New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-27
LOWELL M|lLSSHUT DOWN
Owners Close Plants to 1900
When $500 Strike.
1900 OUT IN FALL RIVER
Operatives Quit Work at Other
New England Points-New
Bedford Outlook Gloomy,

BOSTON. March c6-More than httHoh
thousand persons in New England were
Idle to-day on account of labor dlHlcu'l''''
The cotton cloth mills OF Lowell, employ =
in~ twelve thousand or more were smut
do,p because Of q strike Of thirty-nNc nun
drod Tor higher wages; twelve huhnr'p
,,,ers+ivee At the Globe and Sanford mills
~ the New England Cotton Yarn COM
my in Fall River, struck for 10 per
c,r,, raise. two hundred workers OF the
<itnhau shoe factory. in Lawrence, were
laid off because of strike Of three nun
dred others for an increase I'm wages of 10
rrr cont, and the HillsborOugh Woollen
mills m Milton. y H., employing three
hundred hands. we're closed on account Of
= .,rule in some departments for wage
advance Minor strikes occurred at several
other points.
The five hundred strikers at the Saco-
Fettee cotton machine works III newton
we're still out to-day, but settlement mas
been agreed upon by the English speaking
employees Operatives at the Lancaster
Bingham mills, Clinton: Thorndike cotton
mills. West Warren, and SaXony "orStou
yarn mills, Noneton, who struck rccehuS
for higher wages. remain out.
strike Of fifteen hundred Lynn shoe
factory employees yesterday for an advance
On nav was virtually ended to-day, when
the manufacturers granted the demands
The situation in New Bedford, where the
narratives have been offered per cent
increase in wages and demand 10 per cent
was uncertain tonight Some indications
we're for 2. general strike unless the higher
rate Is paid. The sixty-seven mills in Ne"
Bedford employ thirty thousand operatives
Lowell. Mass. March 26.-Prepsrations
we're made tonight both by the mill own
.rs and the striking operatives for a pro
ionzed labor struggle After closing the
willis this morning and locking out nearly
nine thousand workers who had no part In
the strike which commenced yesterday
many of the mill agents made plans Tor
sxtensivs repairs installation Of new ma
obinery and a general overhauling or the
plants. such "a usually takes place during
n. midsummer shutdown. 1t is SAID tha'
Cardinal O'Connell is endeavoring 10 bring
about a settlement of the difficulty
About $500 operatives voluntarily LETT
their work yesterday and to-day. or the
remainder Of the 12,00o employed IN the SLY
affected mills, the great majority are BE-
usved 10 have favored accepting WITHOUT
protest the per cent average ADVANCE III
wages which went into effect yesterday. Inc
strikers ask for a Is per cent increase ana
double pay for overtime. The weekly wages
at the six mills amount to total OF SIVI'ool.
All day long men and women remained
about the mill gates. many Of the women
begging for work with tears in their eyes
Orders for the shutdown. which came from
the head Offices Of the mills in Boston,
were given, il was explained. to avoid
damage 10 the mill properties and because
II was believed that the financial loss would
not be much greater through entire sus-
pension of work than it would be through
operation with depleted forces.
The strike leaders profess to look upon
the closing down Of the establishments as
= victory for themselves, and tomorrow
will direct their efforts. they say, toward
bringing about similar conditions at the
hosiery mill Of the Lawrence Manufacture
ing Company. where $500 are still at work.
and the print cloth department of the Mer-
rjmack mill. which employs 100, and IS
still in operation. Thus far less than one
hundred operatives have quit at the
hosiery mills. the agent says. There are
also 4 half dozen smaller establishments,
manufacturing corduroy and other goods,
which are not yet seriously affected.
Late to-day following parade through
the principal streets of the city, about three
thousand strikers gathered on the Com
mon and there formulated their demands.
Tonight general strike committee was
organized made up of delegates from each
OF the dozen or more natiOnalities, 20 take
charge OF affairs.