SECTION 2. And they agree that, should the business demand it, at the request of the manufacturers, the quarrymen will work one hour over-time during the months of April, May, June, September and October, in 1902; that they will work the same overtime during the months of April, May, June and September, in 1903; that they will work the same over-time during April and May, in 1904; said over-time to be paid for at the regular rate per hour.

SECTION 3. It is further agreed that an 8-hour day throughout the year, with the present 9 hours' pay, shall be established as soon as Barre, Vt., grants it.

SECTION 4. It is further agreed that weekly payments of wages

shall be made.

SECTION 5. It is further agreed that there shall be no discrimination on account of participation in the late strike.

SECTION 6. Any difference which shall arise under this bill, shall be referred to arbitration, the union to choose one man, the quarry owners to choose another, the two so appointed to choose a third. If any change is desired by either party, three months' notice shall be given, and no cessation of work shall take place while the above Board is considering the case under arbitration.

In addition to these tangible results, it was observed that the better acquaintance of the parties with one another, the moderation and good feeling displayed in the conference, and the misunderstandings that were removed, were distinct gains, "worth nearly the cost of the strike." This agreement was followed by a season of remarkable prosperity and good feeling.

No difficulty occurred until the month of September, when a slight difference arose as to the application of the agreement, the employers requiring the men to work 9 hours that month. The men believed that section 3 of the above agreement negatived that demand, in the following terms: "It is further agreed that an 8-hour day throughout the year, with the present 9 hours' pay, shall be

established as soon as Barre, Vt., grants it." It was claimed that that was precisely what Barre had done, that the employer had violated the agreement, and for that reason the men struck. The employer pleaded that all differences should be left to arbitration. This difficulty, however, was soon settled, and the relations of the employers and employed continued harmonious.

1

QUARRYMEN

GLOUCESTER.

On Saturday, April 5, a committee representing the Quarry Workers' Union No. 8233, American Federation of Labor, including quarrymen of Cape Ann, presented a new bill of prices to the granite manufacturers of Gloucester, calling for an increase in wages, estimated at about 10 per cent., in the form of an agreement, the terms of which are as follows:

ARTICLE 1. That nine hours a day shall constitute a day's work for five days in the week and 8 hours for Saturday.

ARTICLE 2. That all over-time be paid for as time and one-half. ARTICLE 3. That all men receive their pay on pay day during working hours.

ARTICLE 4. That an increase of 2 cents per hour be granted in all departments of labor under the jurisdiction of the Quarry Workers' Union.

ARTICLE 5. That 20 men shall constitute a gang for any blacksmith sharpening paving cutters' tools, and 25 men shall constitute a gang for any blacksmith sharpening quarrymen's tools.

ARTICLE 6. That paving stock be quarried on dimension two ways, grout stock to have one cut face.

ARTICLE 7. That paving cutters be paid 27 cents per hour when requested to work by the hour.

ARTICLE 8. That the price for cutting of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and gutter paving blocks be advanced $2.50 per 1,000.

ARTICLE 9. by the union. ARTICLE 10.

That no special blocks be cut unless agreed upon

That any man desiring to leave a job shall have

his pay in full 48 hours thereafter.

ARTICLE 11. That all quarrymen be paid at the rate of 25 cents per hour when requested to load paving.

ARTICLE 12.

That no discrimination shall be shown any man. ARTICLE 13. The foregoing agreement to take effect on May 1, 1902, and remain in force until May 1, 1904.

A difference had arisen on the 19th of March between paving cutters in the employ of the Cape Ann Granite Company concerning the quality of material which the men were required to work, which led to a strike. After a conference on April 12 the matter was satisfactorily adjusted and the men returned to work, but came out again shortly, for the reason, as alleged, that the mode of payment was unsatisfactory. From that time forth considerable apprehension was felt as to how the employers would receive the demand for a new schedule. The employees in question expressed their ability to carry on a prolonged contest if necessary, and a determination to do so, which was reinforced by the fact, as they said, that they were at that time receiving less for 9 hours' work than was paid in other places for 8 hours. The employers in interest were the Rockport Granite Company, Pigeon Hill Granite Company, Cape Ann Granite Company, Edwin Canney, William R. Cheves, Wallace Nickerson and Leonard Johnson.

On the 28th of April the workmen's committee met representatives of the Rockport Granite Company, Pigeon Hill Granite Company and Edwin Canney, to discuss the demand; but no agreement was reached, the employers saying that they could not afford to pay the price asked or accede to the other terms, because business was dull. On

the 30th of April the manufacturers, replying to the unions' final request, expressed through joint committee, refused the increase in wages, and asked for a conference, which was acceded to. At the conference the quarry owners proposed a compromise, which the committee declared must be referred to the respective unions. A protracted meeting of the unions was had in the evening, at which it was unanimously voted to strike on the following day.

On May 1 the quarries were all idle, in consequence of a strike involving all told about 1,000 men. In this condition of affairs, it was generally believed that the controversy in the granite industry of Cape Ann had resolved itself into a contest of endurance. The employers requested that the engineers should keep their machines in operation for pumping, pending a possible settlement. This request was refused. The engineers promised to bank their fires and care for their engines in such a way as to prevent deterioration. On the 2d of May the Board sought an interview with the Rockport Granite Company at its Boston office, and learned that, while the demand for an increase of 2 cents an hour had been refused, the company was willing to compromise on 1 cent, and negotiations to that end had been inaugurated. The Board thereupon concluded to take no further action, pending the outcome of the conferences then going on. On the 20th the Board renewed its efforts at mediation, and on the following day went to Gloucester and had an interview at the Belmont Hotel with the executive committee of the strikers, representing quarrymen, paving cutters, tool-sharpeners, laborers and other day hands. The Board recommended a conference. The committee being favorable, promised to advise the Board of the union's will in the matter, and did so on the following day.

On the 24th the Board sent the following letter:

STATE BOARD OF CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION,
BOSTON, May 24, 1902.

To the Granite Manufacturers and Granite Workers of Cape Ann.

GENTLEMEN : - This Board will be in session at the Belmont Hotel in Gloucester on Tuesday next, May 27, 1902, at half-past 1 o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of ascertaining what, if anything, may be done to adjust the dispute that has arisen in your industry.

You are hereby invited to appear

the workmen by committee and confer with one another in the presence of the Board on the question of how best to bring about a settlement.

Respectfully yours,

BERNARD F. SUPPLE, Secretary.

On the 27th the parties met, but at City Hall, and conferred on the question of a settlement with the leading quarry owners in the presence of the Board. The conference came to a speedy close on the manufacturers' learning that the workmen's committee had not been vested with full power to negotiate a settlement. The manufacturers expressed a willingness to meet a committee having such power at any time within a week.

The conference was resumed at City Hall on the 29th of May. After a long discussion, an agreement was reached at midnight in the presence of the Board, signed by both parties, as follows:

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE QUARRY WORKERS OF CAPE ANN, MASS., AND THEIR EMPLOYERS.

1. That the working time in all departments shall be the same as it has been for the last two years.

2. That all over-time at the request of the employers shall be paid for as time and one-half.

3. That no unnecessary delay shall occur in men receiving their pay on the regular pay day.

4. That an increase of 1 cent per hour be paid to all quarrymen, laborers, engineers and blacksmiths sharpening for quarrymen