The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-05
4 Big TEXTILE STRIKE.
TEN THOUSAND RHODE ISL
AND OPERATIVES 60 OUT.

Cotton Manufacturers Five of
New Bedford's Twenty-seven
Mills Shut Down-The Union Pre-
pared for q Long Fight.
A dispatch from New Bedford, Mass, says :
The great textile strlke-the biggest of its
kind which this city has ever known and
one OF the largest in the history of New
England-is on In full force. The fac
tory bells rang as usual on the morn
ing of the starting Of the strike.
At the north end, where are the Wamsutta
and other great mills. only dozen or fifteen
non-union weavers went to work. All the
rest stayed out In protest against the reduc-
ton Of wages posted last week.
At the south end Treasurer William D.
Rowland, OF the Howland, the New Bedford
and Rotch Mills, asked the hands to work
until - o'clock In order that he might con-
suit with the other manufacturers. Mr. HoV-
land is noted for his kindly treatment OF his
employees and was known to be anxious to
avert strike, and most OF the help worked
as usual until the noon hour. Then those
mills also closed.
More than 10000 mill workers. clad in
their best and, for the most part, with smtl.
Ing, happy faces, thronged the streets and
gave them q gala day aspect.
But it was not holiday. There was
a buzz of enger when 1t became hlnted
abroad that the small handful OF non-union
workers were laboring in the Bristol mill: a
mob Of a thousand gathered about the mlilm
the morning and yelled for an hour. At noon,
with forces augmented, they again surrounds
ed the mill and attacked the operatives
as they came out. Stones were thrown, and
some Of the striF -s injured each other one
worker had his ..use broken by stone,
boy was badly cut in the face, and several
persons were roughly handled. Finally the
polica came and scattered the mob.
Similar scenes were enacted at the Ans.
hurt mill; and there girl was seriously CIT
about the face by some thrown missile.
How long this strike will last cannot now
be predicted. Secretary Ross, OF the Spin
ners' union, expects that it will continue for
six months, ard some OF the manufacturers
declare themselves prepared for long fight.
Andrew G., Pierce, Of the Wamsutta mills,
said that his mills would not be governed oy
the action Of Mr. Rowland, whatever 1t may
be. His mills, he declared, are now shut
down tor an indefinite period, and ne
thought that the other mills would take SIM
liar action.
On the other hand "A leading mill man. also
at the north end, thinks that the manufac-
turers are already beaten, that the strike
was big blunder to follow the Fall River
mills in reducing wages. This gentleman
thinks that the key of the situation ls IN Ar.
HoVland's hands, and that opinion seems TO
be held by many others.
Mr.. Rowland, as has BEEN said, Is always
strongly sympathetic toward his WORKING
people, and he is particularly anxious no"
to avert fight. He said to-day:
81 have already conferred with commit
tee OF the help and I propose to- do 80 with
my fellow-manufacturers, Wnen iasce[Iaan a
the position Of both then shall decide what
course to take. I can't afford to- let the help
run NV mills Just to suit themselves, but
will Grant all I can. # 1t comes to SIM
pie demand for a cut by the manufacturefe
and for the old schedule by the help,
shall waive the cut-down and run my nuns.
I can't afford to shut down and sever tne
friendly relations with the hands Our goods
have q reputation, and we have. orders that
must be filed. II impose such conditions
that the men refuse to- work my silent SPIN
dies won't make money for the stocSnoio-
ers."
sBut how about over-production"
.tWell. I agree that something must be-
done to reducethe cost OF goods. but am OF
a different mind from most manufacturers.
T look for better times in the near future.
II curtailment is the remedy let us curtall
but il reducing wages Is going to- Drlng
everything to- standstill it IS pretty evident
that isn't the proper course.
II a long fight is TO come. the spinnersar
in excellent shape for 1t. They have S4o;oou
in the treasury and offers of generous as
sistance from the national unIon. ine oouy
l,ox cd n. a
Thousands Of men and women gatnereu
about the gates Of the various mills, ous 80
few entered the works that, with the eXcep-
tion OF the plants mentioned. the machinery
was not started. AT tho City mill a great
crowd gathered and the police were SUM
moned. but their services were not required.
A handful OF help went into the Wamsutta
mills. but these operatives were sent OUT
again, and were received With ]eers anu
laughter
The strikers are oe;ecting to a reduction
In wages ranging from two and a halt to ten
per cent. the greatest cut being directed
against the spinners, the best paid OF tne
operatives, and the changed schedule atlect-
ing five thousand weavers to only siiSnt
DEGREE. Only five OF the twenty-seven miilS
In the city are open. The pay rous OF tne
mills aggregate $75, 900 week.
All the mills in Fall River, Mass. that
were running started up on the morning OF
the strike in spite of the vote ofthe Weavers'
Association to take vacation. But ACCORD, s GSG
ing TO the reports received only about 5000
otthe 10000 looms in the citv are runn!as'
rhe. Wampanoag mills started With 100
looms and then shut down entirely.
The labor troubles in New Bedford Involve
thirteen OF the largest cotton ma1utacturing
with an inysstment Nna Gl s MA
1000. There are ,042, ,ooo splnuies ana
Is $50 looms involved. Six VI e1e factories
are cloth mills and seven are yarn mills.
The following data shows the extent
ofthe cotton industry involved In Fall River:
Capital invested, s2s, $50 900; spindles, e
54S, 500 looms, 10000; en- oloyes, 25,s2o;
weekly pay roll, $172, ,675: cotton consumed
weekly, 5000 bales, production 72o'ooo'ooo
yards OF cloth per annum.