Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-21
STRIKE IN ALAMANCE.
Cotton Mill Union Men Stand
Firm for Recognition.
Ahro'-'""r'hs of Operators in the County
Belong To the Organization Mills will
Continue With Reduced Force What
Both Sides Say.

Burlington. n. c.. Oct 1S.-The mills
mere have been closed down the past
two days on account of the Burlington
affair. This is an annual custom and
is not caused by the disagreement be-
tween the mill owners and the opera-
tives. Tomorrow the mills will re-
sumo work, and then il can be accu-
rately determined just how far they
VIII be affected by the strike.
one of the union officials tells tho
Post correspondent that about three
fourths OF all the operatives in Ala
nance county are members OF the
union. and that so far as can he asccr-
tanned these will remain idle until the
mill owners agree to give the union re-
cogntion.
The mill owners say they do not
know what proportion of the operatives
belong to the union. but estimate that
one-haif arc members. There are
enough non-union people in the county
to operate the mills, they claim. though
for while they will probably he short
handed In some departments.
MI Edward Johnston, president of
the union at 1Iaw river. estimates that
between 800 and 800 men are on strike
ut that place, though he did not know
the exact number. At Burlington local
union officials say that 700 men will
be idle before the end OF the week
The strikers hope to largely increase
thir number while the mill owners be-
lieve that in short time the strikers
Will give i'll. and OBJECTIONS from the
ranks will cause the collapse OF the
strike.
There is no general official directing
the strike, but the union in each town
is acting independently They hold
meetings in their lodge rooms where
they hear speeches from prominent la
Dor men. and wear white silk badges
that proclaim their membership in the
union There is no threat OF violence
and there has been no disorder A
young man named Davis seems to he
one of the moving spirits, but, accord
ing TO all reports, he is conservatives
and has advised the strikers against
doing anything rash. Some proposed
that they get brass band and march
in body from one mill to another. to
gather up the men who were at work
and stop the mills, but the more con-
servative members thought this would
cause trouble, and advised against it,
The strikers say they have a strike
fering for while at least. and if the
strike lasts long they expect aid from
the national union.
Treasurer Apple. of the union here
ssf,.-stite freely of the sttUattUn fie says
the original trouble is q very simple
disagreement. But the mill owners de-
clincd to treat with the union commit
tee or recognize the union in any way.
The strikers have no demands except
that the union he recognized.
The Mcssrs. Holt and their connec-
tons control nearly all the mills in Al
amance county. In the present situa-
tion the mill owners are IT unit They
declare that the intrusion of the union
into their affairs will estranGe the OPP
eratives from their employers and nut
an end 10 the pleasant relations that
have always existed between the pro-
prietors and operatives. In no part of
the South have these relations been
more pleasant or cordial than in Ala
nance county. II is n well-known fact
that when there was no demand for
goods and prices were actually below
the cost of production, the Alamance
mills We're operated when they were
losing money every day in order to hold
the help together and keep them from
suffering. All during the days of the
panic the mills here kept spinning and
weaving, and the operatives were en-
abled to make n living when in other
parts OF the country where the mills
shut down they were in actual want
The mill owners declare that the M
eratives have been satisfied with con-
ditions until labor agltators came
among them and began to stir IN
W
coming between us and our EMPLOYEES.
and therefore the union must GO" said
Mr.. r. L. Holt. I'VE will run our own
mills and will not employ union labor
under any conditions" said Colonel
James Holt. i manager who did not
want his name used said the mills
could not afford TO be at the mercy OF
every labor agitator that came along.
| and they proposed to run their own
business therefore they would have
| nothing whatever to do with the union.
The strike resolves itself into this:
| The operatives demand that the
| union Shall he recognezed. and declare
| they will stay on strike until the own
ers give ii recognition.
The mill owners say they will not re-
cognize the union under any condi-
| tions. and viii not longer employ any
| operatives who belong to the union.
That Is the situation now.
| Prices of goods are low and the mills
| are paying very small profits. They
| have large stocks on hand, and would
not object TO shutting down for several
weeks.
There Is no talk of violence on the
| part of the strikers. or of eviction on
| the part of the mill owners. Each
side believes the trouble will in time be
settled amicably, but each side seems
to be thoroughly determined. 1t Is the
general opinion that the strike will last
several weeks.