Morning journal and courier., 1889-03-12
PROSPECTS OF OUR NEW NAVY.
The Gold Fever in CalifOr-
 mia is Abating.
rHEFALLKrvER STRIKE.

Il
 Fifty Mills Involved and Six Thou
 sand Men Idle-The Weavers are Con-
 hdent of Success-EverythiRg Has so
 Far Been Conducted In an Orderly
 way-A General Meeting to be Held
 To-Day.
 FALL RIVER, Mass, March 1.-The weavers' strike for an advance in wages, which occurred this morning, is one of the most extensive in the history of labor troubles here The weaving departments of fifty mills are practically shut down and 5000 weavers are idle. Those who refused to strike do not number more than half enough to keep one mill going. The extent of the atrike is quite 8 surprise to the man agers, who expected that only a few mills would be involved. They thought that the help would be so much divided as to the wisdom of strike at present that this cir in few days. The operatives are very much pleased at the unanimous sentiment of re- sistance displayed, and predict an early vic- tory.
 Three thousand weavers assembled in mass meeting on the park this morning. Reports to the executive committee of the union showed that the weavers in every print-cloth mill in the city had quit work and that the strike was general. Viewers at 8 few mills on wide goods went to work to-day, but were expected to come out. Addresses were made by members of the executive commit tee congratulating the weavers on the success of the strike, and urging all to stand togeth CT. A New York newspaper man, who is member of the Central Labor union of that city, also addressed the crowd, urging unit ed action and the importance of organiza- tion.
 Everything has been orderly on the part of the striking mill operatives thus far. The orders of the union to the weavers to keep entirely away from the mills and to avoid any gathering in the vicinity of the mills which might lead to trouble were obeyed to the letter, and the police had lass trouble with large crowds upon the streets than upon any ordinary holiday. This afternoon mo- tices were posted in the linen Netacomet and Anawan mills to the effect that the wages of the strikers were ready upon application. A number of the weavers who were on the way to these offices to collect their pay were met by agents from the weavers executive com mittee and advised not to go near the offices, as it was 8 trick to cheat them out of part of their wages. If the weavers had accepted their pay to day they would have lost what is due them for weaving the cloth that now remains on the idle looms.
 The manufacturers are still confident that the strike will be a short one, and that more or less trouble will be experienced un- til after the St. Patrick's day celebration, which is usually big event in ..this city, but expect by March 19 that the strikers will be back in their places at the old prices. Sec retary Connolly was seen at Viewers hall this evening, and when asked how he felt after the experience of the first day, said the success of the strike was assured. The gene ral response to the order to strike has sur passed our most sanguine hopes. l firmly believe we will succeed, and on that line we intend to fight the battle to the end. Never in the history of Fall River has any body of men been so firmly united as the weavers are in this movement. Every loom in the city will be silent tomorrow except those which the overseers and second hands will try to run in order to take of what cloth now remains upon the looms. mill agent who was seen at his office tonight said: "I will confess that the large number of weavers who left work this morning was more than 8 surprise to me. did not believe that the leaders of the strike could induce more than ], ,600 to leave, but it cannot last. The asso- citation has no funds Many weavers have been out of work for months and are looking for cn opportunity to earn their living, while the majority of the weavers who have struck have been forced into 1t and have no heart in is We did not care to have strike, but we were expecting it and are as well prepared for it now as we would ever be-"
 Tomorrow the strikers will form at their hall and headed by band will march to the park where 8 general meeting will be held after which the day will be given up to gen. eral sport. The members of the Spinners' union express the greatest surprise at the complete sweep made by the weavers, and are offering the greatest encouragement to them to hang out until they succeed.