The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-30
GOVERNOR FORT
TO TAKE HATTERS'
CASE ON MONDAY
Says He Is Somewhat Surprised
at Invitation of COnnecticut's
Chief Executive.
MANUFACTURERS AGREE
TO IGNORE THE LABEL
Meet in New York and Decide to
Stand characterization
Satisfactory to Unions.

The plan of Governor Lilley, of Con
nccticut, to end the hatters' strike
amlcably, and put more than 1000 men
back to work, will be taken up by Gov
ernor Fort IN Monday.
Il have received Governor Lilley's
letter. seeking q conference with Gov
ernor Hughes, of New York; Governor
Pothier, of Rhode Island. and myself
said Governor Fort today. but l have
done nothing about it Yet. In fact, |
was greatly surprised by it. | wish to
see some of the people interested before
l go into the subject further, l will take
the matter up Monday
Governor Lllley's letter reached Tren-
ton yesterday before Governor Fort left
for his home in East orange. and he
did nothing then. He left the letter
in his office. and will do nothing about
1t until his return to Trenton on Mon
day. Governor Lilley had expected an
immediate response, as his object was
to have the Governors of New Jersey,
New York and Rhode Island meet him
in an effort to bring the strikers and
the hat manufacturers together for
arbitration of their differences.
Officers of the United Hatters of North
America, the union, have approved of
arbitration, and it was predicted that
they would willingly submit their diff
ferences to a commission of the Gov
ernors. the National civic Federation
having failed. through its Cancellation
committee. to make any overtures to
either side
Decisive action was taken yesterday
I'm reference to the strike of the hat
tiers at a largely attended meeting CT
the National Fur Felt Hat Manufacture
ers' Association in the Hotel Aston. New
York. Every firm in the association
was represented at the meeting, which
was one of a series of meetings held
all day by the hat manufacturers.
The manufacturers would not say eX-
actly what action was taken, but it
was learned that they are all united in
their stand not to yield to the demand
for the resumption of the union label.
The first meeting was an informal one
and was followed by a meeting of the
board of directors at the Hotel Aston
in the forenoon. A meeting of the as
ISOLATION was held in the afternoon in
the same place, which lasted until the
evening. The members We're very much
excited, and there were frequent bursts
of applause, the sound of which pene-
trated to the corridors.
Secrecy About Result.
When the meeting was over it was
announced that a statement would be
forthcoming later for the ewspapers
A brief meeting of the board of di-
rectors was then held, and one of the
members came out and said:
Il have been appointed a press COM
mittee of one to say that a statement
will be given out concerning our action
on Tuesday at l p. m. in the Office of
Milton Dammann. 141 Broadway, New
York. Until then we will make no state
ment."
He declined to be more explicit, but 1t
became known that action of a de-
cisive nature had been taken, and the
manufacturers will not recede from
their stand to discontinue the union
label.
The officers of the union say that the
independent firms will get all the work
while the strike is on, but, on the other
hand. the associated manufacturers
supply three-fourths of the trade, and
before the strike the Independent firms,
as well as all the other firms. had been
working to their full capacity for the
spring trade. and could take on no
more men. Some of the largest of these
firms are n%on-union. and have had a
long fight with the union single-handed.
Milton Dammann, at whose office the
statement is to be given out on Tues
day, is counsel and secretary of the as
ISOLATION.
AS to the ability of the manufacture
ers to replace the strikers the union
leaders say that they could not get the
men. The manufacturers, however,
hold a different opinion. and some of
the largest firms outside of the asso-
citation have broken strikes single
handed for recognition of the union and
have won.