The Portland daily press., 1898-02-07
DIssENsIoN AMONG STRIKERS.

New Bedford. Mass, February 5.-The
third week of the big strike ended today
and with the rupture that prevails be-
tives, it is question if the battle can be
carried on much longer. All that Will
heal this rupture is LIBERAL supply OF
funds from outside sources to divide
among the discontinued oil and keep
them in line. These non -unionists COM
pose some of the very class of help that
will not work when they can, but who
want to work when they cannok sIhe
operatives who are making most OF The
trouble are not nearly as badly off as
some others who declare they will starve
before they return to work as the slaves
Of the mill men. "We have boen cut
down Is per cent since 1894" said one.
,rand this 10 per cent reduction will
bring the cut down to Is per, cent in
four years. We can earn only enough to
eat and clothe ourselves, and was not a
slave as well off as that?'
The labor leaders have been very
busy men today. This Spinners paid off
their members and were busy until at.
ternoon. The loom fxers held an execu-
tive committee meeting, the weavers'
union were notified to have witnesses
in the case of Jane Gallagher VS.. the
Hathaway mill on the fines question at
court in Taunton on Monday and also
made arrangements for an important
meeting of the executive council OF the
American Weavers' Federation in this
city tomorrow when action on the strike
will be taken.
Rev. W. J. Reynolds open letter to the
mill men in which he asks them II they
cannot confer with the operatives and
end the strike for the best interests OF
the city, Is freely commented on this eve
ming in various places, but the prevalent
opinion is that the manufacturers are
now bound to give the operatives a les
SON and not open their mills until they
feel assured that the help will have tc
come in to stay at the reduction.
The city has paid out to the strikers
Of 81 1928 80. Some of the men have been
making at the rate of SO per week. which
is more than they could make in the
mills.
President Gompers of the American
Federation Of Labor was expected to al
dress meeting here tonight, but his visit
has been postponed until next Wednes
day when public meeting will be held
in City hall.
The strike council met this afternoon
and reported that news from the collec.
tors was more encouraging. Arrange
ments were made to send out big force
of collectors next week.
The soup houses are crowded daily and
the stock of wood and coal at the city
yard is running low, SO much fuel has
been given to strikers this week. Next
week strikers will be hired by the city te
cut up quantity of cordwood.
The legislative committee on labor will
visit New Bedford on Tuesday in It's en-
deayor to investigate the causes of stag
nation in the cotton industry. The COM
mittee is said to be anxious to learn some
thing of the fines question, and that Is
why the members will first come here,
when both subjects can be looked into.
The committee will also visit Fall
River, Lowell, Lawrence and other places
where the wages Of the mill operati yes
have been reduced and will hold public
hearings there. Not only the operatl yes
themselves, but representatives OF the
corporations, the employees, will be sum
| moned by the committee and Obliged to
testify.
1t was rumored today that some of the
mills would open their gates Monday
but the report is without the slightest
| foundation.