The New York herald., 1870-08-30
THE sPINNERs' STRIKE.

fF0Sress OF tho Strike-An Outbreak still
Feared-What the spinners Propose Doing
Lnrgo Police Force Preserving Order-Both
Sides Determined Not 60 Give in-The
Spragues Said 60 be Backing the Strikers.
FALL RIVER. Mass, August %, 1870.
The striking spinners and their sympathizers are
still serene and quiet, but there are, nevertheless,
constant and fearful apprehenslons OF riotous out
break The local or city police has been quadruped
In strength and eficiency. and In addition to this
there is at present q force OF nearly nfty State
officials, and this combined array OF authority,
muscle and determination has served to keep be-
meath the public surface all manifestations OF dis
turbance to law and order. There are about 40 OF
the striking splnners nghting against the
terms offered by their employers. The
suit Is that nearly all OF the twenty
mills In the city are wholly or partially
suspended and between twelve and fifteen thousand
men ana women are thrown out of employment.
This has been the case for over month, for when
the spinners ceased to labor there was nothing left
FOR the weavers or other employees to do, however
willing they might be 20 repudate the cOnrse OF the
strikers For this reason there many features Of
sadness connected with the whole AFFAIR, ana the
number who have been made involuntary sufferers
II ID almost impossible to estimate The whole his
tory OF the strike is told when 1t Is said the spnners
were making an average OF twelve dollars per week,
anu the manufacturers attempted reduction OF
u
would suDmit TO a five per cent decrease, but the
manufacturers would not listen TO any proposition,
and hence the present trouble. At rst when the men
spinners went to work at the reduced rate there
were symptoms OF q fearful riot, ana IL would proba-
bly, have occurred but for the timely presence OF the
military and state police. This spirit OF fOrcble
opposition TO new men taking their places is still
manifest, but as before stated the large force of
omcers on duty renders any outbreak tnexpedient
at this time
This afternoon two three OF the State police
sumed the disguise OF spinners in search OF work.
nd ntnAx xutfh l,u
the strikers and assured that II would be extremely
dangerous for them To commence work.
the strikers had taken and s,Igresed the nronrety
OF gathering in force OF several thousand and
venting any and every one who came from taking
their places.
This, the committee said was precisely what they
would do as soon as the officials now on duty here
were Withdrawn. and they could best hasten such
an event by legning obedience to law and order
now. This sentiment undoubtedly reflects the feel
ing OF all the strikers and majority of the other
employees OF the mills, and until there Is an adjust
ment OF the difficulties sort OF standing army will
have to be maintained here. few workmen have
vacancies; but almost every case they have been
met by committees Of the strikers and persuaded, or
otherwise prevented, from beginning work, But Of
the whole number who have come, not more than
half dozen have taken situations, and these have
10 be escorted by strong force OF police TO and from
well as while sleeping. The manufacturers are firm
In adherlng to their terms and the strikers are
equally obstinate in refusing to YIELD They claim
that they are backed by all the labor organizations
In the country, and that already they have been
offered substantial sympathy In the shape OF $4,000
from the National Labor Union. Offers Of this
nature are undoubtedly fresh In the minds OF the
striking telegraphers OF the Western Union Com
pany the North Adams CrispIns and other Organlza-
tons that have recently arrayed themselves against
capital; but doubt If they were e!ated by anything
more substantial than The simple offer. 1t may be
different In the experience OF the spnners, and
unless 1t they will IN the end be obliged to yield
the terms OF the manufacturers They claim that
they Will not want for funds when they are re-
quired, and declare with great air OF determine
ton their ability and purpose to accept Of nothing
but full acquiescence to their demands.
Meetings are held daily, and, although the pro-
ceedlngs are secret, have 1t from good authority
tnat to-day they received cOngratulatOry letter and
the tender OF financial and from the Spragues OF
Providence, r. /. II this is the contest will be
interesting in more sense than one, and the Rhode
Island Senator will have an ample opportunity OF
'ng some practical Illustrations OF hts ideas ad-
Vanced In Congress q year or two since.
AS close this despatch this evening the city
sents an animated ana lively scene. Numerous
small CROWDS gathered In the principal Streets
earnestly discussing the probabilities OF riot. and
every now and then the police disperse them with
the peremptOry order TO ''mOve on" All agree that
the present tranquility Will prevail while the city s
so well guarded but none deny that the evil spirit
OF row, riot and rumpus exists among the strikers,
who onlY await an opportunity to manifest it.