New-York tribune., 1875-09-29
FALL RIVER QUIET.
THE CITY THE BATTLE-GROUND OF GREAT
ISSUE

A BRIEy REVIEW OF THR CAUSE OF THE Ex-
C1TKMENr AND IT'S HIsTORY-THE POSITION OF
THE MANUFACTURERS.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE]
FALL RIVER, Mass, Sept. 2S.-The order
which was restored here yesterday among the rotous
mill operatives by the arrival Of State militia continued
through the night and to-day every street has been
almost as quiet rs q country road Gathered here and
there groups Of operatives might have been seen
ing the situation loing rangs, or clustered around
lampposs and nesting in public corners Squads OF
militia paroed the streets during the day. and their
presence to stranger unacquanted with the cause OF
their being under arms, would have seemed part OF
some civic military display. The six men arrested
yesterday during the riot taken before police
magistrate this morning. three lawyers appearing as
counsel in their behalf The examination lasted the en-
tire day, aud was finally adjourned till tomorrow. Inc
courtroom completely filed with operatives during
the hearing who, though obliged to stand for many
hours watched the proceedings with eager interest 1t
| is generally thought that the result OF the trials
especially il II be conviction will have very much to DO
with the condition OF feeling among the operatives
They bound together by peculiar ties they assert
and the punishment OF OF their number for the pro-
ceedings of yesterday means the punishment OF ALL
TuR STRIKERS UNYIEIDING.
An amalgamated Union Convention Of operatives was
held to-day The session private and continued for
several hours Heretofore there have been grave dsse
sons among the operatives, who are classified as
weaves, spinners, and cardcrs and some OF the
troubles of the past two months are attributed to
that The meeting to-day was the first regular
convention they have held together They have been
brought together as this time by mutual interests seeing
that is necessary to strength. The session was
chiefly taken up with debate but two resolutions were
passed Of vital The first was TO the effect that
the operatives will not submit to wages at rate less
than "a per cut piece containing 45 yards and
the second that delegation be appointed to visit all
Nc N
pose Of soliciting aid, the money thus obtained to be
devoted to the removal OF families from Fall River to
other towns where work be obtained those whom
s not practicable to at present to remain here
be furnished with means Of support ont OF the funds
thus obtained
GOING AWAY FOR WORK.
In conversation to-day some of the leaders asserted
that hundreds Of have already gone elsewhere 10
find work Some have already returned to Europe, being
satisfied that they do better there than in this cOun
try said that those who leave arc the best class OF
labores and that the manufacturers will find them
selves Obliged to employ inferior help The business IN
terests of this city very large and very important
The mills manufacture twothirds OF all the prints pro-
duced in this country and is said by operatives that
their object In seeking work elsewhere is to produce
feeling OF alarm which will force their employers to with
draw their articles Of agreement The help VIII never
submit them, they say, but they are ready to do what
they deem honorable and just. The slnners have re-
solved That willing to give and take ten days
notice all questions Of wages and labor, or otherwise
We will forfeit all pay belonging to US then due, and we
expect the same from our employers for instant dis
missa" Th. they assent to- but to the agree
ment demanded Of them they do not. At the amalga
mated meeting to-day proposal was considered that
petition circulated among the merchants OF Fall River
for their signature requesting the manufacturers to
withdraw their articles Of agreement No decision was
reached but IT is understood to b. still under adyisement
THE STORY Or THE STRIKE
Fall River has population Of 900 people. OF these
are operatives Ii Is estimated that about $500
are now work. These represent all OF the forty mills
located here with the exception OF the folowng The
Merchants Stafford. Flint. Chace Tecumseh Wampa-
noas Sycamore and Granite. All the men who have
gone to work, with the exception Of those employed in
the King Phillip Mill. have signed the articles of agree
i'll this instance it was said the men were not
asked TO do The two elements struggling mere 1or
control each have their friends In the community and
TO study the situation with desire for the truth re-
quires considerable and discrimination. About the
middle Of June the manufacturers proposed to reduce
wages the ground that trade dull and the market
cIuted The help replied that they would prefer vaca
tion they knew a vacation would come in the Winter
if the mills open all Summer They also desired to
see il 1t would not tend to raise tho price OF prints The
proposal was refused, and then the workmen said they
would fake vacation on their own responsibility They
did so accordingly. 1t is said by the leaders OF
the operatives that the prices Of print goods
raised thrce-eighths OF q cent in consequences The
weavers toward the end of the month, and voted
to work at the proposed reduction but the spin
ncrs aud carders objected Meetings were then held day
after day, and finally Sept g. the weavers turned
sauacly around demanded 81 cents per cut declar
ing that they would have that price or sarve Delegates
were sent into Rhode Island to raise funds to help them
proOng their resistance but funds came In very slowly
and some men opposed the aggressive policy. week
later every had become for work. The manu-
faciurers then met and decided to open the mills They
also had printed articles Of agreement for the operatives
to sign was their intention to keep the articles from
the knowledge OF the operatives until Monday the day of
opening the fact Of their preparation was disclosed
in the columns OF The Journal the organ OF the opera
tives. This a frebrand Manufacturers were pro-
yoked anger and the operatives held excited meetings.
declaring they would starve before thus signing away
their liberties. Monday morning came and the mills
were opened tho articles presented and the scenes
followed which were told in yesterdays dispatches
THE SIDE OF THE MILL-OwEERs
As TO the motive OF the mll-owners in requiring the
signing Of the agreement which has been referred TO- the
mowners and treasurers say that the unions have at
tempted to dictate to the operatives concerning when
they shall work, and at what prices. Operatives have
been ordered out OF the mills and have felt compelled to
obey. When the mills have been running even in the
usual manner there has been arrangement by which,
when orders were given by an 0verseer, even upon
trivial matters which not entirely acceptable TO the
leaders-by simply raising their hands they could and
often did, stoppage Of all the machinery in the
room, and Of course strike was the result strike
having thus been ordered in one department has re-
peatedly caused suspension of the whole MILL In all
egulated mills each department produces almost
precisely of material required to supply the
next department In advance Of it, and any suspension in
one part OF the mill Immediately affects every other. In
some departments not more than IL hands were en-
gagged whereas in other rooms particularly the weaving
,uno. nvaI (nuaa ueuf In he arti
nj few persons Immediately throws ont Of employment
several hundred people To meet these esgencies the