Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-03-11
END OF THE STRIKE.
Wheels of Industry at BiddefOrd
Again in Motion.
New BEDFORD strikers Will shortly
Capitulate.

BIDDEFORD. Me-, March S-The cloud
Of uncertainty and depression which hung
over this city seven weeks, during the prog
res, Of the cotton mil strike. was suddenly
lispelled Oh Saturday afternoon. The strike
is of and the Pepperell and Laconia mills
reopened their gates on Monday morning the
strikers. or a majority OF them at least. re-
turning to work under the 10 per cent. cut
down which they had been resisting since
Feb. 20. Neither side can claim an ab-
sOute victory. Eacn had considerably
undercstimated the others power Of
endurance. Though the operatives have
finally accepted the cutdOwn, they have
done SO with the agents assurance that
the Pepperell and LacOnia will not be the
last Of the New England mills to restore the
old wages when the condition of the cotton
market warrants. The conclusion of the
strike came somewhat Unexpectedly. Fol-
lowing their custom, the operatives held a
meeting on Saturday afternoon, to discuss
the sitaation. Chairman Noel Beaupre
briefly addressed them. telling them Of the
successful efforts Of the committees sent to
Massachusetts mill cities in quest Of financial
aid. He was interrupted in his address by
the appearance OF representative of the
Dressers' Union, the body which really
versatOn with the newcomer. Chairman
Beaupre announced that he had been
requested to Join committee OF
operatives to call on Agent Robert Nc
Arthur. This committee was composed
Of a dresser. a weaver and a mule spinner.
The committee found Agent Macarthur in
his Office. He received them courteously,
but told them he could make no promises to
them other than what he had said in former
interviews that the Pepperell and Laconia
were not the first cotton mills in New Eng
land to make Il cutdOWu, and would not be
the last to restore the old wages whenever
there Is sufficient improvement in the cotton
goods trade to warrant an advance He
could not negotiate with the operatives as
strikers. He referred to the action Of the
pepperell and LacOnia. several years ago.
when theH voluntarily restored: in the
fall. y reduction which had been made
iu the spring. He agreed to reopen the
gates Monday morning, If lie could be
assured that the operatives TOulu return.
The dressers, by whom the strike was pre-
cipitated were the first to act on the report.
They voted unanimously to return to work
Monday. In mass meeting OF the strikers
Chairman Beaupre related the substance OF
Agent McArthurs statement to the commit
tee, and then asked how many were willing.
to return to work Monday. There followed
a mingling OF Affirmative and negative re-
sponses. Then the chairman called
for rising vote, and all but
about 20 stood up in favor Of going to
work. The announcement of the vote was
received with cheers. Some dissatisfaction.
was expressed at the result as it was sait
that the dressers who brought on the fight
should have had sand enough to fight it
out TO the end An attempt too, was made
to secure large enough minority to stop
the operating 0ftne mills. but the operative.
were too near starved out and public opinion
was too strong As to the hopeessness of the
fight to make the movement success.
The business men of Biddeford. who
hard times AS they have experienced
during the long shutdown. are jubiant
tonight over the prospect of a reopening
OF the mills. Almost to n man the mer-
chants have stood by the strikers and
literally contributed money. clothing
and provisions to keep the operatives fam
lilies from destitution. The Rev. FIR. T. p
Linehan of st. Mary and the Rev. FIR. P +.
Dupont of st. Joseph's church have lately
been using their influence to have the opera
tives return. 1t is said to have been largely
through the intervention of these clergymen
that the interview between the agent aud
strikers committee was brought about The
operatives have lost nearly S2l0 900 in wages
since they came out on strike. and business
has been crippled. Had the battle for higher
wages lasted few weeks longer the city
would have been ruined. As it is, it will
take BiddefOrd many months TO recover
from the effect Of the strike, if it ever
does