Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-01-22
Spindles. Employees. |

LOWELL, Mass, Jan. 2l-The 10 per
cent. reduction announ ed some time ago
has gone into effect in many OF the local
corporations. Seven cotton corporations
are affected by the cut down, but in only
one of them, the Merrimac. has the new
schedule been posted. and that not in all de-
part,nents. The employees OF the print
works and the plush department OF tue
Merrimuc do not look for any cut. and the
printers OF the Hamilton entertain similar
hopes In the meanwhile the work of or
ganizing the unorganized crafts goes stead
lily on in the hope that within a Few
months the operatives may demand the
restoration Of the old rate OF wages. For
the present the local operatives will keep IL
close watch on the developments at New
Bedford, the Spinners union have voted to
support the striking spinners there. That
strike on the part Of mule spinners was
averted here was due to the energetic work
of Thomas +. Connolly and other conserva-
tive members OF that union, coupled with an
appeal from Secretary Ross OF New Bedford
to delay action here until the struggle at
New Bedford was settled. About IA 600 OPP
eratiyes will he affected by the cut down
which will amount to $ll 800 n week. 1t has
been voted to assess each member OF the
Spnuers' union five cents a week for the
purpose of aiding the New Bedford strikers.
The assessment will be increased If the situa-
ton at New Bedford warrants II.
PROVIDENCE, II L., Jun. 2l-The reduc
ton in wages in the cotton mills throughout
Rhode Island went into effect, except In one
or two small factories. whose owners have
not vet concluded to cnt wages, and in
few in which. owing to their paying month
lv or for similar reasons, 1t is not convenient
to make the reduction until later. The
cut down will affect the earnings OF
nearly 10000 operatives in Rhode Is
land. beside those OF Messrs. Knight
10000 and $4,000 more employed In
Connecticut mills controlled by Providence
agents, will also be affected. The aggregate
earnings of all these operatives will reach
nearly $4,000, 900 annually. Hence the loss
in wages and purchasing power IN con
sequence Of the reduction to operatives and
business men in the communities in which
they spend their money will be nearly IL
round million If the cut averages IA eX-
ppcel, about 10 per cent. The Geneva
mills VIII III were closed by the strike started
up again on Wednesday. A number OF
weavers asked Superintendent Metcalf to re-
sumo work. A number OF operatives left to
seek employment elsewhere.
BURLINGTON. VT. Jan. 2l-The Queen
| CITY cotton mill has closed its doors for an
/
forced 20 quit work by the striking OF 50
others. The weavers feel jubiiant over this.
Il seeming victory and claim they will hold
| out for the old price, nine cents. The mill
company stands firm for the price offered,
| 73t cents. The strikers claim they are pre-
pared to hold out all winter, and for the re-
! lefofthose who need bel dances will be held
and the proceeds used for that purpose.
Oyerseer of the poor, Barber, says lie tx-
| poets to be kept busy now that the mill Is
closed. ~ many very poor people work In
the mill. In some eases families OF 10 or IL
people are dependent upon the labors OF
only two members of the family for support.
One Of the strikers says that certain fam
lily of 10 people were living on about S6 per
week, and paying rent out of that amount.
SACO, Me-, Jan. 2l-The striking opera
tives of the York mills to the number OF
$500 have organized aud discussed plans as
to now the battle can be waSed most success
fully Nelson Lonsbee, the chairman stated
that at Lowell the weavers on blue drill
make 50 II week. while here they receive but
$3.50. At Jewell City, Conn, weav-
ers running four looms with 80 picks
received 40 cents cut. For the
same class of goods, with the same NUM-
Der OF looms, but running A picks, the
York weavers received 80 cents before the
cut down. At the Amoskeag. Manchester,
| WeayerS running A PICKS receive "a cents II
cut. At Renfrew, Mass. weavers running
40 picks receive 81 cents cut, and no en-
down has been announced. The claim l.
made that fully one-thrd OF the York we"v
ers under the cut would receive 80 cents q
day or less.
FITCHBURG, Mass, Jan 2l-The weaver'
Of the Nockege cotton mill, who struck Oh
Monday thereby compelling the factory t.
close returned to work on Tuesday. The
weavers decided to accept II reduction whicf
the managers state will not exceed d pc
cent. The weavers, when they left work
claimed that the proposed cut would be be
tween 10 IA and Is "a per cent. The weav
ers were the only operatives Who opposed
the cut. All the other help was willing t.
work, but the refusal OF the weavers to d.
SO prevented them.
LAWRENCE, Mass. Jan. 2l-The chic
topic on the street il that of the 10 per cent
cut down to go into effect at the Pacifc anC
Atlantic mills Jan. 81. The Mule Spnners
union, which is the only body of textile
workers in the city, have just held larsel.
attended meeting and discussed the situa
ton. No vote was taken regarding strike
but members say that had vote to strike
been taken it would have been carried by 4
large majority. This expresses the feeling
among the local operatives.