Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-10
AT LOWELL, MASS.
State Arbitration Board vainIy Seeks
- to Remedy the Trouble.

Lowell, Mass. April 9.-While the
brief session, today, of the State Board
Of Arbitration and Cancellation which
has come here to discover if possible
common ground upon which the mill
corporations and their 1900 idle oper-
atives can get together, was not pro-
ductive of definite results, the moral
effects of the investigation are already
felt. There was a persistent rumOr,
tonight that the mills will be
opened, Monday. The mill agents re-
fused to deny or confirm the rumor
but usually well informed member
OF the Textile Council said, tonight,
that he had definite information to the
effect that at meeting of mill treas
urers, this afternoon, it was decided to
open the mills, Monday, and make an
effort to resume operations in all de-
partments.
Should such a course be pursued the
Textile Council will accept the chal-
lenge and is confident of being able to
hold in line a sufficient number of
operatives to make a general resump-
ton impossible.
The board will resume it's hearing,
tomorrow morning, when it is expected
that the operatives side will be ready
for presentation.
1t was apparent from expressions of
delegates to the Textile Council, to-
night, that the State Board of Arbitra-
ton and Cancellation has not yet gained
the confidence of the operatives. This
feeling of opposition is due to some eX
tent, to the fact that it was a mill
treasurer who made the suggestion to
have the board take hold of the matter.
and 1t is strengthened by the knowl-
edge that the state board is doing all
it's business with the manufacturers
through this same gentleman, Treas
urer Clark, of the Boot mills.
The state board, after listening to the
opening remarks of the representatives
of the operatives, paid visit to the
Lawrence hosiery. 1t was said upon
their return that'the visit was only for
the purpose of obtaining general idea
of the conditions in the Lowell fac
tories.
All doubt as to whether the Textile
Council will submit its case to the state
board has been removed, and unless
some unforeseen obstacle arises the
members will start upon their testi-
mony tomorrow morning. 1t is under
stood that the operatives will be repre-
scented by counsel, one lawyer coming
from Boston.
Three families, comprising q opera
tives, were sent to places in New
HGmpshire by the employment agent
of the Textile Council.
Leather Workers Union, one of the
strongest individual organizations in
New England. tonight, held an enthus-
iastic sympathetic meeting for the
strikers. The sum of 800 was voted
for the strike fund and an assessment
was levied upon members which will
average $500 week.
A prominent member Of the Textile
Council said, tonight, that he mad rea-
son to believe that at meeting of the
mill treasurers i'm this city, today, 1t
was decided to reopen the mills. Mon
day morning. Agents refuse to be in
terviewed on the question.
The proceedings. today, just occupied
20 minutes at the end of which time an
adjournment was taken until IL o'clock
tomorrow in order to allow the Textile
Council an opportunity to determine
whether it would aid the members of
the board in the investigation.
Chairman Warren A. Reed of Brock
ton, opened the hearing at Ills o'clock.
At that time there were several vacant
seats in the hearing room of City hall
where all sessions are to be held. 1t
was apparent that among citizens gen.
orally there was lack of interest in the
boards visit.
The manufacturers were represented by
Treasurer F. B. Amory of the Hamilton