Year: 1875


The operatives greatly excited here tonight,
owing to the unexpected publication of the document
which the manufacturers demand they shall sign be-
fore they will be permitted to 60 TO work. The Manu-
factuTers' Board Of Trade Masters Union had
stated that If the operatives would 20 in at the twenty
four per cent reduction they would open the mills on
Monday next They said they had some slight cond-
tions to ask OF the help, but they did consider
they could open the mills without points in their
tthe owners0 favor As hint only they out the
following this week.


OWNERS HINT.
The mill operatives having in several meetings re-
solved to return TO their work the reduction OF
ers comprising majority of all the boards directors
in the city, met at the Board OF Trade on satur
day to consider the question OF resumption The unani-
nous conclusion was that, although there no
induoement In the present state Of the market 70
their mills, yet they would resume work upon
conditions that their employees would pledge them
selves to hereafter keep free from any combinations
which would prevent their free choice upon all ques
tions of wages labor. The mills will therefore, be
opened Monday, tho 9th inst. and each corpora
ton will require such conditions 1t may deem
proper each agreeing not TO employ any help which
was in the employ Of any other corporation at the
time Of suspension. This action on the part OF the
manufacturers will put end to the anxiety to the
time OF opening but whether the conditions wise
beneficial may be open TO question To get TO work
is the first consideration however and the conditions
can be disposed Of hereafter.


This "feeler" had a bad effect on the operatives





the mill owners really demanded what it not in
their power to grant, The idea seems to have been
that the operatives to have been kept ignorance
Of what wanted OF them until they should present
themselves at the mills tor work, when they ex-
pected to sign and ask questions


sPINNERs


Notwithstanding the utmost secrecy was attemp ted
the spinners got abstract Of the document on
Wednesday, and the afternoon held meeting at
Mayhews Hall, denouncing the whole movement and
passed resolution to the effect that they would
before signing any such conditions At twelve o'clock
to-day however, the affair threatened to culminate in
serious disturbance An enterprising journal hero,
devoted TO tho cause OF the laborers, by
procured copy Of the conditions, and at pub
lished it Hero is tho form of contract which il Is
demanded the operatives must sign


OWNERS CONDITIONS


AGREEMENr-We, the undersigned, each for himself
and not jointly, in consideration of respective
ployment by the - Mills and as part of our respect
i've agreement with the same, do hereby severaly
agree with said company


Frst-That will not while in the employ of
said corporation, belong to be influenced by the
action of any association or combination whose men,
bers are subject 10 the will of the majority in the
ter of wages any other subject connected with the
free right of any person to work for whom and such
rates as they may see fit


.Second-That should wish to leave the employ Of
said corporation will give notice in writing
seers and will continue to work days after said
tce 1t being understood that notices Of more than
eighth of any class OF operatives will be
cepted within one week or less than eight persons in
any class not more than notice from such
and should we leave the mill without giving work.
Ing the term of said notice we viii forfeit all money
that may be due us from said corporation for labor
viously performed


Taird-Any breach of the provisions OF this agree-
ment the printed regulations posted in the mills
shall be considered "misconduct the part of the
respective subscribers hereto, and shall be sufficient
cause for summary discharge from the employment
OF said corporation without notice payment Of wages
in lieu of notice.


wEAvKRs' MEETING
As this was made public the Weavers' Com
mittee representing about eight thousand men, called
meeting Of their branch Of the trade the Opera
House here at three O'Clock. Ths building was
crowded TO its utmost capacity by six hundred female
and twelve hundred male weavers 1t the largest
meeting that has been held here since the trouble
began eight weeks ago. The platform occupied by
members of the weavers Executive Committee and
several prominent local men who favor resistance to
this agreement


THE FIRST SPEAKER


Mr.. Biltcl6e old gentleman seventy five years
of age, perfectly gray and almost feeble his move
ments With considerable pathos he pictured this
last act of tyranny on the part of the manu-
facturcrs; declared it was a desperate, ile-
gal measure; that they had already been
tempted almost beyond endurance to enforce
their rights fathers with starving families, and as





lators He traced the results of the famous bread riots
in England and Wales of few years ago. and stated
that though he hoped they would still act as men and
women desirous Of maintaining the peace long as
there the ntest hope of receiving justice yet he
knew that, as human beings, they could not
strain themselves in the face of tyranny and oppres-
sion forever, and that If the long dreaded time
had come at last the responsibility of any trouble
that might arise must rest on those alone who had
gorcd 1s % 600 people to desperation by their
avar1ce and inhumanity He quoted the old adage
"Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad, i"
and with much emotion that brought tears the eyes
of many present, he hoped they might be able to
fan from deeds Of violence such he had learned had
been threatened by several of their members.


"But you will not submit to it, hopen said the old
man, quiverng with weakness; ''you cannot submit
to lose your right American citizens be hurled in
the dust Old as l ami would rather lie down by the
side OF my family and LEI all die Of starvation
gether than yield" Great clapping of hands by the
women and cheers from the men,


AN ELOQUENT APPEAL


"Do you call this free country, when employers
may say you shall only enough for meal a
day; that you shall not have your Union though they
have theirs that you must bear in silence all the mpo
sition,' all the degradation OF slaves-worse Off than
the slaves in the South before the war Is this
libertyp Is this republicanismH Is this what you
fought for when you suffered to preserve the Union of
our glorious country7 l would counsel you TO beware
Of the worst but at the time let say that as
good men you have been unable them
selves in times past and If you prove yourselves
superior TO them the world will praise you for your
forbearaDce Don't 60 TO work slaves Let the
mills stand they have done for two
months, like many sleeping babies It is
not The mill, IL is not the machinery
and capital alone, but your 1.-the fingers
that will produce that by which the manufacturers
must live. But keep your fingers clean If you cannot
them with sufficient remuneration to feed your
selves and families"


The old man tottered back to his seat amid thunder
ing applause. other speakers followed all more or less
radical but limiting strongly that If volence wara ono