The Portland daily press., 1898-01-19
FINES SYSTEM AN ISSUE.
Another Question Brought Into the New
Bedford Strike.

Another Question Brought Into the New
Bedford Strike.
New Bedford, Mass, January 18.-The
event OF the second day Of the strike was
the action of the weavers' union, which
voted, after considerable discussion to
endorse the action Of the mass meeting
of weavers last Friday night, including
the opposition to the flning system, as
one of the issues of the strike.
Beyond this there was little out of the
ordinary. Early In the morning about a
hundred strikers gathered in the vicinity
of the Bristol mill, where the trouble had
occurred the night previous, but there
was no excitement for them or from
them.
The situation has apparently settled
down for q long strike. The operatives
are making plans to that end and the
manufacturers have nothing to say. AT
both ends of the city everything is as or
derly as though week of Sundays had
struck town.
The weavers' union at Its meeting this
afternoon voted to endorse the action OF
the mass meeting held in thoirink Fri
day night to make the removal OF the
fines system an issue OF the strike.
The vote was taken after a discussion
of considerable length and it was quite
close shave for the issue, inasmuch as
the president ruled that it required
two-thirds vote, the same as any other
question Of strike.
There were $50 votes cast and the re-
quired two-thirds was 564 The vote on
the adoption of the issue was yes, 5e3;
no, l53. The majority over the required
two-thirds therefore Was 19.
CITY hall was filled with nearly 600
weavers, about third Of whom were
women. Most of them were in strike
costume-their best Sunday cioJhes. Inc
meeting was lively one and during its
progress the president was frequently
called upon to use considerable diplomacy
in keening order The first part was
occupied with the usual routine busi-
ness. The principal feature was the fnan-
cial report. The auditor reported that the
cotton weavers association had nearly
Fall River, Fair Haven, and New Bed
ford. The executive board showed an
increase of 240 members within the
month ending December 81.
After the disposal of these reports,
which were adopted with considerable en-
thusiasm. the question OF recognizing the
abolition of the fines system as an issue,
the C01GI DuSluSoe VI UAo 1CCe1hS W0S
one or two of the members argued
that tie fines question had nothing to
do with union business at this time, 1t
had been previously voted to act on 1t
in March,,
The meeting then unanimously adopt
ed the following resolution:
Resolved, That the weavers, in mass
meeting assembled, do deplore the action
taken by some persons in the vicinity Of
the Bristol mill and chat we will do
all in our power to prevent the destruc-
ton Of property which has taken place
at the Bristol or any other mill in this
city.
With relation to the matter of the re-
quest of the weayers of Wamsutta mills
Nos. /, 2 and Z. to return to worn, on the
promise that they would not be cut, the
meeting voted to lay the matter on the
table.
New Bedford, Mass, January 1S. The
spinners' union tonight voted to pay
the members of the union strike pay of
81 per week per membe each member to
be allowed 25 extra for every child in his
family under 13 years OF age. 1t WAS
also voted to pay doffers $50 per week
and ioiners SO. Strike pay will commence
Saturday, January s9th, payment to be
made at Spinners' hall. A communica-
tion was received from the carpenters
union of Boston rendering sympathy
and offer of aid.