The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-10-15
SMASHED BOXES
OF LASTERS' UNION
Anarchistic Element in Lasters' Union
Didn't Want The Strike Settle
ment to Be Ratified.

Lynn, Mass, Oct. 15,-The anarchis-
tic element OF the lastcrs' prevented
formal ratification of yesterdays vote
declaring the strike off, by breaking in
TO the hall where the formal vote was
being taken this morning. smashing the
ballot boxes and destroying the ballots,
Tho executive committee Of the union
is at wits end how TO secure harmony
although a large majority of the lasters
want to return to work.
Convinced of the futility of a general
ballot. the executive board OF the lasters'
union this afternoon decided TO take the
responsibility of declaring the strike off.
The announcement was made TO the
strikers ut mass meeting later in the
afternoon. This means that the lasters
may return with the unions sanction,
but not that all the shops will reopen
with a full complement. A small pro.
portion of the strikers are declaring they
will not 60 back until their terms are
granted
The Joseph Caunt company at whose
factory the strike started on Sept. %,
has granted the principal demands
rade by its lasters, and has agreed to
submit the other differences to arbi.
tration. AT the other factories where
the strike was purely sympathetic and
had been in force since Oct. ?, the man
utacturers will take back all the men
who went out. Sixty-seyen factories
have been affected by the strike, and
although the number of lasters who
went ont was only about 1900 the
shutting down of their departments
necessitated the suspension OF work in
so many other departments that about
$4,000 operatives were forced into idle
ness. Tne strikers have held firm
throughout, but there has been no dis
order.
The principal cause of the original
strike at the Caunt factory was the
employment by the company of girls in
the lasting department. There was
also some dissatisfaction on the wage
scale there.
Realizing the great injury which
would be done to the city of Lynn by
a prolonged stagnation in its principal
industry. Mayor Porter and the local
board of trade co-operated from the
outset in making every effort to bring
about settlement. Members of the
state board of arbitration also gave
their services.
The situation was somewhat compli-
Gated by the fact that some of the man.
ufacturers affected by the strike were
members of local manufacturers or
ganizaton, while others were independ.
ent. Both the organized and independ-
ent manufacturers and the union lead
ers, however, showed willingness to
discuss the situation calmly, and many
conferences were held at the mayors
office
The great obstacle in the way of ac-
cepting termination of the strike, was
the attitude Of the Joseph Caunt CON. |
pany, at whose factory the movement
started Joseph Caunt, head OF the
firm, was for long time uncompromis-
ing in his refusal to grant any Of the
demands made by the striking lasters. |
AT a critical point in the negotiations, !
when it had been expected that he would |
in a conference at the |
mayors Office, which promised soIu- !
ton of the difficulty, Mr. Caunt left the
city, leaving word that he had been |
called away on business. Mayor Porter
and President r. S. Bauer, of the board |
cf trade, were undeterred, however, in |
their efforts, Mr.. Caunt returned to
Lynn within a day or two.