The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-04-24
THE LABOR QUESTION.
The Textile Industries of New Eng
land Organize
To Protect Themselves Against I'm
Just Persecution
Unsuccessful Attempt of Williams
burg Strikers to Fire a Building.
The Switchmen's Strike on the Lake
Shore Railroad Ended.
Pistols and Clubs Freely Used Upon
Strikers In Brooklyn, N. Y.
The New York Car Drivers Strike
Still Continues.
The SwItchmen's Strike on the Lake
Shore Railroad Ended.
Pistols and Clubs Freely Used Upon
Strikers In Brooklyn, N. Y.
The New York Car Drivers Strike
Still Continues.
Gloomy Outlook at the Mount Waldo
Granite Works.

AUGUSTA, April 23.-Twenty-fve men and
boys employed in the picked and card rooms Of
the mill of the Edwards Manufacturing Company
struck this morning for an advance OF & to ~
per cent. The mill went on running as usual, the
strikers places being filled with other men as
they could be obtained. The strike has no con-
nection with the Knights of Labor.
BELFAST, April 23.-The Journal says it was
announced a few weeks ago that pending the ac-
ceptance of some large New York contracts, the
Mount Waldo Granite Company had held con-
ference with their workmen at which an agree.
ment satisfactory to both parties was reached. No
further difficulty was apprehended, and it was
supposed large force would find employment on
Mount Waldo this season. Now it appears that
the contracts are about to fall through, not be-
cause of any trouble here but from the labor diff
flculties in New York, which have put stop to
building. This will necessitate reduction OF the
force now engaged and as the traders had laid in
large stocks of goods in anticipation OF brisk
season. will involve general loss.
Manufacturers Organizing for Mu-
tuaI Protection.
BOSTON, April 23.-The Commercial Bulletin
will say tomorrow 1.-THE sudden and unexpected
collapse Of what threatenea to be serious strike i
the discovery that the mill belonged to huge Or
ganization of the textile industries Of New Eng,
land which had been formed so quietly that 1t had
escaped all notice. This organization extends
over Rhode Island and Connecticut, and already
includes 40 large woolen mills with such cotton
mills as the Londsdale and Hope Mills. This So
ciety was organized for mutual protection. 1t
does not recognize the authority or dictation OF
the Knights of Labor in any way, but is prepared
to use arbitration in the settlement OF strikes.
The organization 10 growing in numbers and pro,
poses to give each strike careful consideration and
only assist manufacturers who are unfairly treat
ed by their help.
second society, embracing all the cotton mills
of any importance in Maine New Hampshire ana
Massachusetts was quietly completed ana h eieeted NJ
sachusetts league is league OF COTTON mlllS, 70
which the woolen mills are to be admitted, while
the Rhode Island society was formed by the wool
en- mills, and subsequently admitted the cotton
manufacturers. During the last month the cotton
mills of this State have been quietly preparing
for organization for mutual insurance against Ia
Dor disturbances. The result of these organlza-
tons will probably be witnessed at the next at.
tempt of mill hands to secure the discharge OF
workmen who are not members of a union. The
entire wOoen, as well as the entire cotton inter
ests of the three States will be included: The
yearly pay-rolls of the Massachusetts mills that
have already Joined amount to $15 100000. The
aims of the society are not in any sense:aggres-
sve, and its purpose is not to attack the Knights
of Labor, but simply to protect its members
against unjust persecution.
Rioting at the Brooklyn, N. Y. Sugar
Refineries.
NEW YORK, April 22-There were exciting
times at the sugar refineries on Kent Avenue,
Brooklyn this morning. Small groups of strikers
gathered at each of the gates, and the few police
men on guard had great difficulty in keeping them
back and in preventing them from interfering
with the non-striking employees as they went TO
their work. Soon all the iders in that part OF
Brooklyn gathered, and made even more rel noise ,
sons were gathered in the vicinity, and collisions
with the police were of frequent occurrence, ana
stones began to fly. Attempts were made 10
drive loaded teams through the gates OF the re-
flneries, but the strikers cut the harness and the
ropes binding the loads upon the t wagons, 5,fh ana
crash At II a. M, a truck loaded with sugar
started through the street. An attempt was made
to stop it, and the police had to use their clubs Sc
verely before the wagon could proceed.
The first arrest was made at O'Clock p ln 70,
liceman Young of the fifth precinct was knocked
down by striker whom he attempted TO drive