The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-15

New Bedford VIII Be the Storm Center
| AwhiIe-Troublesome Outlook in Bid
| deford.
Boston, January 14.-With the close Of
he week preceding the date on which the
cut-down in wages of textile operatives
in all manufacturing cities and towns of
New England goes into effect, the outlook
is for the Inauguration of labor troubles
unequalled in the history of the cotton
industry in this country. The object
point OF the strike is New Bedford, and
the brunt of the battle will be borne py
operatives who are not any too we'll pre-
pared for 1t. Wherever there are cotton
mills or organized labor bodies this con-
test, brought on by sweeping cut in
wages will be intently watched and keen
| ly followed. Every step taken in New
Bedford to avert clash has signally
failed, simply through the unanimity
of feeling on the part of the labor unions
end a large proportion of the unorga-
nized operatives, that the wage scale is
unwarranted and unjust. The only basis
upon which trouble could have been
ayerted there, apparently, was the COM
promise offer Of representatives of labor
union that the scene Of the contest be
shifted to Fall River. To do this it would
have been necessary for the corporations
to have held in allegiance the notice of q
out down. The strike of two important
branches of skilled help in the mills is
authorized by operative committees Of
| the national bodies to which the local
unions of these branches are affiliated
and with this leadership at least, and the
promise of much financial and moral aid
from kindred labor bodies the skirmish
| will begin on Monday.
The cut down is attributed by the man
iufacturers to competition OF southern
mills. The first serious effect of this COM
petition was felt as 1t is claimed in the
print cloth market of Fall River, although
manufacturers elsewhere claim that the
cotton market in general has suffered
from the same cause. The mills in that
city saw no remedy but smaller pay roll
timation OF lower wages was made
known. But they did not at first carry
out what they believed to be the ultimate
end. Tho manufacturers committee
sought first of all to secure unanimous
consent Of the manufacturers to reduce
wages, but.w for time prevented by
1.-Two or three corporations declining to
[sign the agreement. About the same
y .i1ne a special committee Of the Ark
wright club, d body which is made up of
mill managers and treasurers, had gone
south to investigate the mill conditions.
Upon the return of this committee a
meeting was held which received re-
port setting forth the necessity of read
justment wage scale as the only salvation
for New England mills. The notice of a
cut down in Fall River came, and almost
immediately came the acceptance and
carrying out of the recommendation of
> the Arkwright club.
4 Notices OF cut downs, mostly of II 1-9
per cent, went up in New Bedford, and
for the past fortnight hardly day has
passed without some mill taking SINH
lar action, until the movement has
reached every cotton mill AS expected,
the operatives at once announced their
objection to the cut down and much
agitation ensued. Labor meetings began
and continued nightly in many places,
especially in Rhode Island:cities, but the
conservatism, and the fact that winter
is bad time for idleness, curbed the
strike fever. New Bedford will go it
alone, Lowell, Fall River. Pawtucket and
many other places having voted to delay
} for the present
The agitation, however, has served to
increase the membership ain the labor
union, ev erywhere.
FEW THINGS WEAVERS WANT.
I New Bedford, Mass, January IA
Adelphi rink was crowded tonight to Its
utmost capacity. fully 2,000 men and
women attending the mass meeting of
the union and non-union weavers of the
city. The action of the union in voting
to strike was endorsed by a.hearty "aye, !"
and it was voted to stay out until the
abuses claimed by the weavers are cor
rested. The Meavers demand, frst-a
restoration of wages. Seoond-the atoli-
tion of the fning system. Third-the
adoption of q uniform price in all the
mills of the city.
Speeches were made by Secretary Hart.
President Cunneen and others. It,was
the sentiment OF all that the weavers
would not go to work son Monday, even
il the notices were taken down tomorrow
The union and non-union card and
picker room operatives had another mass
meeting tonight, this time at the South
End and it was largely attended. The
vote to resist the cut.down was unani-
nous.
SITUATION IN LEWISTON.
Tevieton January ID THE card grind