New-York tribune., 1905-01-09
FALL RIVER CONDITIONS
MILL STRIKE BREAKING
gore Distressing than Ever-Tbe
Outlook Uncertain.

/ ~s-aIivCs ana i1e e3Ehlh week OF the ATTEMPT to
i = The mills ended yesterday. with conditions
s-,uchout tie city more distressing than ever
,,7e and the outlook as puzzling as II was q
I nil aeo. The leaders on both sides seem 10
IS firm in their determination TO win as they
- al The outset The secretaries OF the labor
,ons say that the claims Of the manufacturer
tbe eject that 1hey are making steady gains.
4 : exaccorati0ns. ana that they distort facts
4 ,n talking Of the product they are getting
4 - on the Other hand, the min men say they
= perfect,y satisfied with the gains they have
4 .5o and they add that the strike is practically
4 ,osen. The outsider. who has only the state
/ srts of each party 10 the struggle TO guide him.
sIways uncertain as to which one he should
,liave. To one close enough TO the business to
!. .,,n,ersaut with facts il is apparent that the
,.s,r-scturors have the upper hand. There are
.,.-rz1nen. business and professional men and
,,ne fin close touch and sympathy with textile
.-,enis-n who VIII now agree that the manu-
s.,-prers are nearer the truth when they say
-. the strike is practically broken than the
4 ,.bor secretaries when they claim that they are
s hopeful Of winning as ever before.
4 rsa wen known fact that since the very day
i, the closing # the mills the sympathy of
/ rsqrly The entire community has been with the
,.-gsrs. Leading business men were with them
/ ,-olaalv IN many cases because a cutdown in
A .svIreaut a decrease in receipts-and openly ex-
4 -ssed the hope and belief that they would win.
/ vsrv Of them changed their belief weeks ago;
4 ..-5sv few IL any. have even hope left. They
4 ace a situation that forces them TO deal with
II arts alone There is 10 alternative, and the
-a-atives themselves realize il. The facts back
4 n the claim of the manufacturers and they are
,snr considered with more fairness than they
we're some weeks ago. when it was believed that
,ts mil men were reporting gains just for effect.
ro-5sv there We're about twelve thousand opera
lives ar work and about twenty-five thousand
lo-rs IN operation. Before the strike there were
rsa-lv twenty-five thousand operatives en-
roved and about seventy thousand looms run
rns With nearly one-half Of the operatives
Who were here previous 10 July %, the date Of
he opening Of the strike back at work, there is
rrohby oue-quarter Of the old total srill listed
as strikers. The other quarter is made up Of
those who have secured other forms Of employ
nsn or have left the city. II viii be seen, there
fore that Il the strike were called off at once the
nils would be short % per cent Of their help.
It's estimated that more than twenty thousand
persons have left the city. It viii be a year
etteG the strike is over before mills can run as
hey did before il was begun.
There are many union people who have re-
fuTlsd 70 work and the old talk Of boycotting
EEn Il they were epprehended has ceased. The
Esns n numbers are steady. IN the week just
aass5 they were the largest recorded since the
II Hrs were reoPened. Large gains are looked for
es week The cold weather is forcing fl many.
Msre Is only one union that can boast Of having
Fgy member stil on strike. That is the Spin
lsss Union, the smallest in numbers but the
Strongest financially in the city. This union is
h hGpositi0n 10 continue the strike as far as any
Hanutacturers are satisfied 10 allow it TO 80.
Thss is one way open for the manufacturers 10
Overcome the obstacle thrown in their way by
tie mule sninuers, and that is to throw out the
mules and substitute frames. Many mills have
done that but the mules are stin required in
those factories that turn out the really fine fab
rics. They can set rid Of sufficient number,
however 10 cause many mule sPinners 10 seek
other employment OF go TO another city for work
a. their old trade. There IS stu stubborn re-
Esstance made by The slashers loom fixers and
caroeTs, although each has lost numbers from
us ranks. Their funds are depleted, far
ability 10 offer any substantial aid is concerned.
and, While they held the key TO the situation at
one time. they are now embarrassing seriously a
snaA number only. NH men admit that they
would prefer all OF their old hands at their
places but they sun maintain that they cannot
come back excepting under the reduction.
Inc mA men say further that any hope or
possibility Of compromise is as remote as it
was IN the first week Of the strike. Their re-
ilsa 10 accept an offer Of the strikers TO return
alOs per cent reduction showed that. They have
1el ana overcome many obstacles that were in
lsE way when they first opened up. They per-
tssd in running even when some Of them had
d low as fifty operatives each. Gradually that
NUMBER Increased, and after the third week they
ID
"'Llng for-the weayers. Without them they
N'-id have been fgrcod TO close or pile up their
s@'a, Tor ring splnners We're plentiful at all Of
= lllis. The 'yeayers came slowly, but now
e-s mills have as many Of them as they can
'-lloy These are the mills that have some
--s frames, and cannot supply with their ring
-'A5s al the yarn a fun quota of weavers
'-ll require. The strikers who are stiI out
- making bold front in their effort to carry
- -gAl along. Still one finds some who were
ff-'sLliy among the bravest occasionally
4pIg away and going into the mills. They
- because Circumstances compel them TO
s~-l work Il is no easy matter for man
- mas wife and small children dependent
,'A MIN 10 go 70 his home penniless every
80 10 find his once comfortable tenement
"a ana cold The little ones poorly clad
= probably without shoes and little IL any
- 'of them. Allowances from the unions
egsr. sIa4 charitable organizations cannot ill
Csrs' cupboard, ana, while the man may not
h.sv4s Aecd Tor his own plight the cry Of
ssal,ee and his little ones appeals 10 him. espe-
&c % - hlch We~-her this, and he is bound
" b,,rs Work Ia tle END. That is the position
u &C., and that 81 why they are going
wiz "a ai4a the lnlls are soon TO be running
Mar .a1ssr numbers than they have to-day.
No. - Leia often hear the admOnition, stick
thev gOe ie going 10 win" IL sounds well. but
IS uite. s.!li-te 10 realize that IN most cases
e4rlC,s-tel by those who have other than mill
snd - '-s.1r who have suffered no reduction
nc family are unknown.