Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-29
THE GENERAL SITUATION,
Statement from Pres. James Tansey of
United Textile Workers.


dent James Tansey and Secretary AL
| bert Hilbert of the United Textile
Workers of America with headquarters
| in this city, stated. this afternoon, that
| no meeting of the executive or emer-
gency committees of that body had
| been called to take action upon the Ia
| Dor situation at Lowell. A commune
| cation has been received by Sec. Hb
| bert from the unions in Lowell asking
| the sanction of the United Textile
| Workers of America in the action they
have thus far taken, but this request
has not yet been considered. Both Off
| Gals said that they did not know when
a meeting will be held, but in any event
| it will be held at the latest by Monday
night.
| Another phase of the Lowell situation
THAT of posting notices of an indefinite
| shutdown commencing Saturday noon
was called to the attention of President
| Tarsey and he was asked what effect
this would have upon the action of the
| United Textile Workers of America,
more especially with regard to the pay
ing of the benefits.
He said that in the event of such a
lockout there is nothing in the rules of
the national body which calls for the
payment of lockout money. Had the
| members heen granted permission by
the nation >oNody and then struck they
| would be G-utled to strike benefits and
would have the privilege of levying as
| sessments on their members, but even
though there is no rule in regard to
lockout pay, the operatives in Lowell
would have the support of the United
Textile Workers of America.
President Tansey stated that while
the national body is under no legal oh
legation to assist the operatives in the
event of a lockout, there is a strong
moral obligation and this would I'M
doubtedly be fulfilled in case of trouble.
He thought the operatives in Lowell
should have the advance asked for,
and heartily approved of the action
| taken along that line by operatives in
other sections. He hoped for an ami
cable settlement in Lowell, but saw
| little chance for it under present con-
ditions.
If the intentions expressed in the Lo-
well notices are not carried out accord
| ing to their vote the operatives will
| strike. In that event it will be most
|
body shall be held. 1t will be necessary
to hold the meeting before Thursday, as
| Secretary Thomas O'DonneI1 of the To-
| cal Mule Spinners Union, is a member
of the committee and is also secretary
of the National Spinners of America, a
| convention of which body will open in
| Boston. Tuesday.
| The old members of the committee do
| ,nt ta1,
a matter without having an expression
| OF opinion from each of the members
Secretary O'Donnell was asked what
action would probably be taken at the
convention in regard to the Lowell
mule spinners, and he thought the mat
ter would come before the meeting in
| the form Of a request for endorsement
| This association is similar in many
ways to the United Textile Workers Of
America. in that an unsanctioned strike
debars the union from national support
and from levying assessments on it's
members.
These rules. however. can be sus-
pended and support and permission to
levy assessments given after a thor
OUCH investigation. According to Mr.
! O'Donnell, the union in Lowell is very
\ strong ana pays dues TO the national
body, showing that it has 260 members
and a reserve fund.
| Another important question will be
whether or not the charter of the Ma
! tional Spinners of America shall be
surrendered to the American Fedora
ton of Labor, with which the spinners
are affiliated. At the time of the con-
solidation in Washington last fall, the
spinners were allowed to maintain a
separate organization by reason of
their work being entirely different from
any other department in a cotton mill.
The separate body of spinners was
part of the American Federation of La
Dor and also of the United Textile
| Workers of America. They were. there
| fore. obliged to pay dues to both bodies
| Tho United Textile Workers of America
is affiliated with the American Fedora
ton of Labor, hence the question of the
| surrender of the charter
Secretary O'Donnell said that the
mule spinners in Dover, N. H, and
Lewiston, Me-, are asking for an adj
vance in wages. together with New
Bedford and Lowell.
The situation in New Bedford is in
more advanced stage than in any other