Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-10
End Of the Edwards Mill
Strike Is Not Yet.
Agent Pratt Refuses to Arbitrate
Mule Spinners' Grievance,
But Agrees 10 Pay Ring spinnsrs Same
Wages as Paid at Fall River.

1t is with regret that the statement
is made this morning that the strike
at the Edwards mills is yet unsettled
and that as far us can lie learned the.
trouble between the firm and the spin-
neiS is no nearer Ii solution than il was
when the mills We're shut down. Aug
/. John Golden Of Fall River, Mass.
president of the United Textile Work
erS of America, has been in the city for
| the purpose of trying to adjust the
grievances of the spinners, and has
worked hard to bring about an amic-
,, able settlement, but his efforts seem
to have been unavailing, and the
question as to when the mills, will he
i'll operation again is a most difficult
one to answer.
AS mas already been stated in the
Journal, the strike was brought about
| by the grievances of two classes of
employees i'll the mills, the ring spinners
and the mule sDiners. That Of the
ring spinners was on the question of
wages, while that of the latter was
brought about by the dis
charge of one Of their number. Mr..
Golden and agent Pratt had a confer
ence Wednesday afternoon, during
WHICH tHe WIS talked over
and a proposition submitted by Mr.
Golden with view to affecting d set
tlement, which Agent Pratt took un-
der consideration pending the action
of the mule spinners on the PROPOSE
ton.
The settlement of the difficulty of the
ring apinnerS was Il comparatively easy
matter, and after the question had been
carefully gone over by the two gen
tlemen, Mr.. Pratt agreed to pay the
ring spinners the same prices as are
paid employees in the Fail River mills
for doing the same class of work. In
the case Of the mule spinnerS, who
desire the Reinstatement of the spin
ner who was discharged, there is
however Il deadlock. A proposition
was submitted to Agent Pratt by Mr.
Golden which provided for the settle
ment of the matter by arbitration, but
it was rejected by Treasurer Edwards
of the corporation, and there the mat
ter ends.
The proposition made by Mr.. Golden
to Agent Pratt was this: That cOnsid-
erng the fact that it had become
question of vtracity between the dis
charged spinner and the overseer, and
that it was conceded by both sides tina
while the mule spinners had a right to
believe the man who chad been dis
charged, the officials of the mill had
the same right to believe the statement
of the overseer. Mr.. Golden therefore
proposed that the whole matter be sub
mitted to arbitration, that the firm Sc
lect one man, THAI the mule spinners
select one. and that the two selected
decide upon a third party. That they
take the evidence of the Overseer and
the mule spinner and any other wit
neSseS that they might desire and thnt
they render a decision according to the
evidence submitted. both sides agree
ing to abide by the decision.
At the meeting held by the mule spin
ners Thursday morning, the PROPOSE
ton was taken up and after being
thoroughly discussed it was the vote
of the members present that the prop
oSitiOn be accepted. Mr. Golden then
saw Agent Pratt ;tgain. and that official
stated that he had submitted the prop
oSitiOn to Robert Edwards, treasurer
of the corporation, and that at
o'clock last evening he would acquaint
Mr.. Golden of the decision. According
ly at that hour he called on Mr.. Colo
en- at Hotel North, and Informed him
that the proposition had been rejected
Mr.. Golden further said that it was
clearly understood that the proposition
must only apply to this individual case.
and must not be considered as form
ing a precedent in the ease Of any dis
charge of an employe III the futulr.
He expressed himself as disappointed
that the firm did not see its way to ac-
cept the proposition. as he thought il
a fair one considering the fact that tac
spinnerS had shown by their action in
accepting it that they We're not afraid
to submit their case to an impartial
tribunal.
Mr.. Golden left on train No. last
night for FAN River. Mass, where he
will attend q meeting of the United
Textile Workers Of America, which
will be held in that city today, and 81
which among other matters the ques-
ton referred to above will be taken up