
sitchers organizations. the LaSters'
Unions. the edgemakers. an independ-
en-: organization. and the treers anG
ironers are in sympathy with such a
plan
An unusual feature of this plan is
that the manufacturers desire the op-
eratlVes to he bound in strong union
and desire to treat with the union as a
whole rather than with individual op-
eratives
1t mad been arranged after tn. dis
turbance at the voting place this fore
noon to begin balloting again at p.
NJ. AS that hour approached however
The police cleared the han and refused
70 allow single person to remain;
longer inside. The foreigners. particu-
Early those who had taken part in the
orenoon's demonstration were vehe-
ment in their denunciation of this pro-
cedure and several heated speeches
were made in the street in front of
Laster's hall.
Fhe executive board of the strikers
alter an informal conference decided
10 meet in secret session to take ac-
lon on the matter and it was gener- |
ally believed that they would assert /
-heIr authority and declare the strike |
II an end. 1t was pointed out that the |
turbulent element among the strikers |
would not be satisfied at the result of |
ne ballOting and was determined to |
make more or less trouble regardless
7 the terms of settlement.
IT was claimed that the votes that
we're cast before the invaders destroy