The Portland daily press., 1898-01-18
rspEcIAL TO THE rREss.l

| Biddeford, January 17-The streets OF
Biddeford and Saco presented holiday
appearance today. The white curtains in
all the windows of the mills were closely
drawn, the PSI, ,2e4 spindles of the Pep
perell, Laconia and York were silent and
the sidewalks were thronged with mill
operatives, attired in their Sunday
clothes.
The biggest strike these two manu-
featuring cities Of western Maine ever
knew is on, and it looks very much as II
weeks, and perhaps months will PASS be-
fore the hum of machinery Is heard in the
factories again.
The strike in the Biddeford mills was
expected in view of the action taken By
combined business session, Sunday after
noon, but the trouble in the York mills
| in Saco came as a surprise.
| 1t had become noised about that the
dregsers and web drawers of the Pepperell
and Laconia were going to stay out, and
when the gates were opened at beH time,
/ this morning, quite crowd had gathered
| to watch proceedings. Some of the dress
ers were there, not for the purpose of in
citing a general strike but to use their
influence toward keeping away from the
gates those operatives who should make
up their minds not to go in.
| This endeavor was successful only in
part. There were many reinforcements
to the ranks of the strikers and the desire
to see what was going on at the entrances
! to the mill yards tempted them to remain.
When the back boys arrived they took
au active part in what they termed the
| fun. They lined ON in front of the gates
and Joined in shouts of derision whenever
squad of operatives passed ill.
| In most of the departments there were
operatives assembled when the speed came
| on, bnt the work was not started. The
mule spinners could not start their work,
because the back boys had not come in.
Gradually the number of operatives
awaiting orders decreased, and finally a
general order came from the counting
room to the effect that it would not be
wise to run the mills with such depleted
crews.
Cut they came in twos, and fours and
largec squads, all discussing the situation.
The back boys cup of happiness was
running over. Most of these boys worked
because forced to do so, and. to them the
prospect of a long vacation was exhilerat-
| ing They formed in line and marched
through Lincoln and Main streets, shout
| ing and singing.
| Meanwhile the striking dressers and
web drawers were holding meeting in
the Kelley clubs hall. Main street, from
| City hall to the Saco bridge was densely
populated with operatives, some of whom
were dressed for work and carried dinner
pals, while others had on their best gar
ments. plainly giving evidence that they
had no intention of going hack to work
under the reduced schedule of wages
Soon word came from Saco that there
was a strike in progress in the York
mills. Scores Of Biddeford' S idle opera.
tiyes crossed the bridge to the sister city
to extend sympathy to the York employees.
A cut down had also gone into effect to-
day in the mills there. Notices posted
ten days ago announced its coming, but
did not state the extent of the reduction
Nore of the operatives We're made ac-
ouainted with the new schedule of prices
till they got into the mills and began
their work.
Then they found that their troubles
were worse than those of the Biddeforo
operatives. The cut ranged from ten to
twenty five per cent, an average OF about
twelve per cent This was more than they
were willing to stand. The weayers in
Overseer Smiths room made the first
move, They shifted their belts on to the
loose pulIeys, put on their coats and
wraps and filed out in disorder. a few
who remained au their looms We're ridi-
culed by the strikers till they, too, Were
ready to join the exodus. The weavers'
example was soon followed by employees
in the other departments, and within an
hour a majority of the companys 1000
hands were outside the gates.