The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-04-10
EVERY MILL IN THE AUGUSTA
DISTRICT is NOW CLOSED
DOWN, DUE TO KING MILL
STRIKE.
TWENTY THOUSAND PEOPLE
EFFECTED AND $4,000 WEEK
LY PAY ROLL WILL CEASE
THIS WEEK.

i
in Augusta is progressing along the
schedule already mapped out This
King mill operatives began their
strike Monday morning, as has been
published and this evening, at tne
close of the days work, all mills
shut down on a general lockout. The
bells will not ring tomorrow in any
mill in the Augusta district, and the
fight will be on in earnest between
the manufacturers and the textile
union
The lockout involved all the cotton
mills in the city of Augusta and the
Aiken Manufacturing company, OF
Bath, S. c.; the Warrenville Manu-
c.. the Graniteville Manufacturing
featuring company. of Warrenville, 8.
company, of Graniteville. S. c., and
the Langley Manufacturing company
at Langley, S. G.. These mills. though
located in South Carolina, have their
headquarters in the city of Augusta.
and their presidents belong to the
local Manufacturers association.
They have always been classed as
Augusta mills, the presidents of the
zaiils all being citizens OF Augusta,
and the business being transacted
here.
Twenty Thousand People Involved.
The strike involves about 1000
hands, and taking In old people and
children who are not in the mills.
but connected by family ties with
the operatives involves approx
mately 10000 people.
Early Monday morning operatives
filed into the King mill as usual,
coming in little groups from their
homes, and taking their accustomed
places in the various rooms.
At 6:45 the authorities of the mill
not Aaving conceded the 10 per cent.
increase which had been demanded.
nearly every operative slipped the
belt from the pulley which ran his
loom or spindle, and without word
II cheer or excitement of any kind,
The i,100 operatives quietly filed out
Of the mill There was no excite
rnent or hilarity.
| Here and there there was an op-
srator who declined to take part in
the strike, and continued at his post.
| Up in one of the weave rooms an
ola man and two small boys con-
| ttnued at work in one corner of the
room, and President l.. A. Thomas, OF
tne King Manufacturing company.
who was walking through the mill.
spted the weaver at work Going
over to his loom, Mr. Thomas said:
4 am glad to see you have the
pluck to continue at work"
Old Man and Thomas.
In the noise of the loom the old
man did not hear Mr.. Thomas' re-
mark, but ne exclaimed: am going
to run it as long as the machinery
runs, and what in the hell have YOU
got to do with it?"
Mr.. Thomas replied: IL only wish
to congratulate you on your nerve in
sticking to your loom In the face OF
the strike'
Yes, by, | went through the
strike before. and | am ready to run
my loom as long as the wheel turns.
But who in the hell are your"
The old man evidently took Mr..
iThomas for one of the walking dele
gates who had come to ask him to
leave his machine and go out with the
strikers, when Mr. Thomas added
i congratulate you on your spunk."
I He repeated his former ejaculation:
Yes, by. | am going to run her.
! but what in the hell have you got
to do with it?"
Nothing at ALL" said Mr.. Thomas.
except that | happen to be the pres
fdent of the company"
Are you J.. A. Thomas?" exclaimed
the old man in amazement. Il am
proud to meet you sir, and I want to
say that | have been working in the
mills for many years. and / never
was better treated than 4 am right
now in the King mill"
The old man turned away and con-
tinued to run his loom, without with
drawing any of the language which he
had addressed to the president be-
fore discovering his identity.