Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-25
Ihs Great Strike Of Cotton Workers.

The Great Strike Of Cotton Workers.
The mayor of New Bedford seems to
have acted most wisely in asking the manu-
facturers and representatives Of the strik-
ers to meet with him. Such q conference
as proposed appeared to offer the surest
avenue to better understanding between
the employed and those who employ. 1t lie,
perhaps,a natural feeling of employers that
it is nobodys business what wages they pay,
and this feeling is likely to be intensified
when they are doing business at loss.
The public interests, however, are
so vitality concerned in these Ia
Dor troubles that it is but natural
the public should like to know the cir
cussances. All property owners in New
Bedford are concerned in the results of the
strike and shutdown there. They want to
know just what the difficulty is, the circum-
stances, and if there may not be some way
of Cancellation. That party to the contro-
versy which refuses to talk the matter over,
however much it may be felt that it's none
Of the public's business whether they run
their mills on one hand or whether on the
other they work or strike, naturally incurs
the disfavor Of public sentiment which is
not a slight factor by any means. The in
dications Thursday afternoon were that the
mill managers didn't intend to meet
the state board of arbitration. In
deed one of the arbitrators, thinking the
mill managers were trying to escape con-
ference, said that if they didn't show some
inclination to be fair with the board of ar
duration the board would get up public
meeting in New Bedford and see if the
managers couldn't be made to tell some
thing. He evidently didn't wish to resort
to what he claimed is the boards right, that
Of subpGnaing witnesses. Happily Mr..
Grape, representing some of the mill mana
gers, met with the board and representa-
tives of the strikers. He thought the
claim of the men that there had been con-
tinual cut-downs by indirect methods
wrong, and that the figures would show
it. He did not at that time pre-
sent the figures. On the other hand
his claim that the mills in New
Bedford were and had been paying better
wages than had been paid in other places
was not disproven. Mr.. Grape said the
the times, not the mill managers, are to
blame. Certainly anyone having business
transactions for the past year will place
confidence in that statement. He further
more said that the manufacturers were
willing to open their books so that the ar
bitrators might see if the manufacturers
were not obliged to reduce wages. At this
writing it is difficult to see what more the
board could ask until it has examined those
books.
Ii would also seem that the board might
ascertain through experts whether the mill
managers have been resorting to indirect
methods and contrary to agreement to re-
duce wages, and if so, at least express their
disapprobation of such course.
1t is impossible for those at distance to
determine accurately the situation, as it is
for those interested in it to view it dispas-
sionately. A slight increase in the cloth
market doubtless strengthens the strikers
in their position, but at the same time would
incline the manufacturers to avoid a
shutdown if they have been doing business
on paying basis and are not overstocked
with goods. Certainly long strike at New
Bedford and Fall River at this of all times,
when what promises to be an unusually
severe winter is staring them in the face,
would be an awful calamity and public
opinion will rightly condemn that party to
the controversy which doesn't manifest a
willingness and a desire to arrive at speedy
settlement of the trouble.
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