The Washington times., 1903-03-30
LOWELL STREETS
NOW FILLED WITH
UNEMPLOYED MEN
Thousands of Strikers With
No Means of SuStenance.
BUSINESS AT A STANDSTILL
Textile Workers Declare They viii
Fight to a Finish-Operators
Determined.

LOWELL. Mass, March 2O.-Today the
streets are filed with the unemployed
and the community is about 70 feel the
effects OF the bitter struggle that is TO
be waged between capital and labor h
The customary atmosphere OF activity
and industry has been replaced by one
OF sluggishness and unrest. and the un-
folding OF the future is awaited with
anxiety Alarmed at the lockout. store
keepers and dealers have declared a
cash basis. and those whose sole means
or sustenanee consists of wages received
at the counting rooms OF tn. mills are
on the brink OF starvation.
Haunt the Mills.
HolIow-eyed and detected. they haunt
the vicinity of the mills. filled with a
yearning 10 again hear the voice OF the
spindle. The Office Of the overseer Of
the poor is besieged with persons in
need and as time wears on the throng
OF unfortunates increases.
or the 10000 textile workers thrown
out OF employment about 5000 are union
workers. These will receive weekly as
sistance. but the problem OF attending
TO the wants OF the majority is not so
easy TO meet The greater part OF those
thrown on their own resources are
women and girls.
Business at StandstiT.
Business is at a complete standstin
In the large department stores working
forces are being reduced one-half Mer-
chants are greatly disturbed AT the turn
affairs have taken. and to many the
proIongation Of the labor war will mean
ruin, Special cars that have been con-
veying suburban operatives 20 their work
in the early hours OF the morning have
been discontinued. and this entails
heavy loss 10 the local branch OF the
Boston and Northern Street Railway
Compsny.
IN n thiclcly populated French qua
ter are many massive tenement houses I
a large number Of which have been re-
Gently erected. Extensive preparations /
are being made for migration to Canada.
and another week will find the revenue
OF property owners cut OF.
Morgan of the Mills"
Arthur J. Lyman. OF Boston. is the
man whose word could Immediately
change the aspect OF affairs. Upon him
has been conferred the title. Morgan
Of the mills and It Is most appro-
PIRATE He holds a controlling interest
in the corporations. The fact that all
the mills are owned by out OF town men
who have no interest IN the welfare OF
the city is looked upon as one OF the
reasons OF the demand for an increase
being refused. In Fall River and other
cities where concessions have been
made. the employers are numbered
among the residents
The product OF the seven great cor /
Dorations involved in the controversy
embraces grades from the coarsest OF
cotton to the finest dress goods. among
which are sheeting. shirting. nainsooks /
dimities, toweling table linen. sateen. |
end silk warp goods.
Will Fight to a Finish.
The leaders OF the strike say that the 4
battle viii be waeed to the end and 4
declare that nothing short of a 10 per I
cent increase viii bring about an ami 4
cable settlement. To this the agents /
bluntly reply that they will keep the /
gates closed until the operatives are /
glad 10 return at the old rate.
The only departments OF the mills in /
operation today are the hosiery works /
or the Lawrence Corporation and the /
print departments OF the Merrimac and 4
Hamilton Mills. IL IS probable that
these will attempt TO run regardless OF /
the strike Tho knitters n the Law
renee mills earn good pay and are
averse to casting their lot with the
strikers. As yet trouble has been avoid
ed but the operating OF the depart
ments may cause friction at any moment.
Thirty weavers left town today TOr
Nashua. y. II, where positions have
beer offered