The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-11-12
FALL RIVERS GREAT EXODUS.
10000 Operatives Gone and $4,000,
600 in Wages Lost.

600 in Wages Lost.
The thirteenth week Of the strike o.
the cotton mill operatives came to {
close Oct. "a, and the opening of the
fourteenth finds both sides as firm as
they We're month ago.
The strike has become the most re-
mafka BILE one in the history of the tex
tile industry in America. With no end
in sight, it is two weeks longer than
the strike of 1894, which had held the
record Of being the longest in which
all of the local industry was tied up.
In 1884 there were ten mills closed by
strike for nineteen weeks and in 1879
! the Spinners' union won fight lasting
sixteen weeks, but this strike is the
longest in which every branch of the
| industry became involved.
| It has been a hard struggle, one from
| which Fall River will not recover for
years, and yet neither side shows a
disposition to yield. If the mills start
it will be because of the outside pres
sure brought to bear. Glergymen busi-
ness men and property holders in gen
eral are doing their best to prevail
upon the manufacturers to open the
gates. They urge that it will be a good
way to place the weight Of the respon-
sibility for the suffering that is being
endured by many families and for the
loss of business on the strikers. Many
criticise the mill men for not opening
their gates and allowing the public to
judge whether the operatives shall re-
turn to work offered to them or shall
remain on the streets and suffer. 1t is
pointed out that it has been the his
Of fy;l in, oif "a
workers never voted to give up before
the mills were opened. Instances in
which they have called it off before
work was offered them are rare, and
it is we'll known that as soon as the
looms are started there is a break that
the leaders find it difficult to repair,
unless conditions for remaining out are
Unusually good
The mill men as a body are not in
favor of starting. They say that under
the present conditions of cotton and
cloth markets there is little to be
gained by opening the mills. There
was practically no business in the To-
cal market this week and. while many
of the mills have disposed of most of
their surplus stock. they have received
no tempting offers for contracts. There
are. however, some treasurers who IA
vor an early opening. They are the
ones who started the movement to open
gates Oct. 3. 1t failed then, but they
have since been on the alert for a
chance to renew the agitation. They
view the situation from a business
They believe that they can
get help enough to run the mills and
that markets should not be allowed to
go by default.
They are not moved by sympathy for !
the strikers, for they are satisfied that |
those who return to work do so be- |
cause they feel that while market con- |
1itionh are against their demands, it is |
prudent for them to earn what they |
IAN until business picks up. Then |
hey will quit work again. On the |
1ther hand, the operatives say that |
such is not the case. They boast that |
hey will not return until the reduc-
ion of wages notices are taken down.
They find encouragement in the fact
hat improvements are being made in
he mills, new machinery installed and
cotton purchased. They believe it in
iicates that the mill men expect some
business and are preparing to open to
meet the demand.
The loss in wages to the operatives
low foots UP nearly $4,000, 900 and the
fleets of it are becoming more appar-
mt every day. As the weather becomes
more unfavorable the suffering in
reases. 1t was bad a month ago; it is
much worse today. The Salvation army
) feeding about 1,500 persons every day;
he pauper department is supplying
400 families weekly and there is rush
ally at every soup kitchen and relief
tation, of which there are nine, one
I each ward. Every applicant for aid
; poorly clothed and many of the chill
rem are without shoes or stockings.
Whatever they get in the line of shoes
+ clothes must come from charity.
There are hundreds and hundreds of
antilles in which there is no want.
ONE members may be employed in
Their trades and some have saved and
re spending judiciously. Members of
hose families are seen on the streets
ally and their appearance would lead
stranger to believe that conditions
ere are not so bad after all. That,
owever, is only a surface indication
To see the suffering. the misery and
lie want that this strike has brought
ito homes that three months ago were
Apply and fairly prosperous. it is nee
'sary to so through the mill tenement .
stricts. The people are miserably
DOR. but they are not parading their
Overty. They are enduring the hard |
lips with a patience that is remark
Gle. Evidence of that fact may be 4
'und at the office of the overseer of
le poor at the city dispensary, where
lie sick who are able to leave their
'mes are treated and get medicine.
A sad spectacle to be witnessed there
the number of young mothers. Every :
" visitor will see a dozen or more !
'ung women. each with a babe in her s
ms. They have seen less than two :
.ars of married life. They and their
lsbands worked in the mills and the
rike was upon them before their
'mes were fairly established and they
ere in position to save a cent. The
", the church charities, the Saliva J
IN Army and others are doing all they {
n to alleviate the suffering They !
cad the consequences of the winter if
e strike is not settled speedily.
4 month ago nearly Is, 900 persons had
t the city. The number that have s
ne now exceeds 10000 and the exodus | Z
ntinues. Places in New York state. 5
her manufacturing cities and towns
New England. especially those in I
lode Island, and the farms of Canada s
er them brighter prospects than {
ii River Among those who have de- 5
rted are some of the most desirable {
10, and well known mill treasurer I
ID yesterday that if the mills were to 5
trt at once it will be a year before Z
ere is sufficient force of skilled heIul .
6.ar, ,n -, r,,lr