The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-21
The Nc.y BEDFORD strike.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass, Aug q, 1884
The pleasant visions of some that the
great strike of textile operatives would
prove a huge fizze and only atempor-
ary ripple on the surface of the indus
trial sea, by the developements of to-
day, are shown to be based upon a most
superficial and shallow view of the con-
ditions, and of the actual situation.
The conclusion was jumped at by some
that inasmuch as the mills known as
the Howland plants had conceded the
old schedule of wages to their employees,
the other cotton manufacturing estab-
lishments in the city would hasten to
follow their lead.
Such as have taken this view seem
to have lost sight of very important
circumstance in connection with the
complication. AT the time of the meet
ing of the mill men for the purpose of
arranging for the cut down, William d.
Rowland was not in the city, and no
representative of the Rotch OF How
land corporations or of the New Bed
ford Manufacturing Company was pres
ent There are not d few who do not
hesitate to say that this was not CO.
incidence.
CUT DOWN DECIDED.
After a long consideration of the situ-
alton and with a reasonable assurance
that the operatives would show fight,
regardless of what Mr.. Howland's views
or course might be, the mills decided to
post notices of a cut down.
Without positive knowledge of what Mr..
Rowland might do in regard to enforc-
ing the notices, the operatives generally
from the first felt that he would make
his employees the concessions they de-
sired, rather than see the pleasant re-
latioras which have existed between them
ruptured. 1t is not to be supposed for
q minute that the other manufacturers
were not as well informed in this regard
es the operatives. Yet, in view Of all
the conditions, the notices were posted.
1t is argued by some of the manufac-
turers that the conditions in the yarn
and cloth mills are widely dissimilar.
1t is generally agreed that those mills
producing yarn alone are finding much
better market for their goods than is
found for cloth. In the case of manufac-
turers of yarn, it is a serious matter to
lose a buyer, as the identity of their pro-
duct is completely unknown to the gen.
eral public, who purchase it under the
brand of other manufacturers who make
1t into cloth This is not, of course, the
case with the product Of the cloth mills
When there is any movement in clith the
opportunity to dispose of goods is always
open to cloth producing mills.
It is a common thing for retail buyer
who is favorably impressed with par
tfcular brand of cloth to call for it over
the counter of the retail store, and thus
: the mills are constantly brought face
to face with the consumer. In the case
of the yarn mill, trade once diverted
may never be regained, consequently
it is of the utmost Importance that it
should fill all its orders. 1t Is possible
for cloth producing mill to remain idle
for protracted term. and still regain
IFS prestige in the market. No doubt
these considerations have been given
weight.
feeling has prevailed that all of the
mills in the city whose production is
warn exclusively are likely to follow the
Rotch. 7owland Corporations and the
New Bedford Manufacturing Company.in
conceding the old schedule of wages to
their old employees, but that the mills
producing cloth intend to fight the mat
fer to a conclusion. II this should prove
70 be the case the strik ewould be set
lied so far as about 1900 operatives are
concerried but there would stiil be about
1000 of the operatives in. l.idleness
The loom hxers met at Spinners hall