Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-11
COTTON MILL OPER ATIvEs WILL
RESIST WAGE REDUCTION.
new BEDFORD sPINNERs ACT.
VOTED LAST NIGHT 3OS TO 4 NOT TO
ACCEPT THE 10 PER CENT CUT.
Providence Weavcrs Reject the Conn
promise OHer of Operators and
Vote to Strike-LewistOn,
Me-, Sentiment in Fav.
or of Striking.

New Bedford, Mass, Jan. 1O.-Apparently
a strike in the cloth mills next Monday
morning can only be averted by with
drawal Of the notices of a 10 per cent re-
duction posted in the mills on Friday. De-
cember 81. The spinners tonight took final
action on the question of striking. The
result was in favor of resistance to the re-
duction. The vote was 39S to 4.
The attempts at arbitration have thus
far resulted in the decision Of the state
board of arbitration to visit New Bedford.
They will come tomorrow. and a confer
ence of millmen and operatives with the
state board has been called. Both sides
will be represented. but both the millmen
and the operatives. it would seem from
present indications, will be unwilling to
surrender their positions.
Tomorrow night the weavers will meet
to a final action on the matter. Their
representatives claim they will ratify their
previous informal determination, to strike.
Providence. r. l.. Jan. 1o:.-The weavers
of the WanSkuk worsted mills tonight re-
jected the compromise offered by Superin-
tendent Metcalf and voted to strike. They
had demanded the restoration Of the 1893
schedule. as already put into effect at the
mills in Olneyville. and abolition of the
double loom system. The compromise offer
was to pay, u cent extra a yard on all
work in which over ten harnesses are
used. The demand for the general raise,
and for the abolition of the double loom
system was refused. Inc vote rejecting the
compromise offer was almost unanimous.
The weavers will not &c into the mill again
until the strike is settled.
Lewiston. Me-. Jan. 10.-At a large and
enthusiastic meeting of Lewiston mule
spinners tonight the strike situation was
discussed. The sentiment was strongly in
favor of resisting the cutdown, but It is
likely the funds will be devoted to the New
Bedford strike.
Fall River. Mass, Jan. 10.--A new feature
In the mill situation has developed. Ac-
cording to a report tonight. a secret or
ganization has been formed by the super
intendentS, OverSeerS and a few of the most
skilled operatives in four of the large mills
here. These men have agreed to accept
the cut in salaries and wages only until
such time as they can secure employment.
here or elsewhere, on a basis equivalent
to that previous to the enforcement of the
reduction.
1t has become known that corporations
in the vicinity of Boston lave already
made overtures to some local men at their
own terms. One of the large corporations
the reduction of salaries as to increase the
salaries of the men whom 1t wanted to
keep. just previous to the reduction, so
that the cut had no effect on them.
Pawtucket. r. l., Jan. 10.-The employees
of the Lonsdale company. aside from the
mule spinners. were notified to-day of a re-
duction in wages. to take effect next Mon
day. The cut in wages was, in nearly
every case, Il surprise. WeaverS of the
Ashton mills were told that, instead Of
96la cents per cut. they will hereafter get
only 20 cents. No strike is anticipated in
the mills of the Lonsdale company.