Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-25
No Postponement of Fall
River Strike.
Labor Leaders Also Prompt to
Take Action.
Decision Of Mill Men Received With
Profound Regret-Generai Strike Or
der Issued by Textile Council Com
mittee.

r All INiNeI, MASS, july Z4.-N1 th the
hope of peaceful settlement abandoned
both sides in the pending industrial
trouble here await with logged deter
minatiOn the coming of tomorrow and
the first test of strength between
group of manufacturers representing a
combined capital of s25,0OO.O0O, on one
side, and more than $4,000 cotton mill
operatives on the other.
The mill gates will be opened at the
usual time, tomorrow morning, when
the operatives will be given an oppor-
tunity to go to work under a wage
reduction of 12h per cent. The strike
leaders were of the opinion, this even
ing. that there would not be enough OPP
eratives applying for work throughout
inc entire city to run even one mill, to
say nothing Of the so or more that are
affected by the order to strike. The
manufacturers, on the other hand,
claim that the 1000 union men who vot-
ed to strike, do not represent the senti-
ment of the great body of cotton mill
employees.
The give the total number Of opera
tives on the pay roll as $3.50. This, of
course, does not include the employees
at the independent mill of NJ. c. d.
Borden, which are not involved.
The talk heard on the streets, how
ever, is that the feeling against the
manufacturers is just as bitter among
the non-union operatives as 1t is among
those who are affiliated with labor or
CARNATIONS. 1t is not believed, how
ever. that this feeling will eliminate in
acts of violence.
Wild fhroofC have 10
by an unintelligent class of workmen,
but no importance is attached to them.
The engineers and firemen have been
ordered to report at the mills and the
engines will be started, tomorrow morn
ing, as usual. If there are enough OPP
eratives at the machines to run them
the mills will be kept in operation. 9TH
erwise they will be shut down until the
strike is settled.
The only possible break in the ranks
Of the strikers is looked for at the Bor-
der City mills. These mills which nor
mally employ 775 operatives, have not
been operated for two months and the
people who are employed there are des-
perate from want.
Regarding the non-union element, the
strike leaders believe that if it can be
demonstrated for two weeks that the
non-union operatives can live on strike
benefits as we'll as if not better than on
the wages paid by the mills. the strike
can be prolonged indefinitely.
Both sides are thoroughly prepared
for the struggle. The operatives have
be held at the various union headquar-
tiers, tomorrow morning.
Several small stores patrOniZed chief
ly by the operatives have been obliged
to close owing to the abrupt falling off
of trade and on all sides an alarming
decrease in business is shown.
Fall River, July 24.-The cotton man.
ufacturers will not yield in pOstponing
the wage cut and strike will result.
Intense interest, shared by everybody
in the community, centered. Saturday
morning, in the special meeting of the
Manufacturers Association. which was
called as an outcome of the conference
between the executive committee of the
association and the labor officials with
the State Board of Arbitration, Satur-
day.
Ever since it became known, Friday
night. that such action was to be TAX
en- as a result of those deliberations, all
sorts of rumors have been flying about
town as to what the nature Of the un-
Outstanding reached was and what the
proposition to be submitted to the man.
ufacturers might be, as well as regard
ing the probable action that would be
taken, etc. The seal of secrecy that
had been laid on all the conferences
with respect to this mater, was faith
fully kept.
The call was sent out to the agents of
all the mills signing the manufacturers
agreement and all who were able to
attend responded.
1t TRANSFERRED that the meeting had
been convened in'response to the re-
quest Of the State Board of Arbitration
CONTINUED on page 81