Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-10-21
Closing the MiiIS-An Ilteri0r Pur-
pose Disclosed.

From various parts of New England comes
in,imation Of a concerted movement to close
the costou mills and other manufacturing estao-
Eshments, or 10 rpm them on half time. The
ostensible reason Tor this action is the scarcity
of currency for the payment OF wages, but the
New York Journal OF Commerce regards 1t as
evident that the real object Is not the one SO
commonly ayowed 1t says that the move
ment'is not Spontaneous. Some OF these who
have readily asseuted to it have done so only
at the suggestion of others; while many have
Welded against their convictions TO a pressure
they were not able to resist. A few large con-
cerDs still hold out in spite OF the arguments
and coercive rhetoric Vt It's urlgluators. The
Journal adds :
."One object to be attained isundoubtedly the
essening OF production aud thus the stability
OF market prices for the flushed product OF the
mills, but that, We take it, is the least power
full Of several motives. The movement looks
first to general reduction of wages. 1t Is
equivalent to the old lockout theory for com
pcing the operatives to coDcedc a dec!!nr IN
the rate of compensation. After u total. ccssa-
ton Of work, or service for half the time, a
restoration TO full employment at something
below the high wages now paid would be an
easier aud more acceptable process than an ar
bi,rary reduction ihont such interruption.
'But the movers who are behind the scenes,
aud who have no special Interest in the cstat-
lishuents used as their instruments, Intend a
we believe, to produce by this action an entire
change in our national financial system. Free
banking is the object of their effort. The
West, as large borrowers of capital fur the de
velorment of their resources are clamorous for
it. To start it at the East by throwing many
thousands out Unemployment, for the assigned
reason hat there is not currency enough to pay
their wages is certainly a most adrolt begin
ming, and likely TO produce profound impress
sion upoo the country. By the time that COu
gress comes together the pressure will thus as
sum the form of we'll developed public opln-
ou and those who have set the springs 10 mo-
ton will inauguratc the change, not ut their
own iDstapce but in assumed detereuce 10 the
demands Of the whole people.
FORGERY IN ALTooNA-lhe people Of this
city will be startled TO learn this moruing that
Mr.. George e. Smith, member Of Council
from the Eighth ward and The head and front
of the Enterprise Trading Company which
deals 10 Bees sewing machines, etc, and does
business in the Opera House building, is III
great trouble He is an alleged iorgcr to the
only Information We have at present on the
subject matter of the forgery is in the fact that
Solith made his appearance at the county jail
on tuesday evening. and requested Sheriff
Huff to con6ne him in one of the cells in that
institution Noticing that he was trcizird with
excitement the Sheriff told Smith that he
could not comply with his wishes in the premi
SEES without a commitment having first been
made out authorizing him so to do. and at the
same time asked him what was the mattcr
Smith replied with hesitation that lie was in
great trouble, that he had committed forgery,
and desired to be imprisoned, adding that he
would be arrested in a few days aud that he
desired to see no one.
The Sheriff prevailed upon the sclf-con-
fesSed lorger to go to the American Hotel aud
remain over night, telling. him that he had no
desire to place him behind the bars Smith
did 90 to the hotel and remain over night, but
before seven 0 clock the following morning he
again made his appearance at the Jail and again
demanded that be be imprisoned, repeating the
statement made the previous evening TO the
effect that he had committed . forgery. Per-
sisting in his request for some time, the Sheriff
at last reluctantly complied with his wishes aud
locked him in one of the cells. Upon being in.
terrogated as to the extent of the forgery Smith
was Silent, but it is since learned to be in
the neighborhood Of thirteen thousand dollars.
Upon his arrival at the Jail he is said: to have
been laborng under intense excitement while
persons who conversed with him aver that his
excitement actually bordered on insanity: His
eyes we're blood shot, and his every movement
plainly told OF the terrible agony which con-
vused his whole being. The persons whose
names he is said to have forged are his father,
Jacob Smith, his brothcr.in.laW. VIM. Smith,
and his father-io.law, Daniel Gibboney all from
the vicinity Of Duucansville, in this couuty.--A
toona Tribune.