Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-19

Boston, March 19.-InOm1S i MI
Mahon, international president of the
United Textile Workers of America,
left for Fall River tonight after in
forming q meeting of the New Eng
land conference board Of the or
ganization here today that plans had
been perfected for strike of oper-
atiyes.in the cotton mills in the Fall
River district.
A general mass meeting will be
held in Fall River tomorrow night,
President Mcmahon said, It which
a strike vote will be taken on the
question Of the failure of cotton
goods manufacturers to accede to the
demand for a % per cent increase
in wages made by the United Textile
Workers. The operatives, he said,
have informally declared themselves
in favor Of walking out in order to
enforce their demands.
Fall River, where $4,000 workers
are employed in Ill textile mills
stands doubly committed to wage
increase demand, as the Fall River
textile council made formal demand
for an increase in wages of Is per
cent on Friday. A contest for con-
troll of the situation in Fall River
is in progress between the textile
council and the United Textile
Workers Of America and the situa-
ton has been complicated by the
definite demands made on the manu-
facturers.
President McSiahon announced in
New York recently that he would
try to arrange a conference between
manufacturers and workers in Fall
River for today but he said tonight
that the manufacturers had refused
to agree to a joint discussion Of the
situation.
That President Mcmahon counts
upon the support Of the members
Of the United Textile Council unions
was indicated when he asserted that
nine independent unions in Fall
River not affiliated with the United
Textile Workers Of America will also
join in the walkout." He said he
based his assertions on a canvass
Of the workers who are members OF
these unions which indicated. he de-
clared, that IS per cent Of the MEM
bers were in favor OF sucR action.
President Mcmahon said that the
question OF the date being set in the
event OF strike had been le.. to his
discretion by the executive commit
tee Of the United Textile Workers
He added that plans perfected were
such that a strike order uld be
made effective in a very few hours.
He said he had informed the confer
ence board that he will be in readi.
ness tomorrow night to receive an
immediate report from the strike
meeting at Fail River as to the vote
Of the workers.
In the event Of strike being -ot-
ed. according to President Mcmahon,
mill captains and their lieu,enants in
Fall River will be Immediately given
secret orders for the direction Of the
proposed campaign. The identity Of
these tentative officers OF the work
ers is secret with union officials.
The signal to be given by the lieu
tenants to shut down the machinery
in the mills. when the strike is called,
viii be the waving OF handkerchiefg
at the hour designated. he said. i.
was said that by keeping the identity
Of the captain and lieutenants secret
II would be impossible for the mill
owners TO prevent them giving the
strike signal at the zero hour.
President Mcmahon refused TO
state whether any action was pro-
posed in regard 10 Lowell, Lawrence,
Salem and other textile centers in
this and adjoining states.
The delegates az the conference
board meeting by an unanimous vote
condemned the nine independent
unions" in Fall River that refused TO
act in conjunction with the United
Textile Workers In the fight for wage
increases.
Fail River. Mass. March ls.-
Delegates TO the meeting today in
Boston Of the New England confer
ence board Of the United Textile
Workers Of America returned 70 this
city tonight in time 10 report to a
meeting Of the print makers local
Of the United Textile Workers that
the board had renewed its pledge
Of moral and financial support TO
any strike action that might be taken
here The Fall River cotton manu-
factureTs have refused 70 meet the
workers TO discuss the recent de-
rDand for % per cent wage in
crease made by the United Textile
Workers.
Plans for a prospective strike
were discussed in detail. s. was said.
The delegates 70 the Boston meet
ing announced that mass meeting
Of members Of the United Textile
Workers would be held heree tor7or-
row night 30 consider strike action
and that Thomas r. Mcmahon. in
ternai;onal president Of the United
Textile Workers. would be present
II was also said that President Nc
MahoD would meet with officers Of
the various unions IN deliberations
tomorrow afternoon
OMcisis Of the textile council rep