LUDLOW MANUFACTURING COMPANY-LUDLOW.

On July 2 Mr. Frank K. Foster of Boston reported a lock-out, and transmitted the following notice thereof: —

TEXTILE WORKERS' UNION, LUDLOW, MASS., July 1, 1900.

To the Honorable the State Board of Arbitration.

GENTLEMEN : On June 16-two weeks ago the Ludlow Manufacturing Company of Ludlow, Mass., after having given one week's notice to its employees to give up their connection with the Textile Workers' Union, discharged all of them because they refused to do so. There was no difference as to wages or hours of labor. The firm had no other complaint except that it objects to the union. All honorable efforts were made to settle the trouble, but because we would not give up our right as free men and disband the union, the company locked us out to the number of 200, and has now given us notice to vacate their tenements which we now occupy.

Under the circumstances, we would very respectfully submit our case to your honorable Board for your mediation and arbitration.

We have not done anything that is unreasonable or unjust; we only insist on our right to belong to the union for mutual benefit and protection.

Trusting that you will take speedy action to investigate this case and effect an adjustment of the trouble, we are

Very respectfully,

JOHN BOURCIER, President.
JOSEPH BLAIN, R. S.

After notice to the parties in interest, the Board went to Ludlow and had separate interviews for the purpose of bringing about a reconciliation. It was ascertained that

when the wage earners had been organized they undertook to regulate the amount of a fair week's weaving, but desisted on learning their employer's hostility to the union.

It appeared that the company produced jute and cotton bagging, and was without competitors in this section of the country. The agent claimed to have treated the operatives well, having taught the trade to the major portion of them and given them good wages, from $10 to $12 a week, which enabled many of them to acquire property. There had been unity enough, he said, before the union was formed, but since then there was more or less ill-feeling between union and non-union weavers. His sympathies were with the work people, from whom he had risen, but he was under no necessity of considering their return to work, since it was easy to train new hands. In point of fact, one department was full-handed; in another 23 out of 28 places had been filled already; and another had a working complement. It was out of the question and impossible to take back all, if he were so disposed. If he reinstated any, to operate some of his idle looms, they would be few, and would have to return as non-union men; and, though they understood his determination on these points, he was willing to discuss the situation with a committee of weavers at any time.

The Board reported the substance of this interview to the locked-out weavers, and advised them to send a committee to negotiate a settlement, if possible, and notify the Board of the result, which they did, on July 14.

The following letter was sent : —

128 STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, July 16, 1900.

Mr. FRANK K. FOSTER, 116 Eliot Street, Boston, Mass.

DEAR SIR: You will be interested in learning that the Board went to Ludlow and had separate interviews with the parties to the difficulty in the mill of the Ludlow Manufacturing Company. Mr. Stevens expressed his intention to hire none but non-union men, and his satisfaction, in the present circumstances, with the way things are going. One of his departments was full-handed, another nearly so, and another had a pretty large complement of employees. He said he would receive any committee of the past employees, and talk the matter over. The Board arranged an interview, which took place subsequently. We are informed, in a letter received to-day from Mr. Bourcier, that a committee went to see Mr. Stevens, and was told substantially what is stated in the foregoing.

Yours respectfully,

BERNARD F SUPPLE, Clerk.

Nothing further was heard of the difficulty.

J. H. HORNE & SONS' COMPANY — LAWRENCE.

Early in July the local union of the National Association of Machinists at Lawrence made a demand on employers for a nine-hour day without reduction in pay, the same to go into effect on the 16th of the month, and two of the firms granted the demand. The committee waited upon J. H. Horne & Sons' Company, and were told that, owing to existing contracts, the demand could not be granted. They reported to their union that the company promised a 10 per cent. increase, to go into effect on January 1. The union was averse to accepting the offer, but took no further action. The general manager of the company made a public statement, denying the offer. The spokesman for the company's machinists questioned him upon the matter, and was thereupon discharged. All the machinists ceased work, claiming that all had been discharged. The company stated that only one had been discharged, and that the others had gone out on a sympathetic strike. On July 31 James E. Buchanan, agent of the union, presented a written application for the good offices of the Board, alleging a lock-out of the men in question. The Board went to the scene of the difficulty on August 2, and had separate interviews with both parties to the controversy. It appeared that the man who had been discharged was willing to waive any grievance that he might have, and to take himself out of the way, in order to facilitate an agreement.

The employer did not care to confer with the employees on the question of a settlement without the general manager, who was out of town for a few days.

On August 6 a letter was received from the general manager, to the effect that all vacancies had been filled, business had grown slack, night work had ceased in the factory, the former night shift was now employed in the day time, and he had all the help that he needed.

The following letter of August 6 was sent to the general manager

B. F. HORNE, Superintendent, The J. H. Horne & Sons' Company, Lawrence, Mass.

DEAR SIR:Your letter of August 3 was duly received, and has been laid before the Board at its meeting to-day, and the contents were transmitted to the workmen in interest. It is regretted that the way to a reconciliation seems barred; but if the situation should change, the Board would be pleased to renew its efforts for a restoration of harmonious relations, and to hear from you again. Respectfully,

BERNARD F. SUPPLE, Clerk.

Nothing further was heard of the difficulty.