The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-14
A GENERAL
STRIKE.
Proposed to Aid New Bed
ford Operatives.
DELEGATES FROM UNIONS
Decide TO Ask All Cotton Operatives
10 Stop Work.
DELEGATES FROM UNIONS
NATIONAL UNIONS MAY ACT.

Boston Feb. 14.-At a meeting In this
city of 55 representatives OF textile
unions In New England, 1t was unani-
mously voted TO recommend to all unions
to call out the operatives in every mill in
New England.
The meeting was practically the out
come of the recommendation which
President Gompers made TO the Fedora
ton OF Labor last Sunday, in which he
urged the different unions to unite on
settled policy regarding the mill situa-
tion in New England. At that meeting
a committee OF thrSs was appointed to
take charge of the matter. and after
conference this committee recommended
that a general meeting be held TO take
definite action.
Sunday the representatives OF the
various textile unions assembled in the
Wells Memorial hall and for four hours
discussed the situation from every
standpoint. The primary object of the
meeting was 10 devise some method OF
rendering assistance to the New Bed
ford strikers. 1t was pointed out that
If the strikers could hold out for four
weeks without receiving more than 20
cents per operative per week in the way
OF outside assistance, other operatives
could stand similar strain, and that IL
all went out IL would precipitate crisis
which would have TO be met within a
short time by the manufacturers. 1t
was also shown that the mule spinners
We're in most excellent shape as regards
funds, that the United Textile workers,
and the New England Federation OF
Weavers were also I'm good shape, but
that the rest were short of funds.
Other questions were also discussed
and at length the matter was put to a
vote, and no one was registered as
against the motion that the different
unions should order a general strike in
every cotton mill in New England until
a satisfactory adjustment of wages
could be arranged.
1t now remains for the various ma
tional unions to take action on the rec
ommendation, but just what this action
will be is a matter of conjecture. IL
all should acquiesce and vote to strike
1900 operatives would undoubtedly
cease work, and the manufacture of cot
ton goods throughout New England
would be a sestandstiII. If. on the other
MANU- oIiy a. lew vote TO Slflke,
the refusal of the others may still keep
a larger portion OF the mills i'm opera-
ton. Inasmuch, however. as the meet
ing was the outcome OF President Com
pers' suggestions and as he admonished
the members of the Federation OF I.ab Dor
to join hands and assist the New Bed
ford strikers, IL seems probable that
nearly every union will carry out the
recommendations, and that one of the
greatest strikes ever seen i'm this coun-
try Is impending.
Both OF the Biddeford delegates be-
lieved that all of the mills in New Eng
land should be closed as soon as pos
sible, as this would lead TO an earlier
settlement in the cities where strikes
were in operation. They said they
went into the fight against the reduction
because the wages paid were lower than
self-respecting men or women should
be compelled TO work for. They also
stated that the storerooms in their city
were nearly empty. and that If a gen.
eral strike were ordered the manufac-
turers would be forced to give in.