Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-03-07
Another WOman's War.

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That part Of tbetity ofPhiisaelpbia
known as KensfngtOn has all day
long been the scene of the widest dis
order. Most of the employees of the
numerous cotton and WOODEN mills To-
Gated there have suddenly turned out
into the streets, deserving the fact0-
ries, leaving the looms, and in great
crowds have , assembled ] about the
mills, threatening and trying to in
timidate the few who seem reluctant
to join.them in. their strike. Kensing-
ton, bears pretty much the same rela-
tion to the country generally as Liver
pool bears to England. Immense cot
ton and wooden mills face upon the
street, in one solid block after another,
and over their tops continually hang
great clouds of smoke. Suddenly,
without any direct indication of con-
certed action on the part of the work.
ersy they, approached those who en-
ployed : them, made their demand,
! were steadily refused, and upon the
denial at once left the looms. The
| mills left desolate in this single after
noon, as well ssthe number of .handss
employed, are SasS follows: James
Long, Brother & Co., $50; James No.
Ian, StarMifls, IT'S, POrterand DickeyJ,!
$50; John Scanlon, 60; r. MAR & Co.,
100; Thornton & Smith, $50; Irwin &
Stinson, 200; Dallas & Sons, 70; Will
liam Beatty, 30; j. Stanley IBruner,
80; Joseph WEIGH Il Co., 60.
1t is calculated that up to this hour
the total humber ofathOse who have
joined the ranks of the strikers is no
less than 1000. .sN 60
The origin of the strike may be stated
briefly: Previous to the panic the en-
ployes were regularly engaged at a
salary which, after the panic, was re-
tflIced to tile extent of Is per cent. At
the time the reduction was made the
mills were silent, as they lafe to-day;
business was dull, and the hands were
greatly in want. In order, therefore,
tosobtain forthemselves and their fam
lilies the simple necessaries of life, they
resumed their work at the reduced
rates mentioned above, A few days
ago d dissatisfaction at this continued
reduction was manifested at one of the
mills, the employees claiming that the
increasing demand for the tissues and
fabrics of the factory were suffieientto
enable the firm to increase their pay
to the figures allowed them before the
panic. The employers denied that
their business warranted any such i'll
crease, and positively refused to allow
it. Thereupon the girls PUSHED pell-
nell into the street, thronged around
the other mills in the locality, and
sought to involve in their measures
all the workerSiny all the factories.
This occurred "a few days ago; but i'm
mediateiy after the demonstration the
same dissatisfaction was manifested in
all the other factories, and to-day the
mills have ceased.
The sudden outpouring of two thou
sand hanus at the same moment into
the street, caused aftiriOps exciteInont,
and the behavior Of the. factory girls
was anything but creditable to them
selves. In. great groups they assem-
bled in front OfOthef factories stilfrun-
ming, and sought by hurting obscene
and vulgar epithets to force the work,
ers to come out and join them they,
-intulged in course language and pre-
family, and in word, conducted them
selves like clan of hopeless lunatics,
rather than multitude of sensible
and industrious American girls. 80.
In an interview with several of the
managers of the mills your correspond
ent was Informed that they had in
tended at the opening of the Spring to
return to the old wages; but the panic
had so reduced the price of their fab
RIGS that they were positively obliged
to reduce the salaries prOpOrtionately.
Messrs Potter g. Dickey in addition
proprietors of other establishments,
and it is feared they will be forced to
close also. Tomorrow the working
girls hold Il large mass meeting to-
decide upon future action New
York Herald, Feb. 18th. A.. -.