Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-01-10
THEY CAN STRIKE.
Lowell and New Bedford Mule Spinners Given
Permission by Executive Committee.

Boston, Jan. 9.--The mule spinners
Of Lowell and New Bedford were given
permission to strike by the eXecutiN"
committee of the National Mule SPIN
ners' Union. today. and an assessment
of % cents per week was leVled upon
the members of the union. The execu-
tive committee also ordered the sum
Of $500 from the National funds to be
placed at the disposal of the strike
committee.
The meeting was attended by every
member of the board and delegates rep
resenting every mill center III nc" Eng
land were present and several deicSat"c
mad application for permission to strike
The meeting lasted several hours and
among the principal speakers were
Mcssrs. Michael Duggan OF Lowell prcsi-
dent of the National Union: Secreatry
Ross and Treasurer O'Donnell of the Ma
tional Association; executive members.
Robert Howard Of Fall River; George
Byron OF Lewiston. Nc: j. ". Battlcy
of Dover \. H.; jeremiah McAulin of
Lawrence: james Murphy of Taftvillc.
O.. James Fallen. secretary OF the
Rhode Island SpinncrS. and vice prcsi1cn,
of the National Union.
The board denied the application for
permission to strike in all places except
Lowell and New Bedford. it being thought
advisable to have the strength of the or
ganizatiun centcrcd in those places. In
the event of Lowell declaring to strike,
the assessment. which will amount ia
between $50 and $500 week. VIII be de-
voted to the New Bedford strike.
It was voted where reductions IN wages
occur which will bring them below the
union scale. to leave the matter to the
executive committee for them to decide
as to the advisability of a strike.
II was decided that in cases of strikes
tn. back boys and doffcrS would receive
81 week during the STRIKE.
The ease Of Dover, ~ H.. was of some
what unsettled status. Notice Of a re-
lnction has not been posted. The men
ci.tlr, they are working for per cent.
less than Tie Fan River operatives were.
and hey will oppose any reduction. In
case 4 reduction is threatened ~ Dove.
the ~ i:ter viii be brought Ia the atten-
ton 81 the national board for immediat"
action
N.ry speeches were made regarding
the acceptance Of the cutunwn by thu
Fan River spinner$. All agreed that tho
Fan kIver operatives should have resist
"a ana that there would have Teen ample
funds To- back them.
me speeches 81 the delegates present
lu., IN various eases wherc cutdovnr
hal been posted OF threatened all advo-
Gated resistance ana in every instanc4
they petitioned the board for permission
t. strike
The New Bedford representatives "N
I,r, .sScd themselves a. exceedingly pleased
Alth the hearty corporation 81 ia. exc
cujivr board ana said 'icy had y COOL
fuud or their own, ana would Il" glad 10
,.,siSt "a far as possible with their tBld..
tic cause IN other citios. The Low.tN H. 3.
Said that they would no Doubt slrii, iait
ii would h.. left 10 the operatives anal
meeting would be held during thii week
10 Il, eide the matter Tho cat .lnv,u -
.1wcll i'll take effect. Jan. i. ana :it.'ro
Is only one min Of imp"rtunr, IN IN. cily
tIit has Not posted notice - tbtt
effect
Ahuut I5"o peopIe VIII hc directly af-
fec;e1 ny amy crisis In the mill interests
Tho situation has been worse in the last
- months thgr in the preceding years
IN" Lewiston representatives stated
that I'll" reduction in that city Will equal
$l,.t1 "a month on the pay roll. Every
thing il now running full time. Six large
cotton corporations are involved. No
tees OF cuts have hoeu posted. With the
amoufi,s "a be announced Inter. Wages
ruin a little under those of New Bedford
and FAN River.
tu an Interview with a Journal repre-
sentative. tonight, Michael pusgau. SEE
Rotary OF the local Mule SpinnrrS Union.
said that h believed the l.owtil spinners
win vote /" strike. on Wednesday night.