The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-10-11
READY TO OPEN THE MILLS.
OPERATIVES MUST co TO WORK AT
 CURRENT RATE OF WAGES.

CURRENT RATE OF WAGES.
 The Proposition Was Made in Answer to
 Cisilens and Clergy. Who Represented
 That Much D1stitution Exists-New Bed
 ford Mills to pen.
 Fall River. Oct. i0.-The manufactur. CTS meeting resulted in q proposition being made in response to the letter sent to the Manufacturers associa- ton by Mayor coughlin. The answer is as follows:
 Whereas. It has come to our knowl- edge through communication from his honor and the representations of va. rious citizens. including the clergy. that much destitution exists in our midst by reason of the closing of the mills and the consequent inability of many people to obtain employment; therefore,
 It is agreed that the manufacturers VIII open their mills Monday. October 10, for the purpose of allowing all who are so disposed to go to work at the current rate of wages. It Is further agreed that we make this public state ment to the operatives of this city:
 While under the large curtailment of production of print cloths in Fall River and elsewhere there has been substan- tial improvement in the market price and the visible stock of what are known as odd makes with very little, IT any. Improvement in the demand. we, therefore, believe that the improve. ment In the print cloth market is tenn porary, owing to the artificial causes: that nearly, if not quite, all mills have contracts for future delivery sold be- fore the present strike began on the then prevailing extremely low basis of prices. while stocks of cotton were pur- chased at much higher prices than now prevail.
 In view of these facts we believe the same necessity exists for a reduction In cost that existed two weeks ago. Should our view of the conditions af- tecting the market prove happily to be incorrect and the margin of print cloths IS favorable sixty days from the date or starting up we will return to the schedule of wages paid previous to the reduction for this period of time, giv- ing an opportunity for working ouf low-priced contracts, also establishing the equilibrium of the market. In case, however, this offer is rejected by the operatives, or we fail to operate all mills subscribing hereto, we will be gov erned by the provisions of our original agreement. E.. This statement was not signed, burt emanates from men who signed the agreement last referred to. After 1t had been prepared Secretary Howard of the Spinners' union was sent for. He peremptorily refused to put any such proposition before the members whom. he represented.
 At the meeting of the union held this morning the whole sentiment was in favor of accepting nothing less than restoration of old wages. Secretary Howard told the mill men he did not know whether this offer would be ac- cepted or not, but he would present it to a spinners' meeting to be held Fri day. He told the reporters later that the manufacturers were stiff and not disposed to make any sort of comprom- ise offer on the basis of a whole restora- tion. He would venture no opinion as to the action of the spinners. He ap- preciated the fact more than ever that it was useless for any union to try to deal with the manufacturers unless 1t has money back of 1t. He expects that he will be criticised personally if 5 per cent, is offered the spinners, as nothing is offered the weavers, but he contends that he is acting for his association's interests solely and would act the same way if he was representing the weav- CTS or any other department.
 There is a very general opinion to- night that the manufacturers are not acting in good faith toward all their employes, and this opinion has even been voiced by three treasurers, who are parties to the local agreemnt to re- duce wages The weavers will hold a meeting tomorrow when the matter will come up. ;h ,;
 The loom fixers' and slashers' union will also meet during the next couple of days. Generally speaking, there Is no hope that cloth will hold at present prices after work is resumed in the mills consequently the chances of the weavers receiving a restoration of wages are slim.