The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-18

Strike at Fall River Averted by
Mill Owners Granting Increase of
Wages-LowelI Men Demand High
er Pay-Augusta Operative. Not to
Strike.
Boston. Mass. March l5-The labor
situation in this city. after n week or
agitation and anxiety. Is gradually as
suming normal conditions and at the
close OF business today the great ma
1ority OF the freight handlers, team
sters and expressmen who Joined. out
OF sympathy, the strike OF the freight
handlers of the New York. New Haven
and Hartford railroad on Wednesday
and Thursday had returned to work.
AS announced by Governor Crane Just
before leaving the state house tonight.
the disposition OF all parties is to al
low reasonable time TO adjust matters.
and. in the meantime. to be patient.
Much to the satisfaction OF the busi-
ness community. freight began to
move today ami considerable work was
accomplished ir relieving the conges-
tion Of freight at the different distrib-
uting points.
The state board OF arbitration issued
the following statement:
The strike situation continues TO
Improve. The coal people are working
with few exceptions. The Clyde Steam
ship Company will take back all its
men as soon as the ships arrive. One
is expected tomorrow. The MetropoIi-
tan Steamship Company have fifty
four OF their men at work and viii
take many more later. Nine-tenths of
the general teanisters are at work
To add to the general satisfaction Of
the labor situation in Boston came the
word late this afternoon that another
labor war in the mills OF Fall River
had been averted. SO tine week closes
with something like peace In the old,
bay state
The work of reinstatement. which
through the efforts OF the governor be-
gan yesterday, continued today but fis
a greater degree. OF the 800 men OF
the Boston and Maine road who struc;.
Wednesday $50 We're offered their oIsI
positions by President TuttIe tbix
morning. and he also stated that Inc
remainder would be taken care of in
snort time. The same disposition
was shown at the Boston and Albanv
ofnces. where arrangements were made
to take back the old men at their for
mer wages
There was little furry this morn
ing among the striking express men
when returning to their old Offices
they found that at present their SER
vices were not required. The men
rushed back 10 their headquarters and
Tor while INDUCED in heated debate
but the council of the leaders ,re-
vailed and the men decided to be ma
tent.
Fall River Operative. win.
Fall River. Mass. March IA,
meeting OF the Fall River Manufac-
turers' Association held this afternoon
IL was voted To increase wages I'm all
Oh the Fall River mills 10 per cent IN
next Monday morning The meefing
"as ATTENDED by nearly all those who
hao signed the agreement not Tn al
vance wages more than 6 per cent The
street In 'front.' OF the association roores
was crowded with people who any
iousiy awaited the result OF their de-
Hberations.
Inc meeting ended shortly before
O'CLOCK and when the announcere,t
that the increase had been granted
was made known, a cheer went nm ana
the news spread rapidly.
Today's events have been the mo.t
/ sensational in years in the local ter
Tile industry. as never before have
matters gone so far and a strike been
averted.
| Ihis forenoon in response to a re-
quest from a representative of the bus
mess men OF the city the secretaries
OF the various labor union had a eon-
ference with a committee Of the mann.
hacturers at which no progress toward
settlement was made. The manufac-
furers refused TO concede more than
I Der cent advance.
Tne secretaries made the proposition
that IL a 10 per cent increase was
given they would guarantees that NJ
strike would occur in the near fufure
no matter what n. c. Borden might
do.
To this the manufacturers reo1sea
that they did not believe that I'm case
Ar. Borden should make an additional
increase Of 5 Per cent. the labor lead
ers could rrevent their operatives
4