Daily Republican., 1879-03-22
yesterdays News.)
THE ARLINGTON STRIKE.
what the Firm Say About it-Can
PAY uO Advance of Wares.

what the Firm Say About it-Cam
Pay Wo Advance of Wages.
From an interview with oue of the
firm OF NJ. tiambrill & Co., propr.e,ors
Of the Arlington cotton mills, we
CLEANED from him the following account
OF the late strike OF their weavers
They have 2Go looms 90 of them
plaid or box looms. About ou..half
the weavers on plaid looms run two,
and the other half three looms. The
goods from the three. loom weavers be-
ing rather inferior make, and produc-
tion too small, the boss Of the room was
ordered to reduce them from three
looms TO two looms, and the price per
cent. would be increased. The change
had to bs made slowly, one or two at a
time, on account of the firm not having
surplus labor in the rooms to make the
change at once.
The change began on February the
lst. The time to make up the accounts
having arrived, thu superintendent Or
dered the clerk what advance to make,
intending after some of the accounts
were made up, to examine and see how
they compared with former wages, and
II hot suthcien. to make item so; but
! in haste the clerk sent the books to the
weavers before the superintendent saw
them, and the wages being somewhat
below the average, the plaid loom
w-ayers all stopped their looms.
The superintendent being very much
engaged starting new piece OF machi-
merry in another part OF the mill, three
boys went to him little bolster eIously,
and he told them TO return TO work and
he would see them at his Office as soon
As he got through, and adiSst any
difficulties. The superintendent at this
time knew nothing Of the weavers
having stopped their Icons, but instead
of doing as advised, they all went out,
waiting tor no explanation. They came
on Friday and stated what they want
ed to make, at which their superinten-
dent replied that there was not the
slightest objection to their request, aad
he would allew them what they had
asked, and told them he would make
their February months pay all right
for them.
They agreed to return to work on
Saturday morning but failed to do SO,
and on Saturday afternoon they went
TO his Office in a body and submitted
other prices to him, still higher than
the first, which equaled an advance of
IS per cent. which he told them he
must decline, as there was no such
profits in their business and it would
pay better to stop their looms. At this
point portion OF the weavers drew out
from the rest and said the offer from
tho superintendent was fair one, and
they would accept it and go to work on
Monday, but again failed to do so.
The change from 3 TO 2 looms was
made without any idea on til. part of
the company Of making reduction in
prices. They had changed the length
OF cuts from about72 yards, Al cents
per cut, to So yards, 35 cents per cut !;
paying just the same for the same
number of yards, and other goods in
the same proportion, no reduction
in wages whatever. In February
their mill worked "A days, and in Jan
uary q days. They pay by the calen-
dar month, but some OF the hands SEEM
ed to be Of the opinion that the wages
should amount to about the same for a
short month as long one.
The superintendent let. for Baltimore
ON Saturday at 8 =. NJ, to consult with
balance of firm, and from there to New
York and registered at Earle House till
Wednesday, and then came to Will
mington. Up to that time the balance
of weavers, running 200 plain looms,
made no complaint whatever, and seem
ed perfectly satisfied, but during his
absence made up their minds to strike
for an advance OF pay. The acting SUI
perintenden, Mr.. Grimes, telegraphed
to the firm and received a reply to close
and stay closed if hands were determin-
ed to strike. Mr.. Grimes tried hard to
get the hands to work until the arrival
of Mr.. Gambrill, but finding they would
not comply closed the mil. at noon on
Wednesday, and told the hands the
place was stopped.
Mr. Gambrll ON his arrival on We'd
nesday afternoon received a proposition
in writing from the wravers which
would increase their EXPENSES $1,000
per year, which they think a good
profit for the mill to make, and will be
satisfied to have that amount netted at
the end OF the year from the mill so
they declined to accept. Their business
is close and they are paying all the
wages they can afford. At the time the
weavers made thewages they refer to, the
firm was getting 10 and II cents per
yard for goods, which they now sell at
5 cents per yard. They have always
endeavored to treat hands right, and
pay as fair wages as times Will per-
init.
There has positively been no reduc-
tion Of prices in the weaving depart
ment for or s months. AT that time
cuts we're heightened and ina conversa-
tion with the superintendent and
hands at that time, they were informed
that there was not likely to be any fur
th-r reduction, which they seemed sat
isiied with and agreed to work for,
and there has not been neither is thOre
intended to be-, any reduction az some
assert. The cuts are being changed
but the price is being changed in the
same proportion. and amounts to the
same pay in proportionfor the number
Of yards. ~
This firm pays out about $4,000 per
month to hands and cannot afford TO
advance as asked by the "hands." The
firm is very solid on that point. the
stoppage may last sometime, being led
on by four or five dissatisfied Weavers,
and some disinterested parties. They
try to do their hands jnstice and treat
them right.