The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-07

strike developed into lock kout.
| The cut down of ten per cent WhlcI
was the cause of the strike, has not ceen
withdrawn, but the operatives have the
assurance of A gent Robert Macarthur
that the Biddeford mills will not be the
last in New England to restore the old
wages when the condition of tho cotton
| cloth market warrants it.
| The bottom fell out of the strike rather
Unexpectedly. The pastors or two Gath
olic churches here had been using their
best endeavor to bring about settlement
| of the labor trouble, and it Is said to have
been through their diplomacy that an
| interview between the agent and a COM
mittee of the strikers was brought about.
| meeting of the dressers, who pre-
! cipitated the strike, was in progress late
this afternoon in St. Johns banquet
hall. In the National hall, overhead,
was being held mass meeting of un-
organized operatives. 1t was announced
at each meeting that committee had
gone to Interview the agent. Half an hour
later the members of the committee re-
turned and reported the substance of
their interview. He had told them.
substantially as he told the committees
that called On him before the strike be-
beyond the assurance that the Biddeford
corporations intend to pay as high wages
as any New England cotton mills; that
the Pepperell and Laoonia were not the
| first to reduce wages and would not be
the last to restore them.
The committee presented its report in
such favorable light that the dressers
voted unanimously to go back to work,
and the mass meeting passed a similar
vote, with only ten or twelve opposing
it.
The committee was composed of James
Gleason, of the Mule Spinners' union,
Dennis Sullivan, of the Slashers union,
and Mr.. Beaupre. representing the un-
organized men. The committee called at
the counting room, where they found MIR.
Macarthur, who told them that his SYM
pathies were with the working men and
while he could not make any promise, he
would say that he would not be one OF
the last agents in New England to restore
wages to the old schedule The COM
mittee at once returned TO the hall and
told the operatives the result of the con-
ference with the official. Said Mr..
Beaupre: "How many will accept this
promise and return to work." There
were cries of "Yes' but others shouted
doubted" and the president asked all
those who would return to work and ac.
cept the agents promise to stand up.
Three-fourths Of the people in the hall
stood up, but there were still shouts Of
Doubted; The president asked all those
who would not go back to stand and only
about ten responded.
sit is the vote to accept the agents
promise and return to work" said the
| speaker and cheers and shouts which
| threatened to raise the roof responded
"yes," the mill operatives throwing
their hats in the air at the same time. A
committee was then appointed to call up
on the agent and tell him of the de-
teision.
When seen this evening Agent Macarthur
said that he had been notified of the de.
cision of the operatives and would start
both big corporations in every department.
today. He appeared greatly pleased at
the outcome OF today's conference. so
many French Canadians have left the
CITY that it is feared that some of the
departments will be short. There are,
however, many operatives In the York
mills who are still out on strike and
probably many of them will apply for jobs
in the Biddeford cloth mills Monday. The
sudden termination Of the strike was a
surprise to everybody, many OF the
operatives never dreaming that the end of
the battle for their bread and butter WAS
SO near at hand. What effect the settle
mept here will have on the operatives in
other New England mills who are out on
strike is not known. but it is Thought 1t
will result in these mill workers return
ing to their looms within a week. The
feeling among the operatives as voiced by
many people in the street during the last
few days, has been apparently q desire to
return to work If the gates would be
opened with any sort OF a promise in the
way of a concession. Many have openly
declared their Willingness to go to work
under the reduction and their desire to do
so, while others have announced that
they would 90 back If the agent would
concede anything. Nobody, however, sup
posed that the operatives would go back
inside of week or ten days.
A Wholesale meat dealer said tonight
that the strike has caused loss to him of
more than s., 000
An attempt was being made tonight by
strikers who were not at the meeting to
organize an opposition to the movement
hoping to induce enough TO stay out SO
that the mills could not be run. This
endeavor is not likely to materialize.
Biddeford's business men, who have
been Loyalty standing by the idle opera
tives, assisting them and their families, |
contributing cash, provisions, fuel and
clothing, fesl relieved at the prospect OF
lifting Of the burden from their should.
ers. The loss from local circulation of
the $21 900 week which the Pepperell |
and Laconia mills are accustomed 90 pay
out to their operatives has been seriously
felt.
The strikers of the York mills in Saco
voted, this afternoon, to continue their
strike, notwithstanding the backdown Of
the Biddeford strikers.
NEW BEDFORD WILL FOLLOW.
New Bedford. Mass, March 5-The end
of the seventh week of the strike in this
city finds the operatives very much dis
appointed because affairs are not going
to suit them. The funds OF all the unions
excepting the Spinners' union have been
reduced to almost nothing and even the
union members have to depend upon out
side relief to large extent While the
union members have pulled together pret-
ty we'll all through the strike, q rupture
Is promised soon on account Of the weav-
ore5 Hnar ouastioD The UeaverS have