The herald., 1898-02-14
WORKERS
In COTTON
To Adopt Advice Offered
by Gompers
EVERY MILL IN NEW ENGLAND
TO STOP PENDING AGREEMENT
ON WAGES
The Movement Means That the
Greatest Strike Ever Seen in
America Is Impending
TO STOP PENDING AGREEMENT
ON WAGES
Associated Press Special Wire

| Associated Press Special Wire
| BOSTON, Feb. 13-At meeting today
in this city of fifty-five representatives
Of textile unions in New England, it
was unanimously voted to recommend
that all unions call out the operatives in
every cotton mill in New England.
The meeting was practically the out
come Of the recommendation which
President Gompers made to the Fedora
tion of Labor last Sunday, in which he
urged the different unions to unite on
some settled policy on the mill situation.
At that meeting a committee of four
was appointed to take charge Of the
matter, and after conference this COM
mittee recommended that a general
meeting be held to take definite action.
Today the representatives of the various
national textile associations assembled,
and for four hours discussed the situa-
ton from every standpoint. The Yri-
mary object of the meeting was to de-
wise some method of rendering assist
ance to the New Bedford strikers.
The matter was discussed, and at
length put to vote. no one being reg
istered against the motion that the diff
ferent unions should order a general
strike in every cotton mill in New Eng
land until satisfactory adjustment of
wages could be arranged.
1t now remains for the various nation
al unions to take action on the resolution,
but what this action will be is matter
of conjecture. If all should acquiesce
and vote to strike, $4,000 operatives
would undoubtedly cease work and the
manufacture of cotton goods throughout
New England would be at a standstill.
If, on the other hand, only few unions
should vote to strike, the refusal of the
others would still keep large portion
of the mills in operation.
Inasmuch as the meeting is the OUT
come of President Gompers' suggestion.
and as he admonished the members of
the Federation Of Labor to join hands
and assist the New Bedford strikers,
it seems probable that nearly every
union will carry out the recommended
tion and that one of the greatest strikes
every seen in this country is impending.
oGlNN ERS O6J Ell
NEW BEDFORD, Mass, Feb. 13-
From the point of view of the New Bed
ford strikers, the action taken by the
conference of textile unions in Boston
today is scarcely likely to be received
with joy, inasmuch as 1t is against the
policy adopted at the meeting Of the ex-
ecutive committee of the National Spin
ners' union, to wit: That New Bedford
should be the battle-ground. and until
the conclusion of the strike here the
other textile centers should remain at
work. thereby acquiring the means to-
assist the New Bedford operatives in
their struggle. Then, at the conclusion
of New Bedford's fight, the plan was
that whether New Bedford won or lost,
the strike against the general reduction
should be extended to one district at
a time until the whole of New England
should be covered. In view of this plan,
which, at the time of it's adoption, seemed
to meet with general acquiescenece, the
action of the conference, it would seem,
is direct change of tactics.
The delegates to the conference will
report the new plan to their several
unions for their consideration.
Secretary Cunnane of the general
strike council reports on the collections
received up to Saturday. The total
amount for the week was s1475, as
against $1S45 for the previous week.
Daniel Delon, the socialist organizer,
today closed the series Of meetings which
he has held in the interest Of his party.
AS a result of these meetings branch of
the Socialist Trade and Labor alliance
has been formed in this city. This is
the new trades union movement vouched
for by the socialists. Its fundamental
principle is the wiping out of the cap
italist class at the ballot box, rather
than the settlement of differences be-
tween capital and labor by strikes.