Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-24
FALL RIVER LOCKOUT
ITS ANNOUNCEMENT A SURPRISE
TO THE MANUFACTURERS.
Its Eject end Probable Duration-Possss
biiity of Arbitration st New Bed
ford-The state Board.

FALL RIVER, MASS. August z3.-The
publication OF the agreement to shut down
the mills was q surprise to many manu-
facturers when they picked UP their pa
pers this morning. Notices Of the shut.
down werc mailed last night. but Il was
the interlio TO keep the whole thing q
secret TN to-day. The Executive Commit
tee Is unwilling to give out the text Of
the notices sent but they say that II was
agreed that when three fourths Of the
spinners represented by the signers to the
agreement should conclude 10 order the
pursuit OF a certain course, the others
sued.
Tonight. therefore IL is confidently ex-
pected that every mill In town win close
except the Conanlcut. the Barnaby gtng.
ham. which has been shut down; the Fall
River Iron Works mills. and the seacon-
net which are not IN the manufacturerS
association. The Seaconnet mill is run
ming on the reduced schedule. and may bo
compelled to shut down by the help. who
nay SttF Ouls lHt hhS fHfttP. 6ihtts~
can linen. Metacomet, Pocasset. and other
mills that are wholly running or ara
partially idle are expected 10 close with
the rent. There will be y2,6D operatives
out OF work, exclusive or 200 who are
known as sick help
Secretary O'Donnell, OF the Spinners
Union. is well pleased at the decision ar
rived at by the manufacturers. IL re-
lieyss him and the union Of a very trying
situation. in which the funds were ssfi-
ouslv threatened. The weavers, OF course,
are In high glee, as they have obtained
the cu:tailment for which they were SEEK
ing.
LENGTH OF SHUTDOWN.
Ths length OF the shutdown has not
been agreed upon. but IL viii depend OH
tho attitude Of the operatives and the
conditions OF the market Four weeks
| Is the longest time mentioned. but there
is no guarantee that IL Will not last a
longer period.
The committee OF the manufacturers
association has Demonstrated that there
is great feeling against members. To-
| day II was believed that every sgner
would stick to the last. Even Agent
| Sanford, OF whom the manufacturers are
| talking very harshly. has concluded To-
| close the Globe yarn-mllls. and the San
ford Spinning Company viii also remain
| closed.
Among businessmen and others the
| big lockout Is regarded with much regret.
| Nearly sl50.000 weekly will be taken out
| of circulation. and there is always great
risk in trading among operatives when a
| shutdown takes place. Some will pay
| their old bills. but others will not II
they can avoid 1T ~ removing to other
| places.
ARBITRATION.
NEW BEDFORD. MASS. August 23.--
| The fourth day OF the great strike opened
with a new element In the battle-the
| State Board Of Arbitration. Both sides
remain as irm as ever, apparently,
neither inclined TO yield one iota. The
Board OF Trade Arbitration Committee
has failed to accomplish much and now
the only visible hope for new settle
ment lies I'm the meeting under Mayor
| Brownelrs call tonight. OF course. this
| applies more directly TO the cloth-milis
as there are hopeful signs OF an adjust
ment or n break In the yarn-mill battle
/ Richard T. Barry, OF Lynn. and Richard
T.. Warner, Of Taunton, members Of the
| State Board, arrived In town this morn
| Ing to investigate the matter The third
member-Charies X. Wolcott-is now on
/ his vacation and was not Informed ei
| the visit. Immediately on their arrival
the arbitrators visited the Mayors office
| but. not finding him in. separated. Mr.
Barry dropping in on the strikers com
, mittee, at Spinners Hall, and Mr. War
Iuf. 'rdrry sau:w we Just uroppcd IN on
| New Bedford TO do n littlc skirmishing
| We Will not probably take Official action
on the strike unlss Mr. Wolcott Joins ~
| but we just want To see how the lanC
| Hes
Switchboard POWERS.
| Mr.. Barry was asked as to the provinc'
| Of the board IN sucE matters. just how
! far they can go. and what power the,
| have? Well" he replied. I'VE have IN,
power 10 hold public hearings summon
| witnesses. hear testimony, and render al
| Official report, but we do not Ike to a,
SO often. We prefer 10 use the concila
tory plan, 10 act as mediators betweei
the parties 10 dispute. and see II WI
can't make both sides look at things lik
| sensible men. rather than from directi,
opposite sides. But this Is not alway
| successful. and then we usually have q
resort TO the hearing system. We ma,
have to DO 30 here, but We can't tel
yet"
Mr.. Brownell said that he had been nd
vlsed by several citizens To invite th
| State Board OF Arbitration TO be presen
at the meeting OF the conference tonight
He said that he had done so and urge
the board TO attend. He said the meetin
was not intended TO be public. but
comprise such delegates as each unlo
chose 10 send and such manufacturers a
would attend. Every labor organiZltio
In the city will be represented by les -
retary and one delegate. but IL cannot
learned how the manufacturers look I
TIE proposition. as they are non-ccmmo'
tai on the subject. The situation and a
titude of the Rowland corporation ais
will undoubtedly be discussed.
Andrew q. Pierce was asked IL the mil
would make any concessions In case n
Arbitration Committee proposed them ar
replied that he should not answer an
questions of that kind. Let the thin
take it's course" said he. Not only a
the weavers determined upon wit
drawal of the notice OF a ctit-down. b'
they have another issue which th9y r
gard as OF vastly more Importance. al
that Is the particulars law
Yesterday President James Savage. wi
Secretary Whitehead. Of Fail River. WI
sent to Boston TO seok advice upon IN
point They sought the advice or Chi
Wade, OF the State police. and Attorne
General Knowlton. At the office OF Z
Chief Of Police they received the opim
that the law would be construed TO
favorable TO the operatives.
TO OFFSET PARTICULARS BILL.
LOWELL. MASS. August 3.-The M
rimack Mills have begun paying th'
weayers by the pound. instead OF by
cut. 10 Offset the conditions or the p'
ticulars bill. A weaver running eis
looms. producing forty-two cuts, VIII IN
| lose four cents week.