The daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-19??, 1903-03-30
LOWELL MILL
HANDS LOCKED OUT
Sudden Action of Textile Man
.ufacturers Sets 1900
Men Idle.
LINES ARE STRENGTHENED
One Official Says That the
Mills Will Be Closed Till
All the Operatives
Want Work,

: LOWELL, Mass, March 30.-With A
long mill holiday ahead union labor in
this city is busy Interest centers in
hhe textile council which for hours
yesterday was in session at labor
Headquarters working out plans for
controlling the army of textile opera.
lives enlisted under its banner for a 10
per cent Increase in wages. Labor men
declare that the shutdown has done
iu1re 10 strengthen the union cause
than any other incident. Hundreds of
new members were admitted to the
unions, urged on probably BY the pros
pes Of strike benefits. In this connec.
zion President Conroy and members of
fhe textile council who are at the head
OF local unions say that all operatives
who have Joined in the issue will be
cared for.
While the shut down went into effect
Saturday noon there are many people
at work today. these being chiefly the
finishing room hands, the marhnists,
section hands and OVerSpers, for the
mill agents intend to put property in
their charge In good condition for Il
dong period Of idleness TO make necrs-
sary repairs and TO prepare finished
product for shipment
After the textile council meeting
President Conroy stated that plans
were perfected for long siege" in
dicating that he believed the shutdown
would not be one of few weeks He
also said that he had been asked TO
furnish thirty to forty weavcrs for
mill outside the state, and he would
Bend married weavers there. The use
of labor halls has been given without
cost to the textile council, and these
places will be fitted up as reading
rooms. Fourteen meetings are called
Tor today, and speakers from out Of
town are expected at several of them.
I There is considerable talk among on
eratives that Friday an offer Of I per
cent increase was offered as compro-
mise, but one of the mill agents when
asked in regard to this said 1t was not
30 and further added that there was
no possibility of the increase.
In preference to fighting the textile
unions of Lowell the agents of seven
big cotton mills ordered an entire sus-
pension of work for an Indefinite peri
Cd. Three days ago these agents official.
~ announced that a canvass of the help
Showed that upward of 50 per cent
were nonunion and were opposed TO
Strike. This sentiment changed, and
when second canvass was taken Of
The loom fixers mule spinncrs, cardcrs,
H1pp'rS. wrHH.... .'l b"0ucIs 1t vas
nurfi, ~rpY Un. the >nt'a. council
was able to fulfill its threat ana strike
The mills.
Without delay notices Of shutdown,
10 take effect at once, were posted on
The gates, and as piece hands com
pleted their work they were told to
deave, Fully 1000 operatives had been
forcod into idleness The length of the
shut down is predetermined, but it is
likely to last many weeks.
Agent w. S SOuthworth Of the Mas
shchusettS mills, secretary Of the Man
ntacturer5' association, says that il
The mill people think that the shut
ilown will be for fortnight they are
greatly mistaken. 1t will last, he says
Until the agents are positively told that
Mi the operatives want to WORK, and
when this time comes the agents Will
Consider the matter Of resumption.