Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-21
1900 OUT.
New Bedford Cotton Workers
lnaugurate Strike.
Three Large Firms Give In and Men
Ordered Back to Work.
Strikers Prepared Tor and Fully Anticipate a
Six Months Strike.

New BEDFORD, Mass, Aug. 20.-This
morning the cotton operatives inaugurated
their general strike and nearly 1900 are
idle. Only five of the q mills are in oper-
alton and it is thought that these will soon
shut down with the others. The manufsc-
turers have little or nothing to say but the
notices of reduction against which the
help rebelled are still posted. Secretary
Ross of the Spinner's Union stated, this
morning that the members of the union
have lined mp for long struggle and con-
fdently expect that it will be of six months
duration.
The Csrd Room Union held big meet
ing at so p NJ when a message was re-
ceived from William d. Rowland of the
How land mills, Rotch mills and New Bed
ford Manufacturing Company, stating that
he had ordered the notices in those mills
withdrawn. The union voted to order all
the help in those mills to return when work
was resumed.
The developments in the great textile
strike, today, are many and complicated.
During the early part of the day, the streets
presented a holiday appearance, as thou
sands of neatly attired operatives wandered
to and fro, brim full of hilarity and conf
dent of victory. With the exception of a
slight disturbance at the Bristol mill, where
dozen operatives were at work and were
attacked by strikers at noon time, without
any se,ious results, the behavior of the
strikers was peaceful and orderly.
As the day advanced signs of the weak.
ening of manufacturers was manifest, and
when the announcement was made public
that three corporations had made the neces-
sary concessions, everybody knew that the
backbone of the conflict was ended. One
by one the other corporations gave evidence
of faltering, and 1t looked as if tire great
strike was about to die in its infancy.
VIM. ID. Rowland, treasurer of the How
land, Rotch and New Bedford Manufactur-
ing Cos, took the initiative in weakening
away from the manufacturers. From the
start he was opposed to the strike and his
manly action, today, in making concessions
to the operatives before the strike
was inaugurated in his mills, won
for him the universal admira-
ton of the public. Mr.. Howland said he
simply waived the cutdown till he can de-
eide what action he will adopt. He was not
present when the cutdown was voted else
he would have opposed it, but the action
was taken and the notices up before he
realized it. When he found what trouble
was to ensue he ordered the notices down
in his mills and notified the other manufac-
turers that for the present he would not
make any cut.
II have shut down my mills, said Mr.
Howland, "till find out just what can
do. l have already conferred with COM
mittees of the help. l propose to do the
same with my fellow-manufacturers When
| ascertain the position of both then l will
decide Whist course | will take. When it is
fully decided what terms the help will ac-
cept and the whole matter is adjusted be-
tween us, then will start up the mill. |
can't afford to let the help run my mills
just to suit themselves, but will grant all
[ can"
Suppose il comes to a dead open and
shut between the demand for a cut, on the
part of the manufacturers, aud the demand
of the old schedule on the part of the help,
will you say what your course would be
then?"
Mr.. Howland reflected moment and re-
piled 81 would waive the cutdown and
rnn the mills. can't afford to take action
which will result in shutting down
our plant and severing the smooth
and friendly relations that we have
in our mills at present. Our goods have a
reputation, and we have orders that must
be filled. We can't do anything with the
mills silent | can't run the mills without
the cooperation of the help, and if | i'm
pose such conditions that the men refuse to
work, my silent spindes won't make money
for the stockholders"
"But how about this over-production! 7"
was asked.
"Well, agree that something must be
done to reduce the cost of goods, but l am
of a different mind from most manufactur-
ers. 1 look for better times in the near
future. If curtailment is the remedy let
US curtail, but if reducing wages is going to
bring every thing to standstill, it is pretty
evident that is not the proper course
Mr.. Rowland continued to say that he did
not like to antagonize the other manufact-
urers. He thought it good thing
for the mill men to act in harmony, but did
not see why he should be bound to policy
which he did not agree with and in voting
for which he was not represented. Had he
been present at the meeting he declared he
would have voted against the cut. Mr..
Howland said he would try to arrive at a
conclusion and arrange terms with his help
as soon as possible to leave the mills silent
no longer than necessary. Mr.. Howland's e
action will restore work to about 100
hands, and most of them represent fami-
lies.
Late this afternoon Andrew G. Pierce,
treasurer of the Wamsutta mills. was
asked, in view of the action taken by Mr..
Rowland, what would be the course of the
other corporations. He replied: 1.-The
mills will lock up. tonight, for an indefinite
period" His statement, he eaid, not only
applied 10 the Wamsutta Corporation. but
to every mill in the city outside of the
mills controlled by Mr.. Howland.