The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-03-08
THE BOYCOTT FELT.
How the Great Thread Works Strike
Injure the Wealthy Clarks.

Special to the Sunday Morning Nesrs.
NEWARK, March Z, 1s9l.-The poison of
the boycott against the Clark'slO. N. 7.
thread has infected the trade
of the Clark's Mile End thread,
the product of an entirely dis
tinct corporation, and so grievous has
been the result, so much have the sales Of
the Mile End thread fallen off, that about
one-half of the yarn spun at the mill has
TO be sold instead OF being made into
thread; a number of the hands of the
thread-end in consequence Will have 10
be laid off, and The company, for the first
time since its organization has been un-
able to declare the regular quarterly diyi-
dend
The information comes from Manager
Richard Hill of the Mile End Mill. He
was interviewed this morning at the com
pany's Office, on Central avenue, Kearny,
ana while disclaiming any desire TO
throw any light upon the condition of
the trade of the O. N. I. Company by
furnishing a standard by which the loss
to its trade through the boycott could be
measured, he said he had to acknow-
ledge that the shaft aimed at its compe-
titor had done his company's business
much harm.
II cannot exactly tell, be said, "how
much our sales have fallen Oft That
New York, but do know that the dam
age done is considerable. Before this
trouble arose Ia the o. n. L. Mills we
were using all the yarn we spun 70 make
spool cotton. Now about one half of it
mas to be sold in skeins to make hosiery
That will give an idea how much smaller
the demand for our thread Is.
"One Of our travellers came to me the
other day and related an incident which
will serve TO illustrate the fact that we
are suffering from the boycott. While he
was trying to sell a bill OF goods to a GUS
toner a woman asked for a spool of
thread. She was handed Mile End thread.
THAT is Clark's thread; 1 don't want
that, she said. 1t took some of our sales
mans time trying to explain that it was
the O. N. L. and not the Mile End Clarks
against whom the boycott has been
launched. We have no trouble with our
men. Our relations are perfectly harmo-
NOUS, and we treat them with considera-
ton, but the people can't help thinking
that both companies are practically the
same. Tie result is that one half of
what we used TO produce is sufficient now
TO satisfy the demand for our thread. We
wouldn't sell pound of our yarn if the
market for our thread was not so serious
ly affected, because we do not make any
money in that way. | do not know, of
course, how this boycott is affecting the
demand for the o. N. I. thread, but /
should judge that it must be hurting them
greatly.
I'VE have never made such little money
since the mill was first put In operation
as since this strike at the other mills be-
gan For the first time In the existence
of the company we have had to pass the
dividend. That ought to be convincing
evidence of our loss of trade
Mr.. Hill said that the Mile End Com
pany was desirous of a settlement OF the
differences between the O. N. I. Company
and its striking spinpers for no other rea-
son than that they were losing heavily by
it. What the terms of settlement would
be was a matter of indifference They
did not care what side triumphed or
whether the strike was ended by COM
promise. Mr.. Hill. for himself, said that
he should like to see a harmonious ar
rangement made by which all parties
would be satisfied. He said further that
he was convinced Walmsley was not the
source of the trouble, but would be
heartily glad of o cessation of hostilities
that would be final. Secretary McNair
of ID. A. 40, K. of l.. had come to him
some time ago and asked him to act as
mediator. He saw Walmsley and COM
municated TO him McNafr's request.
Walmsley with the assurance that IL
would please him to have an end made of
the strike, promised to lay what Manager
Hill had said before the company. He
returned next day to report that the COM
pany would listen to no overtures of
peace. The story circulated concerning
the hustle order, Mr.. Hill said, was a
joke, and not based ON fact.