Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-23
LABOR TROUBLES.
THE STRIKE AT FALL RIVER.
Address of Secretary Howard.

FALL RIVER. Mass, March -. Secretary
Howard has issued call for special gener-
al meeting of the union on Thursday evening
under the heading "Chace Mill Tyranny"
Fellow Workmen-Events have occurred
within the past two weeks in some of The
corporations in this city sufficient to excite
the indignation of any lover of justice. The
corporation representatives, not satisfied with
allowing the lowest possible wages, common
surate with living purposes, irrespective of
the excessive toll through high speeded
machinery, bad material and many indirect
advantages taken of us in other respects,
have now commenced system which
had almost become absolute and
which we thought had departed forever,
of making man who may have had courage
TO express his convictions upon any griev-
ance that may be existing. Seven of our
members have been discharged within a very
short time without any reason being assigned.
No valid complaints could be lodged against
them. They were admitted to be good and
competent workmen, but for reasons not yet
explained, but easily to be guessed at. they
havo been singled out like sheep for the
slaughter house, and informed that their SER
vices were no longer required. Who may be
the next victim is hard to foretell. Those
who are least expecting il may be the next
to be sacrificed. Therefore, it behooves us
to assemble together Immediately and resolve
upon some course of energetic and
aggressive action that will successfully
counteract the inhuman and cruel policy now
being pursued by the employers. This sys-
TEN of blackisting is unjust, cruel and I'M
American, and the time has arrived when a
desperate effort should be made to stamp it
out of existence. The manufacturers of to-
day are endeavoring to keep alive the hdeous
supulchral skeleton born in and by right be-
longing to the past ages to scare worklngmen
from speaking their honest opinions as TO
their right; have they voice in adjusting
what exchange they shall receive for their
labors: Shall we stand by with cool indiffer-
ence and witness this ,ictimizing our best
men without retaliatory measures being re-
sorted to? Your committee are unanimous
in saying we shall not. If the worst
has come let it come. We can
not be treated much more un-
christian like or cruel than we are at present
treated in many mills in this city. Let our
hall be crowded on meeting night. Every
spinner in the city should be present and
steps taken to provide for the spinners now
on a strike at the Chase mill.
On behalf of the Committee,
(Signed) RoBr. HOWARD.
Secretary.
Extensive Strike in New Jersey Cities.
New YORK. March %. general strike
opened Monday forenoon among masons,
bricklayers, and carpenters in Newark. Jer-
sey City, Elizabeth. Railway and otner places
for an increase of wages from s.. % to 50. 90
for skilled labor. The matter has been
agitated the past month, and the bosses were
notified of their intentions.
Key West More Quiet.
KEY WEST, Fla. March %. Francisco
Merrero. cigar manufacturer, accused of the
murder of striking cigar maker, yesterday,
is exonerated by the coroner's jury. The
city is much quieter, though the militia are
ON pnard