The Portland daily press., 1898-02-22
THE MILL SITUATION.
Secretary Cunnane Notes a Faliing-off in
Money Aid for New Bedford

| New Bedford, Mass, February 2l.--
The sixth week of the strike of the cot
| ton mill employees began this morning.
No attempt was made by either side to
have work resumed, and from present
| indications the battle will last while
| longer.
The non.union operatives are very rest
less, and it is believed that if the gates of
the mills were opened, many of the non-
unionists would go in. The spinners and
the members of some of the organiZa-
tions are as determined as ever not to go
back at the rate OF wages offered by the
manufacturers and it is predicted that
unless an agreement is reached the New
Bedford mills will be handicapped
for months. The mills turn out fins
class of goods, and the operatives in sew
eral departments are more skilled than
the operatives of the average cotton mill.
Hundreds have left the city and it is
thought they will not return even ii the
mills start 1t Is stated in union circles
that their places will be hard to fill.
President Cunnane of the weavers as
sociation today gave to the press his re-
port as secretary of the joint strike COM
mittee. He SAID:
sThe total for the week is 81 1888. IS as
compared with $1,475.95 for last week.
decrease Of $92.0S To me there ap-
pears three reasons for such decrease:
First, the meeting in Boston On Sunday
last, a meeting called ostensiDly for the
purpose of providing ways and means for
bringing substantial financial assistance
to the New Bedford strikers. and meet
ing which failed in its purpose evidently
because the hope and ambitions of indi-
viduals were considered prior to the needs
Of thousands. Second, because the Maine
disaster appears to have eclipsed the
sufferings and wants of the idle opera
tives of this city, there being distinct
falling off of contributions during the
past three days, whilst all delegates have
reported extra difficulties in their work
on thatssaccount; and third, because much
money which otherwise might have float
ed into the general fund from other orga
nlzation of textile bodies has been sent
direct to respective kindred bodies in this
city.
"During the past week delegates have
been at Brockton, Manchester, Worcester,
Providence, Olneyville, Holyoke, Paw
tucket, New York and Philadelphia
working in the places named and the adj
joining neighborhoods The substantial
sum Of $4OO has been sent as the result o
benefit concerts in Bos on. The sum
would have been consi ierable larger, but
for the fact that benefits were given at
the same time in that city for the bene-
fit of the firemon who lost their lives in
the late confiagration.
cover two weeks ago the committee
sent applications for assistance to the va
rious English textile labor leaders, and
hope that during the coming week IA
vorable replies will be heard from them. "
MAY ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING.
New Bedford, February 21.-The atti-
tude of the business men of New Bedford
regarding the strike is clearly indicated
from the result of tonight's meeting OF
the joint arbitration committee composed
of members of the city council and the
board of trade.
The committee discussed the matter
briefly, during which discussion the
members of the committee expressed
their desire of the finding of the strike
and the following vote was adopted:
"Voted that the chairman Of the joint
committee be authorized to correspond
with the state board of arbitration look
ing toward another visit to this city and
the board be requested to hold n meeting
in this city every week until the labor
difficulty is adjusted and the mills are
running"
letter to the state board, signed by
Mayor Ashley, as chairman of the COM
mittee appointed by the city council,
and by Stephen A. Brownell as chair
man of the committee of the board of
trade, was dispatched there this evening.
Since Mr.. Barry, on his visit last week,
expressed the willingness of the state
board to'act when it considered its pres
ence might do some good, there is.no
doubt that the request will meet with
speedy attention.
No attempt will be made on the paFs
of the local committee to arrange for
meeting before the manufacturers and
the Representatives of the operatives,
but the matter will be left entirely in
the hands of the state board. A meeting
of the secretaries of the various labor
organizations has been called for tomor-
row evenings 1t is limited that the meet
ing will be of much Importance: From
this it has been inferred that the meet
ing will consider advances toward a con-
ference between the manufacturers and
the labor leaders. toward the settlement
of the strike.