New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-30
TIE FALL Rij'ER rROUBLES.


The Object of the agreement which the Fall
River manufacturers reGuiIc their hands TO
sim il not only TO break up the Trades or
CARNATIONS but to render strikes practically
impossible. The men must hold themselves
aloof from associations witch assume the
RIGHT TO dictate to their members by majority
vote the rates of wages or the persons for
whom they shall be allowed to work, and
they must pledge thcmaclVe5 to give ten days
notice of an intention 10 step work. with the
prov sO tilat not more than one eighth OF any
one class OF operatives shall give notice in Il
single week. Thus II would take nearly two
months for the entire force 10 leave the mill
IF the men step work without observing
these conditions they forfeit all pay due them.
Ii is not surprising tiat the eXacton of such
an agreement should fill the employees with III
dienaton. and yet the millowners are not
wholly unreasonable Trades unions are often
The Instruments Of tyranny, not only over the
employer but over their own members yet on
the other hand they accomplish much coed
when they are properly directed. SHikcs, too,
are generally great n>io9;llnes 10 all who
engage in them, but every man has q right
TO strike if he sees Git, and the proposal that
the Fail River hands STALL bind themselves 10
keep at work from ten days TO Two months after
they have found good reasons for stopping,
while the mill-0wncrs apparently aic at liberty
TO close their doors OF reduce Their wages at
any time, seems @rossl unjust. Notwithstand-
ing these considerations the rIll-owncrs, We
say. have many excuses for their action. Tie
cxac,ions of the trade societies have become
serious danger to manufacturing industry and
10 the welfne Of the working people also \
strike i no longer the voluntary ton OF the
dissatisfied hnnds; il il Il movement forced upon
the whole labolinS community b, few OF their
noisest leaders. and sust lined by system OF
terrorism and violence. The same men who
insist so strcnu0usly upon their right to de-
mand any price they please for their labor,
deny with equal vchem2nce the night of their
next neighhor to do the same thing When
thcy 30 not wish to work thcY VOW that no
ether man shall work either, uu'icr penalty OF
a broken head. or perhaps more serious injury.
1t will n0t do, in cJn,ideIing the cOmbina-
tions by which manufacturers such as the Fall
River mll-Owncrs are attempting to combat
the hostile organizations OF their hands 20 for
get the character of many of the lead rs with
whom they have to deal and the criminal
nature OF some OF their enterprises. Smash
ing windows hurting briclblts at tie police,
beating hungry men who want to cam bread
for their families, posting inccndiary procla-
nations, dcEouucing the Governor for sending
militia force to interrupt he Iiot, and then
solcinnly resolving chat Il system CT labor
"that demands the aid of a .taading amy to
"securc The employment OF the necessary NUM-
"bcr of work-peoplr is a scandal and rrproach
"to our civilization what a picture does This
present of the cOiiic between labor and capital
which has caused - much blood-hed in other
countries and is alarming many people IN
this.
In Fail River the failure Of The strikers is
forcgonc conclusion. Trade II depressed; the
bloatcd capitalists, 80 called, are making les
money than any of their hands The mills can
be closed if not with profit 10 their owners,
yet without serious loss in every ocoupl,ion