Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-24
PUTNAM
7alr or 4oe Empioyes at Mechanics vlile NH on Strike-Emissaries of !. w. W. Fostering Dissatisfaction Agent C. F. Waterman's state- ment-D. A. R. Decorate Graves.

So"t S' T. Waterman's State-
 ment-D. A. R. Decorate Graves.
 On Thursday the employees who nave thrown up their work in the mill or the French River Textile company at Mechanicsville, came to Putnam duflng the afternoon and held a get together meeting in Foresters' hall
 betWeen 16O and 200 men and wo- men were present. The talking done at the meeting was by Grover c. Per ry Californian, and an organizer of the l. w. ". with which body all those on strike are affiliated, having been organized during the early part or April 1t was stated by one of the strikers after the meeting.
 The outcome of the meeting was. apparently, specialization of the de- termination of the strikers to stay out untll their grievances are adjusted. Nha they had to say about remaining on strike, taken with what could be learned relative to what they are likely 10 De granted in the way of conces- slons would indicate that the differ ences cannot be easily adjusted. The | siege.
 This morning the last meal will be served to the nearly 100 strikers who l nVe at the company's boarding house | al Meehanicsville, the model French | River inn. After that it will be LID | 10 the strikers to find a new home. To | | those strikers who live in the com l pany's tenements in the village notices | to quit possession in ten days were | served Thursday. The strikers look at | this phase of the situation philosophI- | caily' They say they will go peace | ! aply, but probably will not move far l ther away than Putnam, from where ] tney can keep in close touch with the 1 situation. l This (Friday) afternoon at 2 o'clock there 1s to be another meeting of the | strikers in Foresters' hall. Addresses will be made by Miss Larry Narcotic of New Bedford, who was here Thurs
 day, and by c. E. Speilman of Kansas City, who will arrive this morning. Both are organizers of the I. W. W. It Is understood that one of the ob Jects of this meeting will be the plan for the organization of those employees
 Of the French River mill who have not
 come out on strike. About half the ! 450 employees of the plant are on strike, | the majority of them from the weaV- | ing department. Loom fixers and win
 ders are also out.
 The cause of the strike was the in
 fIcting of fine of fifty cents upon
 one weaver for having made a piece of
 cloth through which, for length of 50
 yards, flat or loose thread ran,
 making an imperfection. This is ac-
 cording to the system of fines in
 vogue at the mill as in all other tex ! tile factories. Various strikers stated
 Thursday that the fine was imposed
 In the sewing department after the
 cloth had left the weaving department,
 which, they claim, is not in accord
 with an alleged agreement made at
 the time of the last strike a few weeks ago that no fines should be imposed
 on weavers after their cloth had left
 the weaving department.
 What Agent Waterman Says.
 Thursday afternoon, c. Frederick
 Waterman, agent of the French River Textile company, denied that the com
 pany had entered into any agreement
 with it's weavers that fines should not be inflicted upon them after their
 cloth left the weaving department ex-
 plalnng at length how such an ar
 rangement could not be made in any well regulated textile plant. He said that the first inspection of the cloth was made by the perchers, who marked
 imperfections, but that a further and
 complete inspection was made when 2 the cloth reached the sewing depart ment, where imperfections were also
 checked against the Weavers by the , sewers. MT. Waterman said that the , understanding with the weavers at
 the time of the conference at the last
 strike was that such imperfect cloth 7 as came to the attention of the sewers
 and had not been previously checked
 would be sent back to the weaving de- l partment for the inspection of the re- r | SnOnGiblh ba 1rraay-,- I would be called to see with his oWr q eyes what he was to be fined for. = Nr. Waterman said that various re y quests of the operatives at the time O = the last strike had been granted ant - that he understood, as many of then t gave out. that they were perfectly sat Il isfied with the agreement under whicl : they were working; also that he ha,
 been told by representatives of tn
 workers that in the future there woul n be no quick walkouts, but that an II differences would be presented for ar ti bitration
 IF MT. Waterman had no word to sa - as to what the attitude of the com IF pany would be in considering the pres ,s ent situation. He said that he ha n not been waited upon by any commit -e tee of conference representing tn 'o strikers. The company has no over a lures to make. MT. Waterman saiC m in relation to the serving of notice d upon the strikers to quite possessio
 of the company's tenements, that
 verbal notification had been given tn
 strikers that the mill would be ope l. for them to return to their work neN 5- Monday morning. All that would b W required of them would be to leave a K the office of the company before noo
 of that day the notices that had bee l. served upon them to vacate the house In He said that the strikers would be pal 1e off at the office of the company at i
 o'clock this (F'riday) morning. es Most of the strikers spent their tin E in Putnam Thursday afternoon. The s. were unit in declaring that the es would remain out until their demand at are conceded. One of the promine1
 men among them a leader said: w
 are going to fight this thing to a 7nis
 We have been assured by the l. W. V
 organizers that the body will star .,, back of us and that while we stay oj y we may regard the time spent as a vf ce cation. None of us are going to wal
 for any of the things that we have bee
 in the habit of enjoying"
 gs How the more than 200 workers th, gs remain on their machines regard Il ed strike is not known, but it is unde m, stood that an effort will be made Til have them come out.
 k Teams to Cart Away Refuse. h About a dozen teams will commen ~ this (FTiday) morning the work .s clearing away the refuse that h; a been assembled in many parts of tl af city during the cleanup week that s4 coming to a close. Members of tl T Clean City league said Thursday tn the movement for a cleaner and brigh
 CT Putnam had been very much of
 success and the results of it are like IS to be long evident and manifested IT. keep the highways and byways of t he city mp to the standard of neatness Fe which they have been brought duri of 1 the past few days.