The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-27
THE WEAVERS' STRIKE.
The Turnout at Kensington, Philadelphia
Painful Extent Of the Agitation-Eearly
5000 Mill Workers Idls-The EN-
plovers Charged with Act
ing in Bad Faith.

Just at the close OF a hard winter the weavers
OF KensingtOn have struck for higher wages.
twenty-five hundred men, women and children
employed in the cotton and woolen mills have re-
fused to work, and by public meetings. speeches
and resolutions have explained their reasons for
this important action. Last fall, when the panic
caused an almost universal reduction Of the price
OF goods, the operatives In the Kensington mills
consented to corresponding reduction Of fifteen
per cent in their wages. They now insist that
there was an understanding with the mill owners
that this reduction was to extend only until
February, and that as the panic ia over and goods
have regained their former market value, the
employers unjustlv seek to make permanent what
was intended to be merely temporary arrange
ment, They have announced their determination
not to work until their wages are restored to the
Old standard. On the other hand the mill owners
assert that the manufacturing business has no.
recovered rom the depression caused by the panic,
and deny that there was even a tacit agreement
with the employees TO abandon the the fifteen per
cent reduction in February. This is the natural
result OF the absence OF written contract between
capital and labor. In such cases, even when there
Is no intention to mlsrepresent, it is almost In
evitabe to misunderstood.
LARGEST STRIKE KNOWN FOR YEARS.
Thus begins one or the largest labor strikes
which has been known In Philadelphia Tor years,
and it almost entirely suspends one OF our valuable
branches Of industry Il have said that the number
OF hands now without employment Is $500, but IT
is probable that as other mills are deserted, the
number Will DC increased before the end OF this
week to 5000. Surprising that the women EN-
ployed IN the factories support only themselves-a
concession Jar from being just would still lol-
low that this strike deprives 5000 or 900 persons
o. regular means OF subsistence. The majority OF
the men have families principally depending
upon their exertions for support. The suffering
which must result from the movement Will be
great, but 1t cannot be estimated In figures; the
degrees OF hunger cannot be put into an arthmeti-
cal formula. me injury the strike will in1ct Is
two-lold First there is the injury to great
manufacturing interest, and second, that to the
mil workers. The employers say that the chief
loss Will fall upon the latter The cotton and WOOL
len trades according to their accounts, have been
quantities OF goods stored which they are unable
to sell, and which will be for some time sufficient
TO supply any ordinary demand. Their argument
not add fifteen per cent to the wages now
paid, and they throw the whole responsibility OF
The evils which must ensue upon the unreasonable
demands OF their employees. To what extent
this argument 10 true It Is difficult to ascertain.
The general depression OF business throughout
the winter gives 1t considerable plausbinty; yet
the renewed activity OF trade has been a favorite
theme OF our papers, and we had persuaded our
the cholera scare or the black death. TO be tod
that business Is no better than II was in October
nouncement is made upon such apparently ex-
celent authority. II the story be true, then the
mill owners VIII suffer very little and they have
been Keeping their looms going AL winter with a
dlsinterested regard for the welfare OF their peo
pie.
But the $500 strikers have little faith in this
statement. Intelligent men whom nave con-
versed with are firmly convinced that the mills
have fully recovered from the effects OF the panic
and thai the profits large enough to justify the
payment OF the old wages. They DO not profess TO
pie involved IN the contract which they say the
manufacturers made with them, but declare that
knows no law. Ii they were assured that the
agreement could not be carried out without ruin.
GUS loss to the mil owners they would
the hope OF better times. TINS they did do
an winter, they say. expecting that 10 February
upon the waters would return to them In the
shape OF additional Dread and butter. The average
earnings OF mill hand, at the reduced wages,
or 50 at the old rates. This small sum is barely
sufficient to support vegetarian or a hermit, and
md somewhat larger income agreeable 1t Is
astonishing to see upon what little money SO many
people manage to exist The ordinary Philadel
phian VINO Dimes down town spends Tor single
meal more than one OF these operatives earns by
hard toll in a day, and thinks that his expenses
are moderate Inoreau VINO was az truly stole
as any philosopher OF the Porch or Grove in ancient
Greece or Rome, managed to live on $50 year;
but this was In Massachusetts, where, it seems
miracles are still possible. But In Philadelphia,
even with her cheap rents and excellent market
houses, r1oreau would have starved upon sucn an
would be ioily TO pretend to dlsbelieve them, that
So per week did not support them during
now in deSt to landlords. A butchers bakers ero
GERS and that If they do not the doctors II Is
only because they could not AFFORD TO be SICK They
cannot look forward 10 an indefinite continuance OF
wages SO inadequate with any hope, and that SEN
tment, wnicn is said TO spring eternal in the hu-
man breast, is with some of them little more than
a constant struggle with despair. They have
reached that point when to have nothing seems
even better than not to have enough for here they
m NY 4 al KA ma nnIn
pei the manufacturers to restore their fifteen
cents day. That tney are terribly in earnest
must not be doubted. No more determined strike
has ever come under my observation.
FEASIBILITY OF The MOVEMENT.
rms is not IKE strike in the coal regions OF
fennsyivania, when vast body Of men, thor
ou2hy organized and perfectly disciplined, CON-
Dine to obtain high prices, and can. IN the mean
whie, comfortably live upon the surplus OF wages
which are greater than those paid to any other
class OF laporers in the couatry. The miner, VINO
makes $40 where the mill operative makes 81,
does not strike for bread, but Tor what he con-
sders justice. These weavers strike for bread and
coal, and shelter and clothing Nothing but utter
necessity Will drive them again to their looms,
until some satisfactory arrangement has been
made with their employers and there Is too much
reason to lear That the contest win be long and
bitter Oh course, some OF the employees did not
approve OF the movement thongh they were
obliged TO JON 1t, but, TO show the determination
Of the majority II Is only necessary to cite the
that the strike began with the girls In one of the
largest mills, VINO abandoned work. and then
marched together to other MANUFACTURES. APPEAL.
Ing to their comrades TO unite In the desperate
effort. The list OF mills IN which work is sus-
pended Is as follows:-Porter Dickey, James
N0wen, IRWIN Stnson Thornton 4 smith
william Welsh James Long, Brother ~ Co., William
Beatty, John seaman, John Dallas h sons, RoDert
Mears and J. Il. Drummer n Sons, and lew others
OF less importance.
AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT.
You VIII see that among recent labor moys.
mems TINS strike OF the Philadelphia weavers
must take an important place. Ii Is numerically
thc greatest strike that has been made this city
ior years, ana as 1t was only formally organized
me- D ~,
Is impossible to predict its PROBABLE extent.
Inc carpet Manufacture which employs large
capital and many people, has NOT yet been affected.
one thlng IS certain, these men and women are
hrmy convinced or the justice and necessity
OF tneir movement and Will not surren-
DER easily. visit to the busy manu-
lacturng districts OF Kensington produces
painful impression. An Idle mill Is Ike theatre
after the performance, when toe bright faces are
gone from the galleries, when the lights are ex-
tingusned, and aint gmmer only serves TO dis
cover the empty darkness vi the souiless stage.
There Is the vast machinery, the Titanic engines,
the shifting looms, all motioniess anu dumb; but
the busy toHers who gave lie 10 the scene are
eone' the men gathered in suiien or excited KNOTS