The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-14
ACTION DEPENDS
UPON THE UNIONS
Strong Probability That They viii
Adopt Gompers' Ideas.
at Boston of Officers of the
Various Textile Organizations
Not One Vote Registered Against
Ordering a General Strike-147,-
600 Operatives VIII Doubtless
Cease Work-Greatest Strike the
Country Ever Saw.

Boston, Feb. 13.-At a meeting in this
city of So representatives of textile
unions in New England, it was unani-
mously voted to recommend that all
unions call out the operatives in every
cotton mill in New England.
The resolution was practically the
outcome of the recommendation which
President Gompers made to the Fedora
ton of Labor last Sunday, in which he
! urged the different unions to unite on
some settled policy on the mill situa-
ton in New England. At that meeting
a committee of four was appointed to
take charge of the matter, and after a
conference this committee recommend
| ed that a general meeting be held to
take definite action.
THE SITUATION.
Today the officers of the various ma
tional textile associations assembled
and for four hours discussed the situa-
ton from every standpoint
The primary object of the meeting
was 10 devise some method of rendering
assistance to the New Bedford strikers.
1t was pointed out that if the strikers
at New Bedford could hold out for four
weeks without receiving more than 20
cents per operative per week in the
way of outside assistance, other mill
operatives could stand q similar strain,
and that if all went out it would pre-
cipitate a crisis that would have to be
met with in a short time by the manu-
facturers.
1t was also shown that the mule spin
ners were in excellent condition as re-
CARDS funds; united textile workers and
the New England federation of weavers
were in good shape, but that the rest
che Of NI,a 1ltrff
were discussed, and at length the mat
ter was put to vote, no one being re-
gistered against the motion that the
different unions should order a general
strike in every mill until satisfactory
adjustment of wages could be arranged.
ACTION OF THE UNIONS.
It now remains for the various nav
tional unions to take action on the mat
ter. but what this action viii be is
matter of conjecture. If all should ac-
quiesce and vote to strike, 147 900 oper-
atives would undoubtedly cease work
and the manufacture of cotton goods
throughout New England would be at
a standstill. If, on the other hand, only
a few unions should vote to strike the
refusal of the others would still keep
q large portion of the mills is operation.
Inasmuch, however, as the meeting
was the outcome of President Gompers'
suggestion, and as he admonished the
members of the Federation of Labor to
join hands and assist the New Bedford
strikers, it seems probable that nearly
every union will carry out the recon-
mendations and that one of the greatest
strikes ever seen in this country is i'm
pending.
NOT JOYFUL NEWS.
Bedford, Mass, Feb 13.-From the
strikers the action taken by the confer
ence of textile ur/ons in Boston today
is scarcely likely to be received with
joy, inasmuch as it is against the policy
adopted at the meetings of the eXecut-
i've committee of the National Spinners'
union - to-wit: that New Bedford
should be made the battle-ground, and
until the conclusion of the strike here |
the other textile centers should remain !
at work, thereby acquiring the means |
to assist the New Bedford operatives in |
their struggle.
ONE AT A TIME.
Then, at the conclusion of the New |
Bedford fight, the plan was, that whe-
Their New Bedford won or lost, the |
strike against the general reduction !
should be extended in one district at
a time until the whole of New England
should be covered. In view of this plan,
which, at the time of it's adoption,
seemed to meet with general acquiies-
ence. the action of the conference, it
would seem, is a direct change of tao
tics.
The delegates to the conference will
report the new plan to their several
unions, and although the Boston con-
ference adjourned sine die, it is pre-
sumed that after action is taken by
the unions a conference will be called
10 take action on the result.
COLLECTIONS.
Secretary Cunnane of the general
strike council reports on the collections
received up to Saturday The total
amount for the week was STATS, as
against $3.50 for the previous week.
Daniel De Leon, the socialist organ
ger, today closed the series of meet
ngs which he has held in the interest
# his party. AS a result of this meet
ng a branch of the Socialists Trade &
Labor alliance has been formed in this
.ity.
NEW MOVEMENT.
This is the new trades union move
nent vouched for by the socialists. and ,
is fundamental principle is the wiping {
nut of the capitalist class at the ballot
'oX rather than the settlement of diff
erenceS between capital and labor by
trikes. Notwithstanding the attitude
f the trade and labor alliance and the
ocialists generally toward strikes, they ]
eclare that they wish to do nothing
o injure the present strike, but after
t is over they want the socialists to ex-
TT their influence at the polls. I