The New York herald., 1877-02-05

posed to reduce them eleven per from tho pres
others in Massachusetls sufferers 10 consid.ra
BILE extent by the Ten Hour law All the ofncers VI
the wamsutta Company however, were decidedly IN
iavor OF the law Tnis company to-day was payir
n-ore tor day labor wei! AZ piece work than
The production Of the mills was equal to abe
20 100000 square yards. the capital OF the conpans
81 5o000u and the payroll was 500, 600 per MONTH
The com pany rigidy cniorce the State law III regard
10 having ali their employees under fourteen yeurs Of
age 10 attend school twenty weeks-in every year.
the gentleman who occupies similar position over
the famous mills OF the lonsdae (R IL Company. for
his kinuncss furnishing the HERALD with the above
facts your correspondent procc edcd tho
ing Of tho operatives at the City Hall stately stone
building and capable OF holding =. 500 people.
MEETING or OPERATIVES.
At an carly hour tho evening the hall was filled
respectable and well dressed gathering Of men
and women could be seen IN any manufacturing
district IN tho country There about 400 females
present. anu they took lively interest ~ the meeting
Tho excellent save at times when an opera
tive would his speech TO indicate that II would
be the wscst policy TO keep at work Az such times
hall last evening will never be forgotten
Daniel Ricketson. II prominent citizen OF New Bed
ford and gentleman OF MEANS although not an oper
ative was chosen chairman, and he ana Mr.. Henry
Seavey, the editor of the Fall River LABOR journal ana
the Daily Democrat, entered The crowded nan. they
were vucifcrously applauded Mr.. Rcketson told
them that he glad to be in their presence, as he
had been days OF trouble in the past Ho told
them theirs reasonable and just strike, and
the country with them In their laudabc efforts al
preservation. lie referred 10 tho leading writcrs
strikes had been productive Of good. He understood
that but operatives were present. ana IL was
Their duty 10 speak Tor their rights The mmediata
OF the reduction was not because tho company
could dispose Of their goods at proht, nor nas
they had an over production, but ITS extravaganco
during past years the cause ana AZ tnis
remark there was loud applause He ieelingly re-
tcrred the head Of the concern. Mr.. Grnnc, mem
toned above, VINO, at the longest. had but u lttic
while TO remain on earth, and VINO. he had under.
stood, favor OF tho cutdown He hoped now
that as hc was about to entcr his grave,
no
crowning net OF his ltte-vlz prevent the cut-down
from son into enectand the people present, who had
helped him 10 his weaIth, would revere
his memory. Tho Wamsntta Mills could not ahoru 10
let them strike, owing to the present activity OF the
market nnd the largo amount oil cotton when tney
had on hand The present meeting was an earnest
one and IL represented all the operatives and IT was
the sentiment of all that II the proposed reduction
went into effect there would be general strike. The
operatives Fall River had pledged themselves to
they strike, but he was OF tho opinion
they would OIL victorious, and all that was
necessary for them TO do was TO be firm, anu Goa
would prosper them and give them success.
commlltce OF five were selected to present resoiu-
tions.
A loom fxer reported that their chairman had waited
upon Mr. KIburn and had very unsatisfactory inter-
Wow, and in view of this fact they had decided 20
strike with the OF the help This unexpected
announcement created no little applause
SEAvEY.
Mr. soavey was then introduced, and, beng tho
special friend OF the operatives IN general he was
receiy yed with great applause. When he had heard Of
the action OF the mowuers in the local papers no
Exclaimed ..What nm Infamous shame!' While the
operatives Fall River were looking for an advance
in their wages thCy had whose lace was looking
in another direction, and everybody was looking into
tho iu,urc bring them prosperity and plenty; and
yet In OF this tact their employers believed IN
rerograuing instead of progressing He spoke OF tho
goods Fall River which found ready market. ana
denounced their employers Tor wanting them 10 WORK
at reduced rates Notwithstanding that wages had
advanced per cent Fall River the spinners Oh
that city, ut special meeting held the previous even
lug, voted TO send the following to their employcrs:-
TO Our EMPLOYERS MANUFACTURERS OF FALL RIvER:-
GENrLxMESwe trust that the Misunderstanding interests
rans yo" n
Of cen por sens N S on
that living rather upon our hopes and ex
Course many .pinasrs have large
be- nsdsausss s provide sSen the
rss OF le Of course we owc to our families ss Wei 70
We reoics with you that the relsons between
i..' that nothing may occar to interrupt them;
Soa Claims sDs
present prots will admit Of cent it
we YSn sFISsEEs III N
viii @ ns 81 ys sS = the srUash
overseers you viii obigs the spinners in your employ
The reading OF the above was the occasion for long
| and prolonged applause. This, Mr. Seavey continued,
was ths aspect oi wage question IN Fal River He
had heard OF understanding between tho mill
owners this city ana those in Fall River, The lattor
giving tho iormer understand that II they cut down
they would follow suit. Ho then proceeded to handle
In o argument of tho company that they were having
competition in their class OF goods There were bps
two small mlls-One In Rhode Island and the other In
Now Hampshire-and these wer. no competitors ior
the Wamsutta cloth, and It's excellence was known Tar
and wide. Tho statement was q ''lie" that they had
any competitors
| He was pleased representative OF the NEW
| YoKK HERALD present, as that paper, In all labor
| strikes, had allowed the operatives 10 be heard
| through it's columns well those who owned the
nills The newspapers generally were preJudced ana
rsan IN their reports Ia OF ianSf es,rc 10 ns 10
truth this and all other matters The largo audience
evidently appreciated this candid statement from q
Journalist, Tor he was Obliged 10 stop speaking until
they had appauded his remarks III reference to the
| HERALD.
The man uuacturcrs were artful than the opora.
tyss in having their grievances stated IN the papers,
and in this way often the best showing. He then
explained why different prices per cut had been paid,
and the reasons Tor commencing The present cut
down come time ago In various departments OF the
| mills he thought The exact truth should be known,
and he hoped the newspapers would discuss the mat
ter He desired them TO wait and not be too hasty IN
striking They should be united, and IL they
ternned to strike they should 40 It IN a mass His
proposition this In Full River they had had
had their meetings ana discussed the matter Tor SIX
| weeks. and, without losing a days work, gained
their point The market WAS affected, and II had pre-
cisely the effect the strike would pave had.
In help here pursued this wise course IN New
York and elsewhere the merchants would say, "Tncy
are going have strike IN New Bedford and We had
better buy our goods now" Tho agent would then
give back the reduction the plea that the price
had gone up He again cautioned them against strik-
ine now they should appoint u striking coplnittee
| and 70 to work Thursday morning and submit but
under protest. ana at the proper time should ''up
| guards and az thcm'' in earnest.
He advised them TO bc extremely cautious and 10
select best Tor the strike committee aud let
| them go to ork privately.
The Committee on Resolutions reported the follow.
| ing
Resolved That II is the opinion of tho meeting that
cannot accept the offered by employers taking
consideration the state the
b-eve that employers able the mills ad
| vantage ut the present prices.
Resolved That this meeting composed Of tho operatives
of the Mills, whu under notice of u
duction, will work ut the expiration OF such notice
unless the DO withdrawn.
| The above seemed exactly tho sentiment Of the
| mccung and gave general satisfaction.
Mr. Seavcy offered an amendment to tho resolution
that tho whole matter be referred TO striking com.
| mittec, and II was unanimously passed.
| AN ANTi-sTRiKER.
At this point OF tho meeting operative arose and
SAID they were about going through great crisis and
| he honeL nothing would be done In haste. He he