Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-07
BIG LABOR CONTEST BEGUN.
Many Cotton Miiis in England Shut Dow,
ThouAAn<la of Men Idle

Many Cotton Miiis in England Shut Down
Thousands Of Men Idle.
The beginning Of what seems likely to prove
the greatest industrial war between capital and
labor that England has ever known has begun
IN that country, as already announced in The
Stars cable dispatches. Cotton mills employ
ing, all told IA 900 900 spindies have shut down.
OF the 44.0o0, 600 spindles run in England the
mill owners have masters federation in which
2o,0oo,OO spindles are represented, their mills
being In Manchester. Oldham, Bury, Haywood,
Ramsbottom, Darwen, Bolton, Ashton-under-
Lyme, Staiybridge, Stockport, Rochdale and sew
eral smaller towns. The owners Of the 5000. 900
spindies still running will pay to the federation
fine OF one farthing . spindle per week for
such as they keep at work
There are about "a, 900 operative spinners
grouped into various local unions, all federated
In the Anal gamated Association Of Cotton Spin
ners Their average earnings for Q week Of
sixty hours are 32s. The local unions COM
bined have reserve fund Of fl20, 600 The
card and blowing room operatives, who. of
course. are necessarily idle when the spindles
STOP number about $4,000, and have also
strong union.
The members of both associations have Maid
special levies lately into the treasures includ-
ing levy Of g. a week. which has been paid in
regularly for two months The reserve fund
thus created will be further increased by the
contributions Of 4s. q week from the 5000 mem
bers who will remain at work during the pres
ent lockout. II il estimated that from all
sources total Of IS. 400 will Hov in weekly TO
assist the operatives. The non-uuion men
have been TRYING hard to get into the unions
so that they might partake OF the advantages of
strike pay" but the unions are unwilling to
enroll as members persons who are likely
to speedily become burden on the treasury
in
likely to suffer great distress during the pro-
gress Of the lockout, for the unions have de-
cided not to assist them in any way
The operatives appear to hold the strongest
position, says a London dispatch, as the inn
proving prospects in thecotton trade since the
notices of per cent cut in wages we're issued
have already induced a number OF mill owners
to keep Oh at work on the old scale Of wages.
paving the federation the fine, one farthing a
spindle week, agreed upon. IL 30 happens
that only few mills at Rochdale, Haywood
and Stockport are closed. A number Of mills
in other towns have withdrawn the lockout
notices which they at first sent out.
IL the Improvement in trade continues num-
bers Of other mills will open. preferring to pay
the federation fine rather than allow their val
liable machinery to lie idle at loss of interest
and rent. Already the Improvement has weak
ened the position of the federation and il it
continues the lockout will proven fzzie Should
the Improvement prove but temporary, how
ever, the mills will shut down again and the
struggle with the men will grow more bitter
The federation has been unfortunate in its
lockouts. Twice previously it has failed to in
duce its members to act in unison.
The operatives know of the improving trade
conditions and we're very sanguine Of speedy
success when they quit work today. They
made no demonstrations about the mills, but
went quietly to their homes. The spinners
even talked Of dispensing with the doing out
OF ''strikc pay" for the first fortnight, as they
themselves have been preparing for the lock-
out The card room hands, however, who are
not 80 well fixed. want the ''strike pay" to
commence Immediately as the lack Of wages
makes great difference with them. Their re-
serve fund is not 30 ample as that of the spin
ners and In event of protracted struggle they
Will be the first to require outside assistance.
The promises Of support from various sources.
however. are ample and with their own funds
the strikers confident of their ability to
continue the struggle for months.
The delegates to the Splnners' Association
met Saturday night in Manchester. The secre-
tary read kilograms declaring the lockout at
stockport to be complete failure and that at
Burr partial failure. In these places the mill
owners are continuing to operate their mills at
the old scale of wages. However, $1,000 work
men are expected to be idle today. The meet
ing decided to increase the weekly levy to S. 3D.
Great enthusiasm WINS shown