The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-11
BOWED DOWN.
New Bedford, Mass, is Wrapped
in Gloom.
The City Has Been Selected For
the Beginning
OF THE GREAT STRIKE
All New England Cotton Mill
Operatives
Will Join in Resisting the Re-
dHctiOn of Wages.
GO OUT BY DISTRICTS
Fight Will Be Made in One
Place at Time
Until Wages Are Restored
Throughout New England.

New Bedford, Mass, Jan. 11-Appar-
emily a strike in the cloth mills next
Monday morning can only be averted
by withdrawal of the notices of a 10
per cent reduction posted in the mills
on Friday, December 81 The spinners
last night took final action on the ques-
ton of striking.
The result was in favor of resistance
to, the reduction. The vote was 1898
to 4.
The attempts at arbitration have
thus far resulted in the decision of the
state board of arbitration to visit New
Bedford. A conference of mill men
and operatives with the state board
has been called. Both sides will be
represented but both the mill men and
the operatives, it would seem from
present idicatiOns, will be unwilling to
surrender their positions.
Tonight the WeaVerS will meet to take
final action on the matter. Their rep
resentatiVes claim they will ratity
their previous informal determination
to strike.
business men when they learned that
the National Mule Spinners' union at
its meeting in Boston had sanctioned
strike here and at Lowell, carrying
with it the practical certainty that it
would be the longest labor battle New
Bedford had ever experienced.
Secretary Ross of the national union,
accompanied by President Cook of the
local union returned from Boston and
gave out the first statements made of
the action of the national union at its
secret conference.
After a discussion lasting two
hours" said Secretary Ross, the ma
tiOnaI union voted to grant permission
to two districts, New Bedford and Low
ell. to order a strike. This vote, so far
as New Bedford is concerned, made a
certainty of what had aready been con-
ceded to be inevitable, and there is now
no question that the Mule Spinners'
union will ratify the informal vote to
strike, unanimously passed at last
weeks meeting.
The action of the national union
makes certain to New Bedford the sup
port of the whole of New England
With the help thus promised us the
New Bedford union will be able to car
ry on the strike for a considerable time
without touching a cent of the $50, 900
in the treasury. If the operatives do
not win the strike, it will not be from
lack of funds
signs fail there will be a general strike
of all cotton mills in the city ordered at
the operatives meeting Wednesday
night. The action of the national un-
ion at Boston was pleasing to the oper-
atiVeS. who seem encOurag ged thereby
The union has $50, 900 in its treasury
and thirty-three manufa curing centers
have promeSed financial aid in the event
of a strike. There are about 20 600
persons in this city interested in the
crisis
Lewiston, Me, Jan. 11.-At a large
and enthusiastic meeting of Lewiston
mule spinners last night the strike stu
alton was discussed. The sentiment
was strongly in favor of resisting the
cut down but is likely the funds will
be devoted to the New Bedford strike
Pawtucket, r. l.. Jan. 1.-THE en-
ployes of the LonsdaIe company, aside
from the mule Spinners, were notified
today of a reduction in wages to take
effect next Monday. The cut in wages
was in nearly every case a surprise.
Weavers of the Ashton mills were told
instead of 9615 cents per cut they here
after get only rs cents. No strike is
anticipated in the mills of the Lonsdale
company.