The Meeker herald., 1892-11-12
A GREAT STRIKE IN ENGLAND.
COTTON MILLS ARE SHUT DOWN
The Mckinley Law Causes Reduction
In Wages Which tho spinners
Say that they Cam
not Stand.

Thanks In a great measure to the Mckinley
Law, which has practically closed the ports OF
the United States to English cotton manufac-
turers, Great Britain has been plunged into
what promises to be the biggest war between
capital and labor ever waged In that country:
the movement has been developing for some
time but has been prccipitated by cut OF
per cent. in the wages of operatives, which
even now border on the starvation point, be-
ing SO shillings for sixty hours work. As
result cotton mills employing lG, 900, 900 spin
dies, In round numbers, were shut down on
the 9Th This number Is about 30 per cent.
of the total In England, and those in posi-
ton 10 know assert that within week Mt the
latest nearly all, II not all, the mills 10 Eng
land will be Idle.
One OF the leaders OF the operatives says:
1.-The battle is now on, and 1t remains to be
seen whether organized capital is stronger
than organized labor. For many long years
we have submitted to oppression, but the
worm has turned. We have In the Anal
gamatcd Association OF Cotton Splnners
membership OF over 24,0O0, and the card and
blowing room operatives, whose employment
Is necessarily contingent upon the working
OF the splnncrs, have in their union m aggre-
gate membership OF so,uVu more.
These unions combined have a reserve
fund OF fs0, 900, which will be drawn on in
the present struggle as fully as needed. Be-
sides this sum careful arrangements and as
sessmcrts have been made and we can safely
count upon inflow into the treasury OF
nearly $500 weekly. Two thousand mem
bcrs will remain ut their splndles during the
lockout, and each of these will contribute
r. ,,zlIt 1Iaf nd
with our funds so ample and the future
so fully provided for, cannot sec how our
struggle for existence can fail OF success. Ell
forts at arbitration, which have been in
operation for many weeks, have fallen fiat,
and a compromise is not looked for. Our de-
mands simple and just, and will be in
sisted upon to the uttermost. Not only the
United States, but European nations have fix
ed high tariff against England's cotton
manufacturers, and whatever the result may
be, the output will be greatly reduced and
the operatives will follow the example of the
Welsh tin workers and cmigrate TO the Unit
cd States, where expert labor will be paid the
highest market price,
The Masters union has been unfortunate
in its lock-outs heretofore. Twice previously
| II has failed 10 induce its members to act In
unison. The operatives we're very sanguinc
| Of speedy success when they quilt work Satur-
| day. They made no demonstration about the
| mills. but went quietly to their homes. The
| spinners even talked OF dispensing with the
doing out of strike pay for the first fort
| night, as they themselves have been prepar-
| ing for the lockout. The card-room hands,
| however, are not so well fixed aud want the
"strIkc pay' to commence Immediately.
| Their reserve fund is not so ample as that OF
the spinners. The promises Of support from
| various sources, however, are ample, and with
| their own funds the strikers are confident OF
| their ability to continue the struggle for
| mouths.