New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-21
TEN THOUSAND WORKERS OUT.
BEGINNING OF THE GREAT TEXTILE
STRIKE AT NEW-BEDFORD.
THREE MILLS ACCEDE TEMPORARILY TO THE
STRIKERS DEMANDS-THREE-QUART
OF THE FALL RIVER MILLS MAY
BE CLOSED TO-DAY.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO TuK TRrRUyE.I

Try TELEGRAPH TO THK TRIpCNE.I
New Bedford. Mass, Aug 2O.-The greatest
strike ever ordered In this city went into opera
ton to-day. The gates Of all the mills were
opened and things were ready 10 go on as usual.
but when the time came only few OF the opera
tors went to work. In some of the mills a num-
Der Of female operatives presented themselves.
most of whom did not belong to unions. When
the noon hour came the managers Of all the mills
concluded 1t was useless to try TO any longer
and ordered the engines stopped. thus leaving
about 900 hands in idleness. The streets have
been filled this afternoon. The crowd in general
has been quiet and orderly. however The differ
ent unions have held meetings to-day and report
their members united
Early this afternoon William ID. Rowland
ordered the offensive notices which had been
posted in his three mills the Rowland the Rotch
Spinning Company's and the New-Bedford Manu-
featuring Company's taken down, and Informed
the unions and other manufacturers Of his de-
cislon Consequently the help in these mills will
return to work on Wednesday. II not before. Mr..
Rowland says he has simply waived the cutdown
until he finds out what he can do. He will have
conferences with the manufacturers and opera
tives and will then decide upon his future course
He says further:
agree that something must be done 10 reduce
the cost OF goods. but am Of different mind from
most manufacturers. / look for better times In the
oSrta Srr aTf BHi II reducins Wages is going to bring
everything a standst. 1t Is pretty evident that
isn't the proper course
His decision will restore work TO 100 opera
tives. most OF whom have families. These mills
have orders ahead; they manufacture principally
fine yarns The action of Mr.. Howland is looked
upon by some the beginning Of the end Of the
strike. but Andrew G. Peirce. treasurer Of the
Wamsutta Mills corporation. which owns six mills
said this afternoon when asked what effect 1t
would have on the situation:
don't know anything about William ID. flow'and
me mills OF me c{ VIII io,k up '"msn, t l io ',r m
Is 70 say on the subject
The merchants al the North and South ends are
gloomy indeed. Their books now carry large sums
on credit and with long strike in prospect they
cannot where their pay Is 10 come from
Many dealers started In this morning under the
motto strictly cash" and are living UP to II. II
is said that the wholesalers will adopt the same
basis toward the retail dealers. II all these IN
tent!ons carried out. failures. want ana suHeI-
ing are In prospect
Fall River. Mass. Aug. 20 (SpecaD-fardy
one-fourth II the looms In this city have been In
operation to-day anI tonight 1t looks as II Fall
River and New Bedford are to share. and share
alike in a STRIKE OF spinners in the cotton mills
Of the two cities Until o'clock this afternoon II
was confidently expected that the labor ~hlrl-
wind which has been swooping over the country
would at least pass over Fall River. the home
~ the United States textile labor disturbances
After meetings Of splnners and carders rep
resentatiyes held tonight. however III IoohS ne
~ Fall River must again enter the sttuHs'e ~"
conditions that ought to have been Forever op-
liberated in November. ls92 ~ !,
New Bedford manufacturers who know H'Ie oi
,rikes and their causes conceded TINS ait'r'lo'n
,ha, thev must give in 10 the spinners. ana a'
noon they posted notices agreeing |" coH'-
nromise price This notice had hardly De"n hih"e
nublic before the manufacturers ana pl"rhuNr@
her. were stirred In anger. ana Al . CLOCK 'hls
afternoon the Sanford spinning and Kerr thread
mills the finest yarn mills In this part of the
State posted notices of reductions 10 take place
peyt Wednesday. AZ the two meetings of opera
,ives or their representatives. these actions were
on n par with shaking red rags to ovtrheaieu
cattle and strike talk was the only tax heari
Al A late hour tonight. therefore, IL appears
that Tomorrow there VIII b" more man up"'"
corporations unable 10 produce. ana before heh'
there will be others in the same prcilChn'",
In this city the number OF Idle operatives VIII
exceed 10 900 The weavers' association - ho'hs
rs hos, II induce union and non-union weavers
o. leave their looms. and by Wednesday II is
nrobahle that they will be successful 10 the eA-
te,t ~ keeping 900 II the 900 weavers away on
a four weeks vacation a.,
4 Catholic clergyman with the courage OF MS
convictions has advised his people from the pull
~ ,o keen AT work In these times. hut MS Worus
$40 20 strrcd I'D a bitter feeling. ana IL looks as
- rnanufacturers must fall back into the oid ru's
Of coercion again II their mills are 10 oe kept III