Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-19

through their accredited organs, nave Cnredb-
ened that if we persist in our demand and as
last resort strike work In several mills, they
will retaliate by backbiting every spinner In
selected mills and thus prevent them from
getting employment at any time within
limits of their control, or else they will shut
down every mill and starve US into submis-
sion, thus taking the question out of realms
of discussion and placing it in that of intimi-
dalton,
RESOLVED, That our manufacturers have de-
clIned to accede to our request for the restora-
ton of fifteen per cent. reduced from our
earnings on April l, 1878, when promises
were made to US that, with the first return of
prosperity, the same would be restored, and
feeling confident that the present improved
condition of the print cloth market fully war
rants us in the action that we have deter
mined upon-that is, that every spinner ten
ders bis ten days notice Monday morning.
3 oThere was also resolution In which every
spinner pledged himself to support himself
for three weeks without soliciting aid from
the union. These resolutions were passed
unanimously, seven hundred and eiRhty-elght
votes being cast. The vote to strike all mills
instead of five, as at first proposed, was also
passed unanimously.
WHAT THE STRIKE COVERS.
The strike voted by the spinners is intended
to include all the mills in the city, wide-cloth
as well as print cloth mills, excepting, posi-
",
be surprise to wide-cloth manufacturers, as
it has been supposed all along that the trou-
BILE would be limited to the print cloth mills.
A STOCKHOLDERS VIEWS.
This afternoon prominent Fall River gen.
tleman, who Is a stakeholder in several of
the mills and business man IN that city, was
interviewed on the situation of affairs. He
said, among other things
HISTORY OF THE DIFFICULTY.
Though l own mill stock think may
call myself conservative man in my view Of
our labor troubles. do not go wholly with
the manufacturers in all they do, nor do l
demands for advance of wages or wise In the
methods they take to accomplish their ends.
Some two years ago, when an advance of
wages was refused and the operatives went
to work on a general understanding that
when prices of cloths advanced beyond GER
tain figure their pay would be advanced,
there was no promise by the manufacturers
that this would be done, but it was under
stood that they would. When the contracts
expired-I think it was about the first of
May-the operatives hesitated whether to go
on at old rates, but |, as well as others, adj
vised them to go to work and trust to the
understanding. They did go to work, and
the advance was conceded to them"
THE MOVING SPIRITS.
'Who are the moving spirits in the pres
ent threatened striker" was asked.
"The spinners. | do not think the other
operatives are as persistent. Of course they
would like to have advanced pay, but would
not be inclined to strike for an advance. l
know people may condemn our manufac-
turers for being stiff In their conduct and not
settling these controversies by arbitration,
but they do not see that such a method
would settle anything. Besides, they think
that arbitration is not the American plan,
and have the less confidence in it because it
has failed to prevent strikes in England"
CONDITION OF Null PROPERTY.
"What is the condition of the manu-
featuring business in Fall River at the pres
emit time?"
ITO understand our present condition it
will be Necessary to go back a little. l think
there is no one who will say that for at
least the past three years the cotton business
has not been disastrous to those engaged in
it or owning stock In the mills. Our mills
nave either made little or nothing, or have
been behindhand, and very few have
paid any dividends. Mill stocks have depre-
ciated in value from twenty to fifty per
cent, and as most of the stock of our mills
are owned in Fall River you can zee how these
things have all operated against US. 10 fact,
every way you look at it we are badly situ
ated in Fail River.
THE LANCASHIRE ELEMENT.
"We do mainly only one branch of cotton
manufacture, and by our mode of operation
we are more at the mercy of our spinnere,
who constitute very uneasy element, COM
! ing, as they do, from one of the most dis
| turbed districts in England IN the labor
QuCst1Ou--naIHeIy5 L5uOaotIfTO. price of
| print cloths up to about three months ago
| ruled so low that we could do nothing at a
profit, and really up to that time for nearly
three years our mills may be said to have
been run for the benefit OF the operatives.
POOR PROPERTY.
al can assure you that the stockholders
realized nothing from their investment, while
| many of them have, even to this day, to pay
| interest on money invested in stock which Is
not worth one-half of what they paid for it,
| and is yielding them no return. Many have
been nearly or altogether ruined by such in
Vestment This was the actual condition of
affairs up to c short time ago.
AN IMPROVEMENT.
within the past three months, however,
| the business has picked up a little and cotton
| cloths havs advanced somewhat, but allowing
only three par cent. for depreciation in stock,
| and including the interest on the quick assets
necessary to have to carry on the business,
! there is not in the business to day, with cot
| ton cloths at four and a half cents yard,
| and not much prospect OF en- advance on that
| figure, while cotton has been also advancing,
over SIX per cent. profit on the investments
| on Fall River manufacturing stocks. Oar
mill men and stockholders therefore feel that
| it Is time for them to begin to make some
thing on their Investments"
|