Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-17

tomorrow night, at which time, ii Is
announced. more systematic picketine
arrangements will be made.
New Bedford, Mass. July 16.-Thc
gates Of T. cotton cloth manufacturing
plants in New Bedford We're closed
today, and 10000 operatives were idle
rs q result of the strike of weavers
and loon ASers for the abolition OF
the grading system of payment. De
termned efforts We're made to extend
he strike to seven other corporations
Picket lines were established. but
there was not the slightest trouble
during the carly morning hours
The pickets were mostly members
Of the Industrial Workers Of the
World and rs the employees went e
Woi9, in the mills not closed by ths
strike the strikers tried TO induce
tEem to quit work in Il few eases
the picbets persuaded operatives ii
remain out of the mills. but there WAS
ae serious detection in the numbei
II @orkihs min hands After tho ma-
ehinery n the mills had been set in
motion the pickets departed from the
vicinity and the streets assumed 4
deserted appearance. At the hour oil
opening the mill gates and beginning
operations there were no police near
the mills The seven mills not az
feeted by the strike have either taken
40 action in the grading system to de-
termine the paw of the Weavers OF
have removed notices of the system
from the mill walls
OF the 10000 persons out of work in
the II mills 5000 it was estimated,
We're on strike and 5000 have been
forced out of work by the decision of
the corporation officials to close their
mills unIl difficulties are settled. Not
one of the $1,000 looms or. more than
t,Q0O,009 spindles in II cotton cloth
mills We're running. today. and
throughout most of the mill district
the appearance was similar 10 that on
a holiday or Sunday.
The agents Of the mills not affected
by the strike said they We're operat-
ing under normal conditions and de-
clared that they do not anticipate any
difficulty with their operatives Al
though the Industrial Workers OF the
NkbltH nave u1+ldfEN SAIlNe against all
the cotton cloth mills in the city, the
ofiicias of the seven mills now oper-
ating announced that all of their en-
ploYes We're at work.
No meeting of these officials has
been arranged to consider the situa-
ton, it was said.
Labor lenders expressed the opinion
that the strike would be successful
Throughout the tenement districts
workers gathered in small groups and
discussed the situation. Several meet
ings Of the strikers were scheduled
one WAS an open air session. held by
the Industrial Workers of the World
Union leaders planned To open strike
headquarters at both the north and
south end sections of the city. The
Industrial Workers of the World call.
ed an outdoor mass meeting for thi,
forenoon but at the Labor Temple NJ
| meetings were held, the entire tim,
| being given over to the enrolment OF
| striking weaxers and loom fixers ant
| the lockout operatives in other crafts
The aroecrs of the south end hel(
| a faeeting, today, al which it was de
| cided to do business on a strictly easi
| basis during the strike. To counter
| act. in part the effect of such actor
might have upen the strikers, tn,
union leaders arranged to care for al
cases Of restitution among strikers.