invited the employers and a committee of the moulders to meet in the presence of the Board at a time and place stated, on the 12th, in Lowell, for a conference with a view to a settlement by agreement.

At the time and place named the Board was met by a committee of the moulders. None of the employers appeared or sent any communication. The workmen made a statement of the facts of the case, and the meeting was dissolved.

For several weeks the masters' attitude revealed no disposition to consider the men's demand; orders for castings were placed in other cities; finally settlements were made in the Union and Eagle foundries, where the union price was granted. In the other two of the foundries involved, the strike situation remains unchanged.

PATTERN MAKERS-BOSTON, ETC.

On or about May 15 occurred a general strike of pattern makers employed in Boston and the vicinity to support a demand for nine hours on five days of the week and five hours on Saturday. The executive committee of the patternmakers' Association of Boston and the vicinity being called upon expressed their willingness to consult with the Board, and accordingly on the 17th the president of the association accompanied by another member of the executive committee called and made a general statement of the case. The Board undertook to communicate with those employers who had not yet agreed to the workmen's demand. Some of the leading employers involved were seen, and the services of the Board proffered.

On May 23 an interview was had by the Board with the pattern makers lately employed by the General Electric Company at Lynn, and it was learned that their demand was for nine hours on five days in the week and a half

holiday on Saturday, at the old rate of wages. It was also learned that the workmen belonged to a branch of the Boston Pattern Makers' Association and were governed by the proceedings of the principal body. This and other similar strikes on or about May 15 were in accordance with a general plan to establish a nine-hour day in Boston and the vicinity. A. B. Lovering in Lynn and some of the Boston employers conceded the demands of the pattern makers; but nothing having intervened to give substantial hope of a general settlement in Boston, it was intimated to the Board on June 2 that the association would willingly confer with the employers in an attempt to reach an understanding. The minds of the employers were sounded again by the Board, but it was found that they preferred to deal directly with their employees as individuals rather than through the association.

In the latter part of June the Board by request made another attempt to bring about a conference, and formal invitations to that end were sent to the parties concerned. This invitation was respectfully declined by the association of employers, and the workmen replied saying that they had been informed that the

employers did not intend to respond favorably to the Board's invitation. They added that the association had given its executive committee full authority to settle the controversy, and had voted "that we are willing at any time at any place and under any auspices to meet our employers or their representatives to consider a settlement of the present controversy."

At the time of writing this report the controversy remains open, and very recently further communications have been had with reference to a settlement between the two associations.

KIDDER PRESS COMPANY-BOSTON.

On Saturday, June 3, the machinists, firemen and some other employees of the Kidder Press Company, of Boston, having urged without success a request for a half holiday each Saturday during the summer months without loss of pay, quit work at noon and were consequently notified of their discharge.

On the 7th the workmen, through their business agent, requested the mediation of the Board. On the same day, after a meeting of the directors had been held, it was publicly announced that they had decided not to grant any of the demands of the machinists' association, which were stated to be for a Saturday half holiday during the summer months with full pay, an increase of wages, recognition of the union, and "other things of minor importance." "We shall have no negotiations with the union or with union men as such, but if any of the men return as individuals, we shall take them back, provided they come before their places have been filled