Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-22
THE GREAT STRIKE.
The Viewers Vote to Continue
the Strike.
The Pacific Mills Closed--53OO
Persons Thrown of Employ
ment.
LAWRENCE, Mass, March II.


z 1t is evident that the strikers are weaken
ing. about forty weavers returned TO work
this morning This forenoon the weavers
held a meeting in the basement of City Hall.
at which James II. Eaton. Treasurer of the
Essex Savings Bank, advised the strikers TO
return to work. Although it is apparent
that a number will follow his advice, today
or tomorrow, a majority favor continuance
of the strike.
A speech was also made by Duncan Wood.
who said that the strikers had accomplished
much even if they should return to their
work The action was the signing of the
death warrant of the present local manage
ment of the mill.
After the meeting the weayers assembled
on the common, and here a ballot was taken
wheth they should keep up the strike or
not and it was decided by $40 to 90 to con-
tinue the strike. The meeting then adj
journed to the city hall basement to effect
an organization.
After the weavers returned to city hall,
they organized union with John Ogilvie
for president, with several vice presidents.
secretary, treasurer, etc. They also ap-
pointed several committees.
An agent from the Fall River Globe mill
was in the city today, employing ring frame
spinners, and offering one dollar a day for
eight sides, los spindle on each side, at ten
hours day, expenses paid. He wishes TO
employ but twelve spinners for the Globe
mills, but will engage more for other mills in
that city. He has had number of applica-
tons, and finds no difficulty in obtaining
help. His advent TO the city has caused con
siderable alarm among the manufacturers,
and the striking spinners are correspondngly
elated.
10 IS III
tiers have taken serious turn. The Pacific
Corporation proposes to close the entire
wor.ted works. Before four o'clock this af-
ternoon, Superintendent Robinson will not
ify the help to that effect, and within an hour
this will throw 5000 persons out of employ
ment for an indefinite period.
At 6 o'clock tonight the gates of the
Pacific mill closed to remain shut, as far as
mill help is concerned, indefinitely. The
closing of the mills has cast a gloom over
the city. The weavers aud spinners, who
have committees canvassing the city for aid
to enable them to maintain their position,
claim they will be fully sustained by the cit
liens, but those who were free with prom
Use heretofore now appear among the fore
most to deplore the situation of affairs. BY
the strike and lock out there. are stopped
1875, 900 cotton spindles, 81, 900 worsted spin
ults. f.tt lbO1ii> anu Quiet IldcTllneTS, tnrOW-
ing fully $500 employees out of work The
print works and dyeing departments will con-
tinue to be in operation, for the dyeing mills
has now on hand work enough to last until
the change of season which occurs next May
For the print works, as heretofore cotton
cloth will be purchased and the works kept
in operation.
When asked, tonight, in relation to the
length of time the mill will be stopped Supt
Stoney said, it depended largely upon the
disposition of the strikers and the condition
of tine market. II the market Frightened in
two weeks and the strikers refused to return
to work help could be imported from Brad
ford England, where there is now la arge
amount of unemployed skille labor He could
not state how long the mills would remrin in
operation, but while stopped, needed i'm
provements in the machinery and buildings
will be prosecuted with vigor. None of the
discharged employees have received paw for
past three weeks but it is understood they
can have it any time by applying at the office
The actual number of strikers does not ex-
coed 1000. Others thrown out of employ
ment denOunce the action of the former
especially the weavers, who, when the nature
of their work was taken in consideration
received better pay for years than anv other
class employed by the corporation. All fair
minded citizens agree that were it not for
Intermediates. who use every disagreement
between capital and labor to advance local
political aims, the strike would be ended
Saturday and the mills running But the
corporation officers feel that during
the present state of the worsted market it
would be injustice to stock holders to con-
tinue operating the mills with a small force
which desires to remain employed at reduced
rates.
Weavers and spinners, during the lockout
will appeal to hundreds of organizations in
other localities for aid, but many OF them, if
the mills remain idle next week, will seek
employment in other places.
In addition to agents from mills in Fall
River. others are here from Paterson. n. J.,
offering terms to weavers ard spinners which
some of them will doubtless accept.
No disturbance. and few strikers are seen
on the street tonight.