New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-10
The Fall River strike.

The Fall River strike.
To the Editors ef The Trl5uns
In your paper Of February 18TH read an a.
ticle by Another Workingmsn,' which alluded
to an essay signed "A Workngmsn,' both re-
latipe 70 the strike" in Fall River; and within
= dsv or two l observe the subject has attained
the dignity of being discussed in the so called L.
dustrial Congress, and has called forth commit
tees resolutions &c. Another Worklngman
Thought the employers might have reasons OF
tbsr own for letting the denuncistions and state
ments coming from the oppressed spinners ana
ueavers pass without notice, when 1t was pro-
bablv for their interest to let the splnners and
wesvers obtain their living by begging rssher
than by work the profit OF which went entHeiy
into the pockets Of said spinners and weavers,
There was probably more trnth than fiction IN tnls
,upposition for il is generally known that han.
dreds and hundreds Of looms have been stopped
all over New. Eng and for the very reason that IL
WAS better economy to let spindles stop, than 70
cucumber stores with goods that were not wanted
In the market When such announcements take
place il excites sorrow that so many desnous OF
work should be thrown cut OF the means they
are accustomed TO use for obtaining their support,
and driven TO pursuits not according with their
education and Enthusiastically filed by experi-
enced and competent hands.
But when statements are put forth, based on
falsehOod and supported by hcttlous testimony,
and men presumed 20 have a share OF common
sense. and who for twenty years have proved that
thew have some skill in the management OF their
affairs are charged with wantonly destroying the
homes and the means OF support OF hundreds OF
of men, women and children, TOR the sake OF
starving out the population with whom they nave
one com mon interest that all the benefit OF labor
nav be put into the pockets OF the employers,
new case il presented. One would suppose IN
stead of subscription and resolutions OF sympa'
thy being first urged, committee OF examination
and proof would take precedence, and the facts be
published, by which the generous hearted might
be informed whether their tears are called forth
for real distress or to support In ldieness those
who had rather live by agitation aud sympathy
than by the labor of their own hands.
Let us look moment at the object and circum'
stances Of this Fall River Strike.
Some time in November notice was gwen oy
most of the Companies that reduction OF wages
would take place at given time ahead "hete
upon, within q very few days, and before tne
time arrived the SpiHHers gave up WORK W
course the weavers had TO follow. The former
were the leaders in the strike. They were al oe
nearly all men-the latter about seven elghthe
women. 1t is now, in April, about hive months
since this state of things has exlsted-and tne
labor during this time would have amounted 20
one hundred and fftV thousand dOiLays-but as
labor will not keep when not coined into dollars,
this amount has been sacrificed by those who
might have earned 1t and agents have oeen
sent out to beg money for the support oil those
who had it in their pow er TO save or 70 spend IN
their support, this enormous sum. Aud lnsteah
of earning. and using, or saving, as they might
prefer, this sum, they have been issuing cards oil
thanks for the gratutous subscriptions OF sou,
and 5000, and Sl4, and similar amounts, re
ceived from persons, many of whom employed Ia
the same kind CT labor, are receiving less than
the " cut down price OF Fail River
l..N ~lIrt JaA Fn oh
CoBerosA, a declaration was made that some had
tried the effect OF working At the reduced wages
and had earned only the starvation amount OF 80
In month of 90 days. Very likely some earned
much less than that, at the old price. But TO say
that 50 was all they could earn 10 absurd have
before me a comparison Of the wages paid in No.
vember and the wages offered since | cant say
earned for the spindes have been idle for want OF
hands TO operate them. In November spinner
earned 81 80 per week of six days and the re-
duced price would give 10 him $50 90 in a month OF
&c days. weaver earned in November s. o. la
six days and the reduced price would give 10 her
Sl7 70 in &c days. This will show the truth OF
the agents statement on the New York plat.
FORM that those that tried could only earn 50 In 20
days, and therefore it was better TO beg thaa 10
work True, she might have earned only -, for
| have before me the sums of 50 "a and 81 80 as
the amount some earned in % days at the Novem-
Der prices, for the simple reason that they did not
WOrk all the time The speakers IN New York
evidently mean to make the readers Of The Tn
hume believe that the 80 was the amount Of 20
days labor and that was the staryaton price
offered by the cruel employers They did not
state that spnners are paid by the I" 100 skeins,'
and weavers paid % by the piece have stated
what spinners did earn in November, aud what
they would have earned since then tH ROto had
they preferred working to begging. have done
the same by the weaver, and The Tribune read.
ers may Judge how much these splnners and
weAvers are objects Of pity, while asking aims OF
other splnners and weavers in mills tchere less
r0Res are pad for the work done than is offered
and rejected 80 with scorn' by the all River
down trodden operatives