Evening journal., 1898-02-04
STRIKERS SQUABBLE
Internal Troubles Among the
New Bedford Mill Hands.
NOyUNIOy MEN HAVE GRIEVANCES.
They Declare That All Money Collected to
Relieve Destitution Has Eeen Paid 60
Union Operatives--NIrs. Pickering
Denounoes Labor Lenders.

NEW BEDFORD. Mass, Feb. 4.-The
principal talk of the day here in the
strike situation is the difference that
has arisen between the union and the
nonunion operatives. This difference
promises to end I'm open rupture, and.
as many cases OF actual destitution
are reported no doubt hundreds OF
nonunion operatives would take the
first chance to make a break from the
strikers and return to work These
nonunlonists claim that money collect
80 outside the union has been paid to
union operatives to the exclusion Of the
nonunion help. Such feeling was Gre
ated among union strikers by this re-
port that a meeting was announced for
yesterday afternoon in the north end,
at the strikers headquarters.
At the headquarters in Dawson's
hal In the morning a nonunion striker
mounted the platform to make the an
uouncement Of the meeting. He had
tabled but moment when some
of the crowd, which nearly filed the
hall, set upon him. dragged him from
the platform and put him out OF the
building. There was no sympathy I'm
that gathering for any person who de-
sired to return to work.
Under these circumstances, not even
the men who had threatened to advise
the nonunionists TO vote to return to
work unless the union promised them
aid We're present at the appointed time
for the meeting But the disaffection
has become sufficiently widespread to
cause a feeling Of uneasiness, and fears
are expressed that unless some meas
ure is taken right away the nonunion-
lists viii make trouble, which may cause
stampede TO the mills.
The nonunion help have become i'm
pressed with the idea that they are not
receiving fair play, and this has result
ed i'm a movement to depose Secretary
Matthew Hart from his position in
the Weavers' union. They claim Mr..
Hart has been complained Of in not US
I ing the best judgment In the conduct OF
the strike.
This charge of the nonunionists OF
/ not receiving proper aid has caused an
I unusual amount of bitterness among
the union men and women in charge OF
/ the collections. They are inclined to
/ look upon this talk as very abusive. and
many Of the most prominent labor men
are inclined to urge the strike council
| to drop the whole enterprise and let the
]
I selves.
Others argue that it is better to helT
those who cannot help themselves and
that the only way 90 make a success OF
/ the strike is In caring for the whole
body Of operatives. They say that the
dissatisfaction among the nonunior
weavers is not likely to cause any seri-
Gus disturbance OF the programme as
laid out by the leaders of the strike
since the mill treasurers would no
think Of opening the gates until afte
some communication had been receive,
by the unions. To open the gates with
ont even an effort at settlement woul,
create conflicts among the help. whicl
the mill treasurers would not care (,
/ sec.
Mrs. Pickering, the woman STRIKE
leader held a meeting I'm the city hal
in spite Of the protests of the unions
The meeting was crowded, and Mrs
Pickering expressed her contempt a
the manner In which the labor leaders
were conducting the whole affair.