The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-24
IN sTATu quo.
Quiet Reigns Among the New Bedford
Strikers.

has come to close, and so far as any
thing In sight towards a settlement is
concerned, the situation remains practical
ly as at the beginning. There is no
hungry wolf at the door Of the operatives
yet, but this may be the case before the
strike ends. Both the manufacturers and
operatives seem bound to make no con-
cessions, and the effort made in some
quarters to have the weavers eliminate
the fines system has failed signaHy.
Among the operatives Saturday is
generally pay day and then the spinners
and the weaveIs square up accounts
with the store keepers for the bills con-
tracted during the week. But today a
big change was noticed and the only
operatives who had any pay coming to
them were those of the Bristol mill. Store
keepers complain of feeling the effects
of the strike thus early, not only in re-
duced sales to the labor people, but in
receipts. Many storekeepers who had an
excellent trade with the operatives,
found today that not only did the opera
tives buy only what was absolutely neces
sary. but that In hundreds of cases that
the operatives asked for credit. AS the
amount of credit asked for was in the
majority of cases small, very few store
keepers refused to grant the request al
though many remem bered the strike of
1894, where storekeepers were out thou
sands of dollars by the strike in their
trusting operatives. This strike lasted
IL e. 4
who got trusted then have not fully paid
all back bills yet, but they are gradual
1y squaring up their accounts. How
some of the smaller grocery stores will
stand a long strain this time is merely
a matter OF guess work. but it is thought
that some stores cannot stand the pres
sure. Several proprietors of stores at the
North End of the city have declared their
intention Of closing shop rather than run
at a loss.
An official at one of the banking insti-
buttons stated to the writer that store
keepers had deposited less money this
week than for long time. These de-
positors, he said, explained that the rea-
son was because the strikers had COM
menced to ask for credit in large num-
beers. The official stated that he did not
think the strike would change business
at his bank much excepting in the case
Of large number of French Canadian
operatives, who had opened accounts at
the bank. These people are daily clos
ing up their accounts and withdrawing
their money to return to Canada. When
the strike is over many of them will
have the bother of opening up new ao-
counts.
There have been no sensations here to-
day excepting at the Bristol mill. AT
this mill the operatives were paid off for
last weeks work. The mill people fear
ing that trouble might arise had q detail
of police sent to the mill office. The
police kept the operatives in line, and
their presence aroused quite a bitter feel
ing in the big crowd. Some of the. more
troublesome tried to start u repetition
OF the riotous actions of the first part of
the week. One sour-faced looking Eng
lishman blurted out to policeman,
"Fire is tho only weapon against such
Matters and look of hate was cast at
the Bristol mill.
Encouraged that no particular notice
was taken of the remark which was
uttered In o loud and angry voice, an
other operative further down the line
blurtsd out: sit would be a good thing
to pull the mill down, for it amt any
use to the city,"
The operatives were very uneasy and
more than one threat was heard but the
police officers spotted the ring leaders
of the attempt to start disturbance and
threatened them with arrest. For an
hour the crowd gathered about the mill
office and vicinity, but after receiving
their pay the operatives gradually went
away. The whole cause of the small
sized riot at the Bristol mill in the ear
ly part of the week was explained by one
Of the striking weavers, who said: Gan
overseer came up to see me Monday
night, while was standing on corner
not two squares away fromathe mill, and
remarked: when the snow is up to
your knees and the thermometer 10 below,
we will freeze you fellows in 1 was not
the only one who heard him, and it was
not long before the stones began to fly"
THE SITUATION IN BIDDEFoRD. +
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Biddeford, January pa mass meet
ing of strikers of the York mills was held
in Mable hall, this afternoon and at the
same time the strikers of the Pepperell
and Laconia were assembled in st. John
society's hall. Both meetings We're adj
dressed by leaders and sympathizers, who
complimented the strikers on their action
thus far and predicted victory for them
in the struggle to resist the wage reduc-
tion.
The relief committee reported that up
to this afternoon it had received $500 in
cash, pledges of 90 cords of wood, and a
great quantity of clothing and provis-
ions Besides these there have been re-
ceived many pledges of regular weekly
contributions as long as the strike lasts.
Crr,natbv for the Operatives bau boo,,