The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-26

| The settlement of the silk mill strike,
which seemed so imminent after We'd
nesday's meeting of the hard silk en-
ployes Of the sauquoit mill, at which
the girls decided by an overwhelming
vote to return to work. has been post
| poned--it may be day or 1t may be
indefinitely.
| The employees of the soft silk depart
! ment met yesterday afternoon, and
| after a long and stormy session voted
| against any resumption of work until
| the demands of the Wrappers are COM
| piled with. The latter at the eleventh
| hour in no uncertain tones signitied
that they must have an increase in
wages. and there comes the hitch.
About three hundred girls were pres
| ent yesterday afternoon, when the
| meeting was called to order. Mother
| Mary Jones, NJ. y. Flaherty and others.
who have been prominent throughout
| the strike, were seated near the presi-
| dent and soon after the opening of the
| session Mother" Jones delivered an
address. in which she advised the ac-
| ceptance of the very fair offer made by
the Sauquoit president.
TERMS ANNOUNCED.
The terms We're announced to the
girls and the general consensus of
| opinion was that the one-half cent
| per yard increase was liberal
one. But then arose the question
| of the Wrappers, forty-tive in number.
| for whom the operators proposal in
cludcd nothing in the way of an in
crease. During the past few days moth
| ing has been said, however. which
would lead to the supposition that they
demanded any advance, as their only
| grievance was declared to be the de-
sire for reinstatement of Miss Eliza
beth Roach. the forewoman. reduced to
the ranks for going on strike with the
girls
They met however, during the week
at the home of one of their number,
and decided that while they will modify
their original demands. still they must
have an increase of one-quarter cent
per hundred ends. They formerly asked
one-half cent. At the meeting yester-
day they declared themselves satisfied
with the disposition OF their other
grievance. as Superintendent Davis has
pledged himself to give Miss Roach the
first vacant forewomanship.
The matter Of wages is therefore the
sole obstacle remaining between the
strikers and a settlement. The mill
owners have stated throughout that
this branch of the silk mill workers is
the best paid, and that no advance
could possibly be granted its members.
A committee was appointed yesterday
to wait upon Superintendent Davis and
report at next Thursdays meeting. If
the result of their interview is an en-
couraging one, however. Il special meet
ing is likely to be called.
THEY WILL WAIT.
1t is not likely that any action will
be taken by the strikers of the other
mills, regarding a renewal of work, as
| it is the unions purpose to call the
strike off on some fixed date, and for
all the strikers to resume their tasks
on that day. A special meeting Of the
Sauauoit hard silk workers will take
| place today. and this afternoon the
Harvey girls will meet.
What action will be taken by the lat
| ter it is hard to say. but it is not likely
| that any decisive move will be made
by them or any of the other girls until
the Sauquoit local has decided on it's
course of action. Among the latter's
members there was a most spirited de-
bate yesterday afternoon, as numerous
girls wished to accept the offer, despite
the Wrappers. The vote taken was not
given out, but it is understood that it
was not very heavy one, as many of
the girls refused to cast a ballot. owing
to their undecided condition.
The Taylor local will meet tomorrow
afternoon, and Mother" Jones will at
tend the session and endeavor to bring
about an amicable condition of affairs
between the Mulherin local and their
employers.
A prominent member of the Klotz
local last night said that the action
taken by the members OF the Sauquoit
soft silk department would have no
effect upon the decisions of the other
strikers. Said she:
In my opinion, our girls will decide
Sunday to resume work. The greater
part of the girls at all the mills are
now willing to accept the owners offer
and the fact that this does not include
the Wrappers, who represent but IL tiny
fraction of the striking forces, is not
considered by any means a sufficient
cause to keep the bulk of girls out on
strike.
However we all anticipate settle
ment of the Sauquoit soft silk workers
grievances also and il is likely that
work will be resumed simultaneously
at all the mills some day next week"
At a meeting of the Central Labor
union, of Wilkes Barre, held last night
Attorney #. j. Strauss, representing
the silk firm of Hess & Goldsmith
whose 400 hands have been out on
strike for some time, appeared and
asked that steps be taken toward "a
settlement. The matter was referred
to special committee, with power to
act.
The employees Of the Simpson mill, at
Minooka, returned to work yesterday
morning.
Jones Longs Sons wish to call at
tention to an error made in the even
A.. IS