The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-18
Beginning of the Wage Conflict in
New England.
VAST NUMBER AFFECTED
EIGHTY THOUSAND FEEL THE
EFFECTS OF WAGE CUT.
Strikes Will Be Directed By the La
Dor Unions = Strength Will Be
Concentrated On New Bedford and
.Lowell-Coal Operators and Min
ers Meet at Chicago.

Boston, Mass, Jan. 17.-Eighty thou
sand skilled operatives, employed in
about 70 of the chief cotton mills of
under the sweeping order of a new
wage scale, which entails a reduction
of 10 per cent, or more. This reduc-
tion brings on in New Bedford, Mass,
Lewiston and Biddeford, Me-, labor
strikes which may prove he-beginning
CT an Industrial battle, greater in ex-
tent and more disastrous in erect than
any IN the previous history of cotton
manufacturing in the United States.
The great corporations in New Bed
ford are silent and thousands of
operatives are idle, while here and
there discomfort has cropped out all
day, the most serious being at Bidde-
ford, Maine, where 5000 persons re-
fused to work, thus closing two mills,
and at Lewiston, where one mill was
crippled by 400 weavers staying out.
The general wage reduction is esti-
mated to affect 12I,O0O persons in
about $50 miles,
LIGHTS WENT OUT.
All the New Bedford mills opened at
the usual time. When no help came in,
lights went out, speed stopped, over
seers and second hands prepared to
make everything snug and the mill
gates were closed indefinitely. The
labor unions did little work today ex-
cept to carry out plans of campaign,
which will be developed only as faint
hearted WeaverS seek to return TO
work.
The battle against the corporations
undoubtedly would have been fought
everywhere. had not the voice OF men
and women who are i'll prepared at this
time of year to go into idleness been
needed by the conservatives. AS 1t is,
the great majority OF persons employed
in nine corporations in New Bedford,
and one corporation each in two Maine
Cities will take upon themselves the
task of forcible resistance to the re-
dUction.
In New Bedford the nine corporations
represent % mills, giving means, of live
lihood to nearly 10000.
DIRECTED BY UNIONS.
The strikes will be directed by labor
unions, the lead being taken by the
Mule Spinners' union, the national ex-
ecutive committee of which has sane
toned the strike of opposition and
promised financial aid. The spinners
and weavers are practically the only
branches of operatives which have
maintained ORGANIZATION.
One striking feature of the prelimi-
nary agitation against the cut-down
and the strike talk was the plea of the
national labor bodies interested that no
strikes be begun, except at New Bed
ford and Lowell, and asking that all
strength be concentrated on the former
place. Lowell operatives held in abey-
ance a decision to strike, pledging their
support to the other city. The strikes
in the other places mentioned have yet
to be officially sanctioned by the gov
erning labor body.
One feature of the labor troubles
which may manifest itself is the return
to their Canadian homes by hundreds
of families who speak French, who
flock to the states in winter 10 secure
employment.
NUMBER AFFECTED.
Following is an estimate of the num-
Der oe operatives affected by the cut
down, but the actual result will scarce
IL be seen until the new schedule of
wages is tried:
Knight, Goddars & Chase mills. in
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Con-
necticut, 10000; Lowell mills, $4,000;
Lewiston, 5000; Fail River, 1900; Bidde-