Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-21
FALL RIVER SITUATION.
Every Indication of a Strike at Mills
by "Wednesday.
Spinners Particularly Uneasy, and Mean 10
Make a Great Fight.

FALL RIVER, Mass Aug. 20.-The
manufacturing situation in this city, today.
closed with the owners and treasurers of
cloth mills in an uncertain and angry frame
of mind. The Globe Yarn Mills, of which
Arnold B. Sanford is treasurer, and the
Sanford Spinning Company, of which he is
large stockholder, are running full time
and paying full wages.
This afternoon, when the news from
New Bedford reached this city, that the
three yarn mills there are in full operation
and paying full wages, many msnufactur-
ers were ready to pick quarrel with the
man who is president OF the board of trade
and closely identified with the Home Mar
ket Club. His name is signed to an agree
ment favoring a reduction of wages, and
was supposed that it carried with it all all
attached to the name of treasurer of the
print cloth mills.
Besides the Globe Yarn Mills, the King
Philip, Kerr Threat, Conanicut, American
Linen, Iron Works and Bsrnaby have con-
tinued in full operation, and bid fair to con-
tinue till the four weeks vacation is over.
The Stafford, Wampanoag, Narrsgansett,
Anawan, a part of Durfee's and Fall River
Mfg. Company, and probably two other
mills will not resume in the morning. 1t is
not expected that more than fourth of the
looms will be running at noon, tomorrow,
if the weather holds favorable. Members
of the Weavers Union feel that they have
gained great victory, being able to close
many mills on short notice and curtail the
production in others.
The feeling smong great portion of the
business men and property owners is that
the Weavers' Union desires to make the
present crisis a test case, with the Weavers
and Spinners' Unions as mediums for
settling the local labor difficulties, and that
the manufacturers are playing with the
condition in the hope that both unions will
quarrel. at present there is no question
but what the members are at swords points
and it would surprise no one if the weavers
officers provoked further trouble. Three
collectors for the weavers expressed them
| selves happy because the result of today s
operations is wholly in favor of the views
the weavers' officers expressed.
The spinners officers are endesvOring to
prepare means of taking care of the locked
out members and at the same time assist
the striking spinners at New Bedford, who
seem likely to be called upon to make a
stubborn resistance, The general opinion
among the local manufacturers here is that
that the weavers' vacation will net last long
after Labor day, and the fact that some
manufacturers were anxious to close sets
most of the spinners at sea.
The caIders and spinners executive COM
mittees held meetings, tonight, and there
is every indication of a strike on the part OF
the unions represented, unless a change
is made in their intentions
before "Wednesday morning. The
spinners say they were working in
fine yarn mills with the understanding that
they were paid according to the New Bed
ford price list, which was the same as that
paid last week. Now they are under the
impression that they are paid under the
price list as revised by the New Bedford
yarn manufacturers and New Bedford spin,
ners.
A special general meeting will be called
Monday night, and the acting secretary
states, tonight, there is every reason to be-
lieve that the vote Of last Friday night will
be reconsidered and war will be waged
upon every mill where spinners are en-
ployed.
The situation is that the Weavers
Union, which decided to rest four weeks
will take the chances of business growing
worse or better. Tomorrow morning the
Flint Mills and Weetamoe Mills will prob.
ably not resume operations. Two other
mills are in doubt.