The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-31
5ROKEN HEARTS.
fe Cotton Mill Operatives Of
New England
f., hO Were Told That Mchinley'S
Election Meant Prosperity,
nd Voted as One Man for Him
i'm 1885,
3ENOW FACE TO FACE
at
exc the Greatest Disaster in
. Their History.
Permanent Reduction Of
Wages to Go Into Effect.
MIGHT THEY VOTE
Permanent Reduction of
Wages to Go Into Effect.
JNIGHT THEY VOTE
On the MOmentOus Question of
Going Out on Strike.
Many However, Ready to Accept
Their Doom.

Fan River Mass. Dec 31-MeetinSS
OF FIVE of the labor organizations of the
city were held last night and with the
exception of those held by the weavers,
largely attended. All save the mule
spfnners association, the sentiment
while marked by a stronger strike feel
ing than the leaders had been led to
expect were in favor Of accepting the
wage reduction for the present. the
spinners were hot for a strike and had
a vote been taken would have voted
overwhelmingly to leave their mules.
The leaders found that it was dan
Eserous to attempt to urge too strongly
the acceptance CT the conference CON-
ruittee's resoIutiOn and after a heated
discussion. decided upon a postpone
ment of all action until Saturday after
noon.
At the Saturday afternoon meeting.
hallOting viii begin at o'clock. The
roll of mills will be called Alphabetical
IS beginning with the American linen
-snd continuing through the rest OF the
st Voting VIII be confined to hnan-
Nial members only and according to the
ty--laWs Of the union, It will require a
Wo-thirds vote Of the members to or
'er strike A meeting of the associa-
Ion VIII be held in the evening to hear
he result IF the voting and as there
re some mills in which notices have
'er vet been posted. the question as to
CIetEer or not the spInners in them
-re to be called out Will be considered.
The size of the weaNers union com
PEELED the holding of meetings in vari-
ous parts of the city and the results
we're quickly obtained. They voted to
--cceUt the reduction for the present
- a majority of 153 out of S99 votes
-~ast. The leaders were surprised at
the strength OF the strike sentiment.
Out of a total of 145 members Of the
slaShcrS union over d hundred We're
present and the discussion was heated
The vote was finally taken and stood
54 to 42 for acceptance Of the commit
tee resolution.
The meeting of the spoilers and
Wrappers was largely attended and the
feeling amoag the girls was strongly
n favor of a strike The leaders
rSed them to wait and the vote taken
q asulted in the acceptance of the resO-
. .ution-SS to 67.
t The meeting Of the mill men was held
at two different times The men voted
to accept the resolution. The day men
after considerable discussion voted 90
20 90 to strike, but later recOnsidered
{ he vote and decided TO accept for the
. present
The strike feeling in all of the unions
is much stronger than has been antici-
Dated- The loom fixerS and machin-
lists will meet tonight and it is expected
that the former Will vote to strike. The
me result is almost a foregone
lclusion in the spinners union on
e whole the strike outlook is
.tronger than at any time since the
first announcement Of the reduction
although the strike If ordered, may not
include all classes of help.