The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-20
BIG COTTON STRIKE
Nearly 1900 WeaVers and
Spinners Idle In New
Bedford.
STUBBORN CONTEST EXPECTED
The Men Have $4,000 In Their
Treasury and are Prepared to
Fight to the End.


morning the cotton operatives inaugur-
ated their general strike, and nearly
lleoO are idle The machinery of but
five of the twenty-seven mills in the city
is in motion, and it is thought that these
mills will soon be shut down with the
others. The manufacturers have little or
nothing 10 say, but the notices of a
reduction against which the help rebel,
are still posted. Secretary Ross of the
Spinners' Union, stated this morning
that the members of his union have lined
up for long struggle, and confidently
expect that it will be of six months du-
ration.
DIFFERENT SITUATION.
The situation in New Bedford is quite
different from that in Fail River. In the
latter city print cloths are manufac-
tured for the most part and there is
larger stock of goods on hand. Here,
however, the mills manufacturer finer
grade of goods and some of them have
orders which would keep the mills busy
for several months.
conference yesterday developed
new feature, which the operatives say
reveals the plan of the manufacturers
with relation to the impending struggle.
L
asmuch as the Spinners Union was much
stronger than the Weavers' organiza-
ton, hte manufacturers would cater to
the Spinners' in the reduction and con-
cilliate them if possible.
Every mill posted its reduction sched-
ule Saturday, and they were compared
by the labor leaders yesterday. While
the schedules are bissimilar, it was found
I. ont n
the spinners more than 10 per cent in
many instances, while the weaVers were
not cut at all, or very little. This ratio
is preserved Systematically throughout
the mills, and the operatives believe
that the manufacturers hope to get the
weavers back before many weeks.
WEAvERS WILL NOT HOLD OUT.
AS the weavers are not backed up by
a strong treasury, the manufacturers
think they will not hold out very long,
particularly as their wages will not be
changed, and they will only be impelied
to stay out through sympathy
: The manufacturers think that by the
time they are ready to start up the weav-
ers will be ready to come in and that
yarn can be bought from other mills un-
til the spinners are ready to succumo.
But there is no trepidation on the, part
of the operatives. All are buoyant and
confident of ultimate success.
Some of the mills, no doubt, are prepar-
ing for long, shut down.
1.-The meeting of manufacturers Thurs
day was an adjourned session. said
gentleman who was present, land was
not called because of action of the spin
ners, as supposed. In fact the determin-
alton of the spinners was but briefly
touched upon. The meeting was held to
decide upon some plan of reduction,
whereby the best paid help in the mills
might be reduced and those who are
classed as small paid help, either but
slightly cut down or not touched at all.
This matter was fully discussed, and
finally it was decided that each corpora
ton should regulate its own adjustment
of the cut-down, which is from 2b per
cent. to 10 per cent. In a great many in
stances there will be no cut-down what
ever, it is said, while as rule all of
the spinners who are the best paid men
in the different mills, outside of officials,
will be affected by the new order Of
things
MOST IMPORTANT IN YEARS.
The strike promises to be the most i'm
portant which ever occurred in the tex
tile industry in Massachusetts The
manufacturers must fight perfectly or
ganized unions. some of which are fair
" wealthy. Notable in this particular
is the Spinners' Union, which has a
fund in its treasury aggregating at
least $4,000. The spinners have voted.
however. not to touch any of this money
for 9 month.
Until yesterday it was hoped that
the strike would be averted.
That the spinners would resent such
action was the unanimous opinion of
those present, but the plan adopted is
considered the only one which will in
sure the running of the mills without
loss. under the present condition of
business
Whether or not the operatives are sue
cessful, they will be more contented to
remain idle in the summer months than
later in the season.
Fall River Dividends.
FALL RIVER, Mass, Aug 20. 1884
The quarterly dividends paid to stock
holders nj the mills in this city did not
average quite l IA per cent. the last
three months Returns show a de-
crease of $4O,650 in the last quarter Sew
en- corporations have passed dividends
and between seven and eleven paid div
idends from surplus accounts rather
than from the earnings of the past nine
months Many of the mills are taking
advantage of the easy money market
to renew the machinery and motive
plants. The quoted prices of shares
H.