Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-03-04
COURAGE OOZING.
New Bedford Strikers Anxious to
Resume Work.
Appeal to Federation May PrOlong
Struggle-Much Suffering.

NEW BEDFORD. Mass, March AFTER
six weeks, the big cotton mill strike has AS
sumed the appearance of a lockout more
than a strike. The 5000 operatives who went
out Jan. II in spirit Of aggressiveness are
heartily tired of resistance at such severe
cost, and most of them are ready to return
to work at the first opportunity. The neu-
trails are great sufferers az a result of the
strike, as are the great mass Of the public,
the city at large and the business interests
outside the mills. Already the strike has
been severe blow to business of all kinds.
The strikers and the business world are
alike using what influence they have
to secure the reopening of the mills A
few days ago it was expected that the
gates would open on Monday morning but
it was false hope. No mill will attempt to
start up for another week. at least, and then
not "A cent Of income will reach the opera
tives till two weeks later, an interruption in
all of nine weeks and attended by loss in
pay roll OF $3.50 Whenever the press
correspondents have asserted any weaken
ing or Encouragement on the part of the
strikers their leaders have Indignantly de-
MED 1t. They practically admitted their
, desperate position, however, when Secretary
Cunnane issued his call for aid. He made no
attemptto disguise the fact that the strike was
in critical condition. and plainly declared
that starvation was slowly forcing the strik-
ers to surrender. and il aid did not reach
them ut once theyWould break ranks and 90 to
work The strikers are making heroic eff
fort to keep up show of defiance. The very
day tunnane's appeal was issued the weav-
ers met, passed resolutions of confidence in
their leaders and then adjourned for one
month. Yet, scarcely a man believes there
Will be even the ghost of a strike at the end
of a month. The suffering among the strik-
ers is not theoretical fancy; it is real, and
all the efforts to relieve it are able to only
l. /. / l. IL
only comparative comfort. The most effec-
tive agency at work are the eight or ten
soup houses. supplying food to not far from
1900 families daily. The poor department is
about 500 cases weekly. furnishing 81 per
week and the demand still continues. Fully
nine-tenths of the cases are state cases.
and the expense will come on the common
wealth. The aid received by the general
committee was more satisfactory last week
than at any time since the opening of the
strike but even at that was scarcely QUE
tenth Of the regular pay roll. Sunday after
noon the striking council, in its despera-
tion, voted to make a direct appeal to the
American Federation of Labor. in the in
tereSts OF the common cause of labor vs..
capital. The strikers feel that they have
undertaken the brunt of a battle for a
principle. and although most of them
are not associated with the feder-
alton, that the organization ought
to step IN at TINS time and pre-
vent defeat. If the federation does
take it up, the contest may be prolonged
many weeks more. The number of vacant
tenements in the extremes of the city in
creases daily. but the removals are less than
they were 10 days ago. There are probably
2000 vacant tenements here today. Several
English families have left for Lancashire;
others who ha planned to sail have delayed
with the feeling that the end of the strike is
in sight A good many of the operatives
who have sought employment in other tex
tile centres have returned. The weavers
who left for the silk mills in New
Jersey are back again. The agreement
made with them in regard to pay and trans
portation was strictly kept. but they became
satisfied after a trial that they could not do
better than they can here. If Mr.. Gompers
does not heartily take up the appeal of the
strikers in the name of the American Feder-
ation trade unionism will lose hundreds of
adherents in this city, and many will join
the Socialists.