Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-04
is IT ILL-ADVISED?
Lowell Mil Owners Have That
Idea Regarding Strike.
Mills Will Be Open to Receive Those
Who Wish to Work.
Pay Roll of Lowell Mills, Friday, Was
$10s,3oo.

Lowell. Mass, April 3.-Mill agents
in Lowell express their conviction that
the present trouble in the textile INDUS
try in Lowell is against the wishes OF
the great ma jority of the wage earners.
To emphasize this, Agent Council of
the fremont and Suffolk mills, tonight.
authorized the Citizen to print the fol-
lowing interview.
THE mills of Lowell will open just
as soon as there is general desire to
return to work. If a reasonable num-
Der of fremont and Suffolk operatives
should express a willingness to return
to work. Monday, or a week from that
time. the gates would be opened for
them. BY a reasonable number, mean
representation of the operatives in
all departments. One department IS
dependent upon the other; eliminate
one and 1T is like moving link from
chain. so that you can see now I'M
possible it will be to reopen the mills
until representatives of every craft
are willing to come back to work.
have thought all along that the pres
ent strike movement is in opposition
to the wishes of the majority of the
operatives. and if it had been put to a
vote of all the operatives there would
have been no strike.
I'VE paid off $500 operatives, today,
the total sum being $4,000.
Il wish to say 1 never saw a more
orderly crowd of people in my life.
They received their money without
suggestion of anything that could be
considered as unfriendliness. Hundreds
of them expressed regret that the mill
was closing, and so sincere did they
seem to be that l am convinced that
the vote of the Textile Council did not
represent the wishes of the majority.
$50 impressed was I with the atti-
tude of the operatives that have de-
cided to do away with the services of
special officers at the fremont and
Suffolk mills. The property of the
fremont and Suffolk mill would be
Just as safe in the hands of the opera
tives being paid off, today, as in the
hands of the police of the city of Low
ell"
The mills concluded paying off their
help, today. the sum total of cash dis
tributed in three days being $10S,3O0.
With the exception of paying few
tardy operatives the relations hereto
fore existing between employer and
employee is severed, the former having
no financial obligation for the latter.
On the train going to the north, to-
night. 300 Canadians departed for the
province of Quebec. The travellers were
accompanied to the station by friends
VINO numbered in the aggregate not
less than $500 and the scene at the
North station was one that never has
been equalled in all the years of in
coming and outgoing of provincial help
to this city
This evening, many union meetings
were held, when admission of new
members took up considerable time.
Otherwise the day closed even quieter
than ON a Sunday.
The Citizen, tomorrow, will say:
"The Shaw Hosiery, manufacturing
SHAW Knit" goods, may soon be num-
bered among the silent mills of Lowell.
At meeting of the Spinners' Union,
the spinners of the Shaw Hosiery were
instructed to ask for an increase of 10
per cent. If this is refused the spinners
will be instructed to strike, in which
event the Shaw Hosiery will either
have to close down or buy it's supply
Of yarn from outside sources.