The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1903-04-03
CLOSING OF MILLS
Throws Fifteen Thousand PEG.
pie Out of Employment
LAWRENCE PLANT RUNNING

Knitters Permitted to Remain Neu
trail, but Criticism Already Begun
May Lead to Friction Later-Gravs
Industrial Controversy at Lowell
Lowell, Mass, March 31.-Organized
textile labor yesterday showed its
strength in the shutdown of the seven
largest cotton mills here, and, not con-
tent with this, the Textile council, the
delegate body Of the local Unions, con-
sidered the ACCESSIBILITY of compelling
an even wider application of the shut
down order by producing strike in the
Lawrence hosiery. This hosiery was
exempted from the strike order last
week, the Knitters' union being per-
m1tted to remain neutral, as they had
shown that they had no grievances
either in wages or time schedule. The
council last night did not find the
look is not favorable for u strike of
the knitters.
The incident was the chief one of the
first day of the unprecedented shut
down Of the big cotton mills in Lowell.
To one not familiar with the city the
aspects of the streets was that of
holiday or Sunday. Operatives wore
their best clothes and promenaded the
sidewalks; no smoke came from the
tall mill chimneys, which are the
prominent objects elevated above the
c1tys buildings, and there was an
absence of the hum of industry which
marks rushing, bustling New England
mill city.
No trouble of any kind occurred at
the mill gates, through which many
operatives passed at different times,
and nothing occurred on the streets
or at the meeting places of strikers to
bring forth criticism. labor unions
met, IA Of them using various halls
and being addressed by either their wn
officers or prominent labor men of
other bodies.
A meeting of the Lawrence hosiery
operatives was held with the idea in
view of urging those who attended to
lend their aid in making the strike
operate against such departments in
that mill not included IN the strike or
der. This meant the hosiery, in which
nearly $500 persons are employed. !
The proposition to start a sympathetic
strike here was not we'll received. and |.
when the Textile council at its meeting
later took up the same matter there was
a lack Of enthusiasm.
The running of the hosiery, it is said
by labor men, may lead to some friction
a little later, despite the permitted
neutrality of the knitters. Already
other operatives are critisizing the
Textile council for permitting part of
he Lawrence to run. The Textile
council took no action in the natter
last night, except to arrange for a mass
meeting tonight.
The LoomfiXers' union has chosen
walking delegates to visit other New
England cities and inform unions Of the
situation in Lowell. The Greeks held
/ meeting, some 700 of them attending,
md they decided against joining the
lnion or drawing any money from the
lnion treasury. They we're OF the
opinion that the money could be better
distributed among the Union members,
md if there was a surplus little might
le given to the Greek church.
The persons. at work in the mills
were chiefly those in the
inishing rooms and the Offices. The
,ouncil claims that the strike order is ,
Intended to stop manufacturing in all
is stages and all reports show that |
lotbing of this kind was done.
AS the matter now stands more than !
5000 men, women and children who !
n this industry found support for /
themselves and their families are idle,
actually FORGETTING about $4,000 day
n wages; 100000 spindles have been
'ilenced and $10000,O00 Of invested I
'apital is imperative. Without ex
'eption, it is the gravest industrial
controversy that has ever visited this
'ity, though its real significance may
lot be realized for some time. I
Employers Proposition Accepted
Somerville, Mass, March 30.-Over
100 employees of the American Tube
Works met yesterday to consider the
proposition of Treasurer Cotton of the |
Tube Works in reply to their demand ]
or a nine-hour day, double time for )
sundays and legal holidays and time
md half for all overtime. The com I
'any was willing to pay the extra for I
Sunday and overtime, etc, but in re- {
,ard to the nine-n our workday the