The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-06-25
BYREV.S. R. MAXWELL
Many Meetings Held by the Factory
Employees and Their Friends
THE COMMITTEE OF MINI STERS
Their Advice Disapprovcd and Re-
icctcd-Two Charged with Going
Over TO the Encmy-Thc Strik-
ing Girls Decide to Organ
izc-A Number Return
TO Work.

The situation at the Whiuock tobacco
factory yesterday. where some 800 giris
are out on a strike. was as chanseao.e
as a kaleidoscope. There were meetings
and conferences among the strikers
some of them being Of a very spicy ma
ture. The young ladies received with
marked despair the report submitted pS
the committee OF ministers whom tney
.sppointed 10 represent them, and cone
siderable number, how many ID was inn
possible TO learn last night, Declined 10
abide by 30, but determined 20 listen I'D
the counsel OF representatives oil '"'
labor unions and make "a hsht LOT '"o"
demands.
lne whole force of young ladies', prac-
tically. turned out early yesterday MORN
ing. and were down at the factory
shortly after 8 O'Clock. AS ON Friday.
the girls employed in a room with "a
few exceptions returned to Work, ana
a number who had been away on "a pic
mic. and had NOT been engaged in the
strike at au also went 90 WORK.
SOME WEAKENED.
some. too. who were ont yesterday mad
weakened. ana attempted 90 sip in
quietly without attracting the attention
OF the strikers. The cagle-cyed girls
saw them. however. and there was ID voi-
ley OF cXpOstulatons.
"you are not going back in there are
yOu?' cried one. as little girl with au-
burn hair started Co slip iu the gate.
"Yes } am. she ret0rted turning
around with flashing eyes. you girls
mind your own business and 1 viii attend
60 mine
The strikers received this shot with a
rood-humored roar of laughter.
DO was estimated that in all 1865 ebls
were at work in the factory yesterday.
The strikers however. who applied were
not aN taken back. Two who went in
succeeded in inducing twenty t1 efot
work. and after that Mr. Whiuock de-
C.ded that 80 would he necessary 90 rec
s-ind the partial promise made by him
90 the committee of ministers. namely.
that ne would take back al the strikers
Who applied for reinstatement
They were. therefore. informed by the
arrangement shat when they were needed
they would ho sent for n is the intcn-
ton Of the MANAGEMENT. should the
striking girls apply for reinstatement.
TO take them back as individuals and not
as body. DO was stated last night that
there were some who would probably not
- rcinstated FOR some time. if at AN.
The FIRST o. the series of meetings was
held yesterday morning at go'clock FIN
Lelgh-Street Baptist church. and u was
here that the first trouble of the dav
occurred. AT that time as announced
Rev Mcssrs J. f. Cooke NJ Ashby
Jones and r. B Collier. the committee
appointed by the striking girls to repre-
SEN them. made their report
The building was crw0dod with the young
ladies'. apparently nearly avn being pres-
cnt except the three hundred and sixty
five no were at work
MADE THEIR REPORT
Messrs. Cooke and Jones spoke at
length. They told the young ladies' what
they had accomplished and advised them
10 return 20 work Monday morning Mr.
Cooke especially warned them That their
fight would he frultless.
ITO fight this company" he said
would be like ono Of YOU attempting
10 tear down q pillar OF This church
Mt Jones IN HIS speech referring 20
the Connection 0f labor organizations with
the matter. said that the strikes of those
organizations were a curse Co the coun-
try.
Rev Mr. Collier az once jumped 10 his
feet and said that he totally denied what
Mr. Jones said. tie declared that Mr.
Jones was calling the labor organizations
curse.
"You are mistaken" said Mr. Cooke
"Mr Jones said that the strikes Of these
organizations were a curse"
well. IT'S the same thing" said Mr..
Collier
your powers of reasoning must be
very poor II you cannot see the differ
once" said Mr. Cooke.
Mr.. Collier then addressed the young
ladies'. lie somewhat revised his former
views and took a different position on the
question Of the young ladies being com
PEELED 10 carry the moulds from their
tables after they are filled.
A HEALTH MEASURE
At the conference in Mr.. Whtl0cks
Office Dir. Collier endorsed It as health
measure and said that "a girl who
couldn't carry twenty-five pounds OF
moulds should 20 20 a hospital
Yesterday morning his remarks seemed
to Indicate that ne didn't think the Whit
took manages mad anything 10 DO with
the health Of their employees.
ON one point however. the committee
Of ministers was unanimous.
They advised the young ladies earnestly
To return TO work Monday and 10 let
any other questions that might arise Doe
settled hereafter.
N was stated in the meeting that
there were other grievances which
the young ladies had failed TO
rive 20 their committee yesterday.
some Of the other rules. 81 was said. were
Objectionable. and one OF the room fore
men was not altogether agreeable TO
them
The ministers stated that they would
undertake TO see Mr. Whitlbck again.
nut that IL must be after the girls had
returned TO work. when. they thought.
the chances OF success would be much
better.
Taken all in all, the meeting had no
decided result. and IL could only be
Judged from general indications that a
number OF them are willing 10 80 back
10 work under present conditions.
EVIDENCES OF DfSAPPROVAL
The remarks Of Mr.. Collier were -"
only ones that found any favor with those
girls who are determined to pursue tho
strike They did not hesitate 10 openly
express their cIsappr0vai Of what Messrs.
caaka ana Jones mad said. and many CO.