Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-20
THE GREAT STRIKE.
Three Hundred and Fifty Weav-
ers Join the Strike.
A Large Mass Meeting Held Saturday
Evening.-The City Quiet.
LAWRENCE, Mass. March Is.

LAWRENCE, Mass. March IL.
Three hundred weavers in the worsted de-
partment of the Central Pacific struck at
5.45, stopping 900 looms.
The strike OF the $50 weavers. this after
noon, puts a more alarming aspect in the af-
fairs at the Pacific mills. There are now
81 5000 spindles vacated By ring spinners and
800 looms idle, besides the entire carding and
and picking departments. The number of
the strikers have swollen to over 700. and
the other weavers at the Central Pacific,
numbering 400, declare, tonight, the inten-
ton not TO resume work Monday. The
strike of the weavers was unexpected at this
time as the reduction of their wages will not
take effect till the 9th.
This evening a mass meeting was held at
City Hall, every available space being &C.
cupicd and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed.
Mayor Green presided and in speech coun-
seled moderation, asking the operatives to
consider the situation calmly He expressed
sympathies for them but said he did not feel
competent to advise them what course 10
pursue.
Peter McCarry. editor of the Catholic
Herald, spoke, advising the strikers to arbi-
trate with the manufacturers and if the full
amount Of the reduction was not restored ac-
cept such terms as offered for the present but
organize for the future. \ prominent mer-
chant recommended the strike to continue
and offered substantial aid. Lewis Tower,
clerk of the board OF health, also counselled
the strikers 10 continue the course they had
taken.
Resolutions were then adopted expressing
sympathy with the strikers and recommend
ing the appointment of "A board of arbitration.
At a subsequent meeting OF the operatives
a committee consisting of Mayor Green. TO
snns fh.4r if n
ner, to represent their fellow workmen. and
one mersber at large was appointed to call
upon and consult with the directors of the
Pacific mills in Boston Monday. The strik-
ers declared not to return to work until the
old prices are restored.
LAWRENCE, March IS.
The committee appointed by the meeting
to consult with the directors of the Pacific
mills 90 to Boston tomorrow. The facts
concerning the strike. learned today from
most reliable sources, are as follows:
The spinners leave work because if they
remained they would receive but IS cents a
day for work for which they previously re-
ceved 90 cents. They have been running
eight sides and if they work under the reduc-
ton they must run ten sides to make So
cents. The strike of the weavers was not
unexpected by the mill managers, but they
first inaugurated. The weavers have been
paid, on an average, So to SO per week.
Under the reduction they will receive from
81 to 81. The reduction itemized is as fol-
lows.
Box loom weavers 10 cents a cut; jacquard
loom weayers D cents a cut on two classes Of
goods only known as "K. j." and IS. j." on
plain work, where four looms are run the re-
duction is one per cent and where three looms
) cents cut section hands are cut from
$50 per day to $500, and from $3.50 to
81; section girls from Sl.40 to Sl.3O.
The superintendent of the weaving depart
ment states that his instructions are that box
loom weavers shall average not less than
Sl.25 per day. He says jacquard looms are
being gradually replaced with box looms for the
manufacture checkered of goods and that 500
looms have been operated for months on
worsted goods at a loss. The corporation
desiring to keep the experienced help en-
ployed even at an expense. The total num-
Der of strikers at present, from the upper and
lower Pacific mills are: 30 spnners, girls,
33 band boys and $50 weavers. These dur
ing the past week have thrown out Of en-
ployment 100 spoilers, 60 Wrappers and $50
carders, making the total thrown ont of en-
ployment last week on account of the strike
over 1000. Whether other worsted weavers
VIII strike tomorrow Is now an open ques-
ton. Should they strike the Pacific mills
will, it is understood. shut down for an in
definite period.
The print works, however, will be kept
running. Should the Pacific stop over 5000
operatives will be idle. The majority of women
and girls who have but little saved cannot long
remain unemployed. There is no doubt but
that the worsted department of the Pacific
has been for months operated at loss.
Under the new regime the old experienced
superintendent and overseers have been dis.
charged, but readily obtained employment
with other manufactures making the same
goods as the Pacific, thus bringing the other
mills, who are paying less to their help, into
direct competition.
Great excitement was caused today by the
action of Rev. ID. ID. Regain, pastor of St.
Marys church, the principal Catholic church
in the city. At the morning services he
eounselled the strikers to return to work to-
morrow and denounced the leaders of the
strike movement. During his remarks a
member left the church.
Undoubtedly some wish to return but are
detained by their fellows from so doing, in
fact some have asked the overseers if they
would get work should they return and have
been told they could. The store keepers
look upon the strike as disastrous to their
interests but as a rule sympathize with the
strike. The city has been quiet today. No
disturbance has been caused bv the strikers.
who. since they lett the MILL have conducted
40 spl in a mo- ri