Morning journal and courier., 1894-03-20
THE BIG COTTON STRIKE.

Another Long Consultation Was
 Held in Fall River and the Result
 is That the Operatives Claim . Vic-
 tory.
 FALL RIVER, Mass, March 19.-Com- mittees representing the Fall River Cotton Manufacturers' association and the Spin ners' association held a conference to-day. It reached what Is looked upon as a v!c- tory for the operatives. Fred E. Water man, treasurer of Cornell mills, was ex- pected to be present, but inssmuch ss he has no mules in his mills he did not sp- pear. The conference lasted from 2:30 till 4:45 p. m., and was held behind closed doors. After the gentlemen had been made acq quainted Simeon B. Chase, treas- urer of King Philip mills, said the spin ners had been called together to consider the state of trade and exchange views with the manufacturers in the hops that some way might appear which could bs adopted to benefit all concerned. The manu- fsc'urers' committee had interviewed various mills tressurers and had found some diversity of opinion among them.
 
 felt and called on them through the recoR nized officers feeling that it represented all the spinners working in the city. Secre- tary Howard, of the Spinners' union, then gave his views. A general discussion fol- lowed in which for some time the actual intention of the manufacturers did not be- come manifest. In answer to direct quss- tton the manufacturers said they had found @ majority of treasurers in favor of reducing wages 10 per cent. in all depart ments. This would affsct about 25, 900 operatives.
 The spinnsrs then took up the discus- sion, usiDg many figures to show that they, as Q class, were now underpsid for forcibly that their trade was not being paid more than in other places where the same production was obtained from mules. The manufacturers used figures showing that mule spinning cost less per spindle in some Rhode Island and in southern cotton man ufacturing centers. These figures were combatted vigorously with arguments to the effect that the production per spindle In the places named could not be compared with ths production of the average Fall River mules. The spinners were asked to state what in their judg- ment, was the beet remedy to apply, and they favored curtailment of production in all mills to four days per week. The manufacturers said this policy was not good one, as 1t made an unnstu- ral market and would hurt the city mtlls It was soon evident that the committees could not agree on the subject of curtsil- ment. It was then suggested that the whole matter be postponed for one month, the spinners fsvoring this phase of the question on the ground that trade had i'm proved little during the fortnight past and If matters were allowed to develop themselves there would bs permanent change for the better.
 This was not agreed to by the manufsc- turers, they contending that the spurt of the last two weeks is the result of forced and did not indicate any general improv- ment in the demand.
 The discussion reverted to the necessity of any immediate reduction and the spin ners were ssked If they would agree to a postponement of one week. In the mean time the spinners' representatives could call meeting of their union and get more definite instructions. The spinners then took strong grounds against any reduction and for some moments it looked az if the meeting would be of no avail An offer was made to postpone the matter two weeks, but the spinners would not agree to 1t, because their national association would be holding convention about the time in question. The manufacturers would ot agree to 8 months delay, but eventually @ compromise was effect ed, setting the time of the next meet ing three weeks from to day, or April g. The epinners believe they have gained a grest victory in securing postponement of the meeting, for they say 1t means a months postponemeut of an almost cer- | tain reduction, followed by bitter strike. The manufacturers asked the spinners repre- sentatives to go back to their unions | before the next meeting and ask the mem
 bers to accept reduction, but this they | positively declined to do. They said they would detail the results of the conference l to their members, but would not ask them to accept any reduction. When the con ference broke up 1t was with the under
 standing that the members will come to eether st the time stated and again go ovel the situation. Meantime the spinners and manufacturers will hope for better times The latter have promisei that If the pric,
 os cloth goes up very little will be heard O reduction.
 There was much good feeling expresset all over the city when the result becam known, but in manufacturing circles tn
 talk was not of pleasant character. Som | mlll men nave uOt ucelLhtcu tu puUuCl,
 voice their anger because the spinners Wer
 called into consultation before the msnu
 fscturers' association. They cay 1t give
 too much encouragement to the operative
 and will help swell the ranks of trade
 unions representing other departments
 One treasurer eaid his corporation woul
 soon throw out the mules it operated
 then sndeavor to run its business withou
 suggestions from help that it cannot COT
 troi. About 178 pairs of mules, or nesrl oue-fourth of all in the city, were repre-
 sented by the manufacturers who wer present.
 Just after the conference adjourned became noised about that Coneressma O'Neil was in the city with A. J. Jsnnine
 and John W. Cummings, who have bee
 conducting the agitation at Washington fo the substitution of new cotton schedul in the Wilson bill. They arrived in th
 city about 4 o'clock and went to the Mslle
 house tonight. Tonight MT. O'Nsil wer , to New York At the conference no in