The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-01
WHAT Is IT FOR.
Why Are All the Cotton Mill
Operatives
Being Thrown Ont Of Work
This Summer
ALL OF THE SPTNDLES
In the New England Manufac-
turing Districts
Are to StOp-NO Explanation
Given of 1t.
ALL OF THE SPINDLES

Fail River July 1.-The manufactur-
ers are signing the agreement to curtail
the production of print cloths 80 per
cent during the next two months-in
other words, to stop four weeks during
July and August.
This action is the outcome of three
months of discussion and conference.
The agreement binds subscribers only
upon the signature of names that rep
resent 100000 spindIes. This is taken
to mean that the $500, 900 spindles in
this city will stop buzzing, and that the
800 900 spindles pledged to the agree
ment in advance by the Boston offices
of Lowell and Lawrence mills, with a
half million or more in Rhode Island,
will be soon represented in the agree
ment.
The news that B. B. & r. Knight and
the LonSdale companies of Rhode ISL
and had come into the agreement was
received here late this afternoon, about
the time that the rumor was circulated
that the Manchester IN. H. mills would
not shut down. It was also rumored
that the GOddards would not come in
but this was at variance with the state
ment that the Goddards and Knights
made the circulation of the agreement
possible by announcing their intention
of being in sympathy with the move
ment for short time.
It is no secret that the local manu-
facturers expect 100000 out of II. 00O.-
600 spindles in New England will have
stopped for four weeks by September /
The movement assumes gigantic pro-
portions today and threatens to become
one of the most important ever known
in the history of the industry Stop
ping 1000 900 spindIes will throw 40 900
operatives out of work during the
weeks the curtailment is on, and it is
anticipated that many mills in cities
that are not now expected to come into
the movement will eventually decide
to partially curtail New Bedford it
is understood here, is not in the agree
ment.
c. c. RounseviIle and JosephA. Baker.
the committee appointed by the Ark
wright club to look after local mills
had the paper ready for signatures this
morning, and during the day secured
signatures representing 800 600 spindIes
or nearly half the total number in the
city. There is little doubt but all the
local mills will sign. The sales this
week amount to about 80, 900 pieces
twice as many as last week. The stock
is increased about GO, O00 which makes
the local surplus something like 7O0-
eco pieces. The market is shade
steadier at 7-16, owing, no doubt, to
the talk of curtailment.
Under the agreement signed today the
mills may choose their own time in
which to stop and their own method of
curtailing. Stopping alternate weeks
seems to be the popular method, as that
Will keep the machinery 1tmbered up
keep money in circulation, give the Op-
eratives a chance to rest and prevent
them from leaving town, and will help
materially to cut off the stock The
curtai1ment will cut off about 900 900
pieces from the regular production
Secretaries Howard, Whitehead and
/ Tarnsey of the Spinners' Weavers' and
Carders' union approve the cUrt2ilment
on alternate weeks as the best posi-
Die movement under the circumstances.