New-York tribune., 1902-06-22
CHAFE UNDER SOLDIERS.
PATERSON STRIKERS FAIL TO AGREE
AT MASS MEETING.

| Paterson n J.. June 21-A central board,
| comprising delegates from all the branches Of
! the silk industry. was In session for six hours
| to-day discussing the strike situation. while
| thousands fingered outside waiting for their
decision. which expected to settle definitely
whether there should he general strike 1t
| was recognized the most important meeting
held recently and the silk workers them
selves are radically opposed the present stu
ation the verdict Of the central body was an
ticipated with great deal of discussion
Each organization had four delegates on the
board There were representatives from the
broad silk weavers. the ribbon weavers, the loom
fxers and twsters and the horizontal warp
ers Delegations were also present from the
dyers helpers and the Socialist Trades and LABOR
Alliance, but these latter were only present by
courtesy. and had no vote.
It was understood that the main question be-
fore the body was whether the weavCrs and
other employees in the silk mills who were driven
| from the factories on last Wednesday by the
| rioters should return to their work on Monday
morning under military protection. The dele
| gates soon found that they could not come to an
amicable agreement this question The
weavers. who comprise by far the largest part
| of the silk employees were opposed to going into
the mills under escort.
They said that they would be willing to go to
work If the troops were withdrawn, but they did
not want TO be made to feel as IL they were
"scabs" That was the way the weavers put H.
and the Wrappers and loom fxers, who were in
favor of returning to work could not argue them
out Of it. For six hours they wrestled with the
problem. The sentiment OF the body was not In
favor of a general strike but they were all op-
posed to the presence of the troops. and they
thought that the authorities had made bad
mistake in calling out the militia
Finally It was decided to leave the question
OPEN and another idea was advanced. This
was that committee be appointed from the
central body to wait on the employing ayers
and ask them meet their striking helpers IN
conference with the idea OF coming 10 a settle
rnent. II the boss dyers and their helpers can
agree this would take the burden of action off
the weavers and loom 1xers and warpers, ana
the whole trouble would thus be settled In a
a committee of six appointed to wait on
| the employing dyers on Monday. The central
body will meet again at the call of this com
mittee. and this will probably be on Tuesday
From the sentiment expressed after the meet
| ing ii appears that If the boss dyers refuse 70
go into a conference with their employees who
are strike. the central body, which was in
session this afternoon, can again take UP the
| question whether a general strike should be de-
| clared In that general strike would De
| likely In the mean time the various branches
! of the silk industry can return to work on Mon
day or not. as each decides for itself. The loom
| fxers and twisters and the Wrappers have al
| ready decided 10 return TO work but the weav-
| ers. both ribbon and broad are opposed 10 re-
turning. The loom ixers and the Wrappers can
not work without the weavers. that there will
be little doing in the silk mills until the central
body meets again. which Will probably be on
Tuesday
The heavy rains Of to-day prevented the strtk-
ers from gathering in the streets. The soldiers
had to stand in the downpour, however, and
they did not like their work. The manufactur-
| ing district of the city is now guarded by reg
| ular patrols comprised Of infantry and the
Essex mounted troop. Most of the latter are
wealthy men, unused to such exposure, but they
did not finch from their duty.
/ Mayor HinChliffe said that he did not know
how long the troops would be kept here. They
will be here until the middle of next week. and
after that il will depend on circumstances