Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-05-27
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS
THE STRIKE is AT AN END.
A General Feeling Of Rejoicing Expressed,
But II VIII Take a Long Time to Re-
cover from Effects Of Strike.

A General Feeling OF Rejoicing Expressed,
But It viii Take a Long Time to Re-
cover from Effects Of Strike.
An incident in connection with the re-
cent strike at the international Paper
company's mills was the gathering at 7.30
Monday in the general offices of the COM
pany here of 70 of the former workmen
who walked out 10 weeks earlier, asking
for their old places again. They were told
there were no places for all Of them now,
but that they would be taken back as
fast as vacancies occurred. Thirty-seven
have been given places during the week,
but the rest of them will await their turn
as men are wanted.
The mills have all been running here
since the first two or three weeks after
the strike began, and the production of
paper and pulp has been well up to what
ii was when the old employees left their
work, but the results of the strike have
been serious to the company, to the work.
men and to the business men Of the place
Neither could well afford it. The local
workmen had no grievances and the
strike which became effective March II
was one of sympathy, ordered from head
quarters because of strikes that had oc-
CURED at the mills of the company in Cor
NTH and Glens Falls, n. Y. The start
was made at the former place where an
employe charged with taking the COM
panys property was discharged, and the
union demanded his reinstatement. This
led to three demands being made which
became general: a discontinuance of Sun
day work, an increase of 10 per cent, and
a full recognition of the labor unions
which had been refused by the company
orders were received here early in that
week to strike Friday, March II. When
this became known around town about 40
business men met at the town clerks
Office Thursday, and, after discussing the
situation, they chose a committee con-
sisting of 7. E. O'Brien, E, l. Walker
and George r. Wales to visit the local
officers Of the union and see If some ar
rangement could not be made to avoid
or delay the strike. They went to the
president, Dominick McDermott, a finish
er for the Moore & Thompson Paper COM
pany and other officers here, but were
summarily turned down by the statement
that I'VE are going to strike anyway"
Last week the local superintendent for
the company, Edward Barrett, was sum-
moned to the general offices of the com
pany in New York to attend a conference
with representatives Of strikers from the
various plants of the company Dennis
Relihan went representing the local strik-
ers. Saturday kilograms were received
from both that the settlement had been
effected The company refused to rec
ognize the strikers as union men, but
conceded an increase Of 8 per cent in
pay to date from August l. Sunday work
was agreed to be abolished before the
strike became effective.
\ general feeling of rejoicing among all
classes here is expressed that the strike
is at an end, but it will take long time
for all to fully recover from its effects
No strike money has been sent here from
outside to assist the men, but it is under
stood that subscriptions have been made
in some instances by union men employ
ed by the Bellows Falls independent mills
on the 10th dey of March the pay roll of
the company had 42S men on it. The next
day $50 Of this number did not appear for
work, but within three or four weeks 46
of this latter number returned and were
renstated, leaving 1874 of the old men who
were in the employ of the company when
the strike was ordered, still off the rolls,
and whose places had been filled by new
men.
BY the terms of the settlement which
was effected in New York last Saturday
the company is not to discriminate against
the strikers but will take them back as
opportunity occurs without dischargng
new men who have taken their places. A
number of those who went out have gone
elsewhere and found employment, but as
above stated 70 came in a body and asked
to be reinstated.
A careful estimate of the wages lost
by the strikers locally in the 10 weeks
aggregates 500, $50 The men who took
the positions\ have been largely men
from other places, who, as the company
boarded them until yesterday, have sent
their wages home, or deposited them
in the banks, only a small portion of it
has found its way into local mercantile
channels. A regular expert chef has been
employed from the first, the dining
rooms, and a portion of the sleeping
arrangements being located in the second
story of the Office building. In order to
furnish sleeping Accommodations for the
60 men who have been boarded, some
have had cots in No 10 and II machine
room.
There were at one time as many as Il
private watchmen here from elsewhere
10 be sure the property of the company
was protected at all times, and 10 special
constables were sworn in by the town,
but no outbreaks have occurred and with
rare exceptions only the best of feeling
has been exhibited upon both sides.
These special watchmen were also board
ed on the premises with the men.
The four who have been kept on duty
the last week got through and returned
TO their homes yesterday.