The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-15
national labor organizations when the
strike began.
BIDDEFORD MEN PLEASED.

national labor organizations when the
strike began.
BIDDEFORD MEN PLEASED.
Biddeford. February 14.-Mem5ers of
the executive committee of the Business
Mems Strike Relief association as we'll as
members of the local textile labor union
are much 4 encouraged at the success OF
the Biddeford delegation in urging upon
the convention of textile workers in Bos-
ton, Sunday, the plan for calling strike
in all the New England mill centres.
NO TROUBLE IN MANCHESTER.
Manchester, N. H., February 14.-The
labor situation In this city is extrsmely
quiet, and there is NOS the slightest an
ticipatiOn of any strike troubles. The
operatives in Manchester had to undergo
privations last summer, when the mills
were forced to close, and evidently DO not
propose to undertake new trouble. 1t was
distinctly given out. by the walking dele.
gates, when the Weavers' union was re-
Gently formed here that no strike in New
Hampshire was contemplated, and 1t was
proposed that If there should be any
troubls arbitration would be the deciding
resolve. At present there is no sort of
"strike'' excitement or under current
here.
FELL FLAT IN LOWELL.
Lowell, February 14.-From present in
dications the recommendation OF the CON-
ference committee which met. at Boston
Sunday advocating general strike IN
| the cotton mills Of New England,
l.promises to fall flat In this city, as the
sentiment here Ia uncomprolnisingly
against a strike at the present time. 1t
seems to be the sentiment among the
operatives here that the fight should be
1 or1 nd
| trated there.
President William l.. Kipsella of the
Weavers' union, which numbers 1900
mem bers, said tonight: There will be
| no strike here as long as the professional
| agitators keep away and allow us to
manage our own affairs. However, the
| feeling is such that very little agitation
might preoipitate one, as the female oper-
| atives especially are susceptible to such
agitation.
At the meeting of the Ring Spinners'
union tonight the recommendation OF the
conference committee was entirely lg-
nored, while at the meeting of the union
| of drawing-in girls, warEers and spoilers
| it was decided that it was inadvisable to
consider the recommendation seriously,
and that all efforts should be concen-
| trated upon the strike at Now Bedford
| for the present. At the latter meeting it
was also voted to communicate with the
two local Senators with view of having
| the weavers fines bill amended, as it is
not..considered sufficiently far reaching.
| Agents of the local mills interviewed
| today do not take the recommendation of
the committee seriously and some OF them
stated that they would welcome general
shut down of the New England mills, as
| it would curtail production and thus re-
lieye an oyerstocked market. The store
keepers are a unit in their opposition to
strike here, and few of them anticipate
one.
| Alexander Ray, local labor leader, has
great faith in the outcome of general
strike, basing his hope upon the result OF
the min ,rs strike. However, it seems to
be in the air that Lowell will not be dis
turbed by strike Immediately.
TO CALL OUT YARN MILLS.
| New Bedford, Mass, Feb. i4.-The
proposition has been under considera-
tion by the local labor leaders for sever
al days to call out on strike the en-
ployees of all yarn mills in the city,
which would bring into idleness 5000
additional operatives or total of 10, 900.
This proposition is independent of that
| for general strike all through New
England, and the effect of the move
ment, it is claimed, would be such me-
mace to local banks that it would result
in overtures for settlement OF all the
present difficulties by the manufactu-
rers, whose interests are allied with
those of the city's financial institutions
1t is argued that if the operatives lose
the present strike through 1.-THE weavss
ers' ability to hold out, the spinners iii
the yarn mills, who have not thus far
been cut would receive notice OF re-
duction in pay, and the proposition IN
der consideration is intended to prevent
that. The Spinners Union will probably
act upon this matter at its meeting to-
morrow evening.
The legislative committee on labor
came to this city tonight and will give
it's first hearing in the textile lnvesuIga-
tion under the Flynn order IN Ooo rel
lows hall tomorrow. Notices were sent
to all the leading manufacturers 10 n9
present and testify. The heaIlng WI W.
continue through Wednesday !, 20 = De Bss dol-
lowed by one on Thursday at ran hlse[. Is
At the dedication OF the rrenon
Iouaves' new hall tonight several trenon ~
priests strongly urged the operatives "
join the labor unions.
NO TROUBLE ANTICIPATED.
Lewiston, February 14.-It is lmpossl-
ble to state with any degree OF certainty
at present what the cotton mill unions
here will do. 1t is hardly expected, now
ever, that there will be general STRIKE