Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-09-16
STRIKE is LIKELY.
The Fall River Situation Is
Growing More Complicated.
Weavers Given Great Deal of Encour-
agement to Begin the Trouble.
Other Organizations viii Support Them
Public Opinion Against Strike.

Fall River Mass Sept. 15.-Tbe stu.
atlon at the mills, due to the uncertainty
about the wages question, has assumed
more complicated and threatening atti-
tude than was looked for when the manu-
facturers' meeting was called early in
the week, and Saturdays statement of
the condition of the cloth market does not
offer much of prospect of quick solu-
ton of the troubles.
The holders of cloth and those who
would like to renew contracts for delivery
before January are holding off in the hope
Of an early settlement, and the demand
for goods is not being met in this market.
The sales of the week were only $1,000
pieces, hardly three days production. This
was not due wholly to the high figures at
which goods are held according to brokers'
reports, but to the uncertainty hanging
over the actions of the trades unions for
the next few weeks.
The weaverS will meet next Friday
night, and they are getting q great deal of
encouragement to strike on the following
Monday morning. The carders have al
ready voted to assist them all they can,
and the spinners' executive committee
has been instructed to assist the weavcrs
or any other union that begins the en-
forcement of a
Demand For More Wages.
1t is the opinion of men acquainted with
affairs in the Spinners' union that imme-
diate action would be taken by the spin
If the linen mill strike was settled.
In any event, the wcavcrs will be en-
couraged by the committee to fight it out
The Slasher Tenders union announces
that it will assist either of the Older
unions in enforcing demand, and it is
not improbable that If a strike is ordered
the slashcrs themselves will put in some
sort of a demand.
There is worry general feeling prevalent
among the unionsts that strike will not
be allowed by the manufacturers but that
some sort of a compromise will be offered
This feeling is due of course to the better
prospects for trade and u deep-seatcd hope
that manufacturers will not allow them
to be
Injured by Any Labor Ouarrels.
As the manufacturers express them
selves, there is certainly no substantial
SiOuIiA iOl tiilS lttIiIlE. EctNtTll INuHll
facturers have already openly stated their
determination to shut down their mills
rather than concede the wcavers demands
at the present time and under the present
conditions. Their feelings are well shown
in the unanimity with which they de-
clined to advance wages, and in the Sc
we're tone of their letter sent to the wcav.
ers last Thursday
1t will be very much changed condi-
ton in tho market that causes them to
change their minds, and there Is abso
lutely nothing In Saturdays statement os
sales to indicate that the change is close at
hand
For the next week both sides will watch
the trend of affairs with anxiety.
There is no disputing the fact that pub
lie opinion does not favor "a strike at this
time. While business men would be
pleased to see the operatives get more
wages, the memory of last years cheer
less struggle is so fresh that 1t is hoped
there will not be another one for a long
time to come.