Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1916-01-28
STRIKE UNSETTLED
Eclipse Manufacturing COmpany'S Plant
Shut Down
Employees and Their Families Return TO
Boston


ny was not settled Monday as expect
ed. As announced in the PATRIOT
last week the men did not go in Fri
day morning and since that time the
greater part of them have left the city.
The men that the officials of the COM
pany said would be here to take the
strikers places did not materialize and
there WIS no attempt made to resume
| operations Monday morning.
The company came here primarily
| to get away from labor troubles in Bos-
ton. That those troubles have follow
| ed them to this city is unfortunate and
outsiders knew everything was run.
ming smoothly at the plant of the new
industry and the present trouble came
as cloud from clear sky.
On Saturday morning the help were
paid the money due them Lawyer
r. G. morse, representing the compa-
ny, was present and made short adj
dress to the men in which he told
them that if they remained here they
would receive the fullest police protec-
ton if needed. He stated that there
were sufficient laws in Connecticut TO
guarantee them absolute safety and
that they would be enforced should
the occasion arise. The talk WAS
along this line presumably because it
was understood by the officials of the
company that threats had been made
that something would happen if the
employees did not give up their jobs
here. 1t was also understood that
promises were made. Some of the en-
ployes had belonged to the union They
had been fined for zone thing or an
other and then dropped from the union
for nonpayment. 1t was promised, it
is said, TINT all who would return TO
Boston would have these fines remit.
ted, would be reinstated in the union
and work would be secured for them.
Until work was secured they would re-
ceive wages from the union. The men
were told Saturday morning that all
who returned to work Monday morn
ing could have their old jobs back but
those who did not return would find
their places filed by Others. 1t was
stated that the shop would run as
usual and that help would be procured
Immediately to fill places made vacant
by strikers. IL WAS claimed by the
company that the men had no griev-
ances but had quit on account of these
promises and threats. The men were
loath to talk but the officials claimed
that they had said enough to make it
apparent that they were frightened, al
though no specific instances or no
names OF those making threats were
given.
Monday morning but handful of
employees showed up at the factory.
Early In the morning families were
seen moving from the city. The Of
mitted that the trouble had begun to
take on a serious aspect. 1t was said
that rumor was current in Boston that
the unions were wrought up over the
concern moving out here and running
an open shop. 1t is understood that
they had had trouble in Boston before
removing to Putnam and that depre.
dations had been committed in their
factory. The officials put.their whole
trouble up to the unions and state that
their help was satisfied and contented
before the unions representatives
came here and interfered.
On the other hand Michael Gins
burg of Boston, vice president OF the
board of cloak makers unions, and the
unions representative that came here,
stated to a PATRIOT representative
that the unions did not come to Put
nam with the intention of getting the
help to return to Boston. He said that
some of the employees had appealed to
the unions and they had come out here
for the purpose Of organizing the help
( and obtaining better conditions. He
stated that when the families were
moved here the company paid the bills
and since the shop had started up the
men were locked from their wages for
the expense of moving and that they
had no way of telling how much they
were being charged He said the
wages were much lower than union
wages and that with the deductions
the men scarcely had enough to live
| upon. They also learned that local
help had been hired for five or six dol
lars per week. Some of the experienced
help lived in crowded, unsanitasy
quarters and had scarcely enough food
or clothing. They also worked SO
hours per week instead of the 50 they
claimed the company promised them.
1t WAS not that the unions wanted the
employees TO return TO Boston but that
he employees were dissatisfied and
would not remain here longer. Wnen
asked what percentage of the help was
going to return to Boston he replied
"Ninety nine and a halfn This does
not include the help hired locally who
have been ready TO resume work al
any time.
What the outcome will be Is not ap-
parent. The industry promised TO be
a valuable one for the city and Of