The Portland daily press., 1894-10-06
THU FALL RIVER STRIKE.
Mills May Resume at the Old
Wages.
THE MARKET HAS ADVANCED TO
THE REQUISITE PRICE

Where the Goods Can be Manufactured at
a Profit-Work Would Begin at Once if
Manufacturers Thought the Advance
Permanent-Pressure Being Brought up
on Mill Owners to Open Their Gates.
Fall River. Mass, October 5. 5.-Tonight
the print cloth market closed steady at
three cents for 64x64s. The developments
for the past few days in this and the
Providence markets have give much
hope to the operatives and business men
not directly connected with the manage
ment of the mills The sales of the
week amount to 175, 000 pieces, or more
than any week of the past seven. 1t is
reported from Providence that sales ag-
gregating $4,000 pieces were made. These
transactions mean the print cloth mar
ket is stripped almost bare of goods, and
the quotation, If it represents perma-s
nent value of goods, would mean profit
to the mills of 10 to 20 per cent year.
1t is understood in the brokers circles
the sales here are principally spots and
October deliveries. Sales have been
made on contracts extending into JAM
nary, 1895. If surface conditions could
be regarded as permanent or likely to
remain any reasonable length of time
there is little doubt the manufacturers
would willingly open the mill gates
Monday morning and invite the opera
tiyes to resume work under the old rate
of wages. Nearly all the manufacturers
who will talk say they do not feel sat-
isfid that the present market will last
long. If work is resumed and the de-
mand falls off, the condition of all con-
cerned will be as bad assat present. In
other words, they are not quite ready to
take the usual business chances 'of fall
ing off of the demand, necessitating the
storage of goods, while the general dry
goods markets are in such an uncertain
state.
PRESSURE BROUGHT TO BEAR.
Within the past few days great deal
the agents to open the gates to such
operatives as care to work, regardless
of what action the spinners may take.
When the increasing sales of goods
we re reported this pressure continued to
be put on, until tonight it has taken
the form of general request through
the press by business mentthat the
manufacturers make some move toward
efecting compromise. This request is
fully voiced by the Daily News, which
says editorially: "The question should
not be whether the operatives can be
beaten, but rather can the mills be run
at profit, the purpose for which they
were organized and constructed. We be-
lieve the time has come when the man
ufacturers should consider this latter
md a. nj 40 ho h w
per cent of the operatives are SO beaten
they would submit to almost any TERMS
it, in dealing with the question they
should be treated fairly with as much
consideration as the remaining five per
cent who are in position to proiong
the struggle for considerable time. Let
there be a proposition for all to return
to work on a basis of wages graduated
according to the margin of profit for the
next 30 OF 60 days. Some terms fair to
all concerned will meet the OCCASION.
Let the proposition for compromise
be considered in broad, noble spirit. |
Let it be regardful of the entire opera |
such course would remove any claim |
of victory by any party. and would pro- |
claim the Fall River manufacturers are |
regardful of the interests of the en- |
ployes as any other locality"
Some manufacturers having said such |
propos ition would not be an improb- |
ability of the next few days, an effort |
will be made to learn just how 1t would |
be received. 1t can be stated almost pos |
ttively that any sort of a compromise |
looking toward speedy resumption of |
work and prompt relief of the great suf- |
fering now existing would be hailed |
with joy by the carders and other help, |
except the .spinners. The latter are in |
the position of men who had the fight |
forced upon them through no cause |
under their control, and now they are |
in they propose to fight until old wages |
can be restored, when they will resume
Secretary Howard said tonight he did
not. think his men would compromise
ago fair offer was made, TO wit: To re-
sumo under a five per cent reduction,
with the understanding the other five
per cent should be returned if trade |
warranted it in 30 days. The manu-
facturers would not listen, and then fol- |
lowed the bold statement, made by one
OF hesmanufactureres that it was "f1ght
to the end" This was followed by re-
newed determination on the part of the
mule spinners. They will not suffer for
some weeks. If the other unorganized
hold themselves liable. "The margin of
profit is not 81 CENTS" said Secretary
Howard. land the manufacturers have
told they would willingly
pay the old rates when this condition
came" Despite the attitude of the spin
ners, it is freely stated by brokers and
manufacturers tonight that if the pres
ent market holds three days longer
break will be made in the iron clad
agreement which led to the seven weeks
of q, 600 operatives.