The herald., 1898-01-01
In All the Cotton Mills Of
New England
NOT ONLY THE OPERATIVES
BUT CLERKS AND ovERsEERS
WILL SUFFER-
Fall River Mule Sprinners Are Hot
for Strike-All the Rest
Submit
ISOLATED Press Special wire

Associated Press Special wire
BOSTON, Dec. S1.-The action of the
cotton manufacturers in New Bedford
and Rhode Island, in deciding to Join
the movement to lower the wage scale
in January, which was inaugurated by
the big corporations of Fall River, makes
the reduction practically general one
throughout the New England states.
Cotton mills in Fall River. Lowell, Man
chester, Salem, Suncook, N. H., and q
number of other small places have all
ready posted notices of q reduction
amounting to from 10 to II 11-19 per cent.
In New Bedford it is understood the cut
applies to the cloth mills only. So far as
known, the reduction in all the mill CEN
ters applies to treasurers, superintend-
ents overseers and clerks, as well as to
the spinners and other operatives.
CONCLUDE TO CUT
PROVIDENCE, r. l., Dec. Slater
delaying their decision to the last, in the
hope that in the meantime conditions
might change so as to render the step
unnecessary, the agents of the leading
cotton manufacturing corporations in
this state decided today to reduce wages.
The cut will average about II per cent.
1t will take effect January 18th.
Mr.. J. M. Danielson of the Quinnebag
company, the Lockwood Manufacturing
company and other corporations in
Eastern Connecticut, said the reduction
would also take effect at his mills on
January 18th, although the amount Of
the reduction had not yet been decided
on. The other Eastern Connecticut cor
porations will take similar action, and
mills operating about 1000 spindles in this
state, Connecticut and Massachusetts,
and the earnings of between 10000 and
81, 900 operatives will be affected by this
decision of the Providence agents.
MULE SPINNERS EXCITED
ings 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 In all save the Mule
Spinners' Association, the sentiment,
while marked by stronger strike feel
ing than the leaders had been led to ex-
pect, was in favor of accepting the wage
reduction for the present. The spinners
were hot for strike and had vote been
taken would have voted Overwhelmingly
to leave their mules. The leaders found
that 1t was dangerous to attempt to urge
too strongly the acceptance of the con-
ference committees resolution, and after
| a heated discussion decided upon post
ponement of all action until Saturday
afternoon. At the Saturday meeting bal
loting will begin at 2 o'clock. 1t will re-
auire two thirds vote of the members
| to order strike.
NOTICE OF REDUCTION
NEW EEDFORD, Mass, Dec. 31.-The
owners Of the Cotton Cloth and Weaving
Mills in this city have voted to post no.
tices Of 10 per cent reduction in wages
to take effect January Is. 1t is under.
stood that the reduction will apply t.
all salaries. The cut down will affect
nearly 10000 employees.
| A SCOTCH LOCKOUT
| GLASGOW, Dec. 31.-The Fairchilt
ship yards, which have hitherto helt
aloof from the Employers Federation
have posted lockout notices, which be
come effective January 18th. Many othe
Scotch yards will follow suit.