Year: 1875




the streets though there might be something calling
for their assistance They appear gloomy and deter
mined-goomy the sad condition to which
many Of them reduced, and determined
TO resist to the bitter end They organizing so far
they can, but 1t is difficult matter TO organize with
out having recognized leaders But, strange it may
! appear, there is not leader here who is recog-
nized sufficiently to be able to command ODE.
| dence to given line Of action In this re-
spect they have equal facilities with the manufac-
turers They OF course, condemn the hasty
action Of the Mayor in bringing the militia into the
town. They aver that he has been used by the mill
owners; that he really frightened when the man
hit him yesterday with the piece of bread; that he
has exceeded his duty in sending for SOL
diers after the police had suppressed what
ever domestic violence had existed, and they
especially bitter because instead of receiving them
courteousy he told them that they might go to Ttcut
to the State Pauper House, simply because he was
ordered to say The general sentiment here is
divided but condemnatory of all that has transpred
recently local editor prints tho follow ing this
| ing:-


Yesterdays proceedings reflected little credit upon
either the operatives their employers. These
regulations formed the bone of contention and until
they are modified by expungng their obnoxious por-
tions there always will be trouble between parties
! Up TO yesterday the help behaved for these eight
starvation weeks with excellent patience their con
| duct, without exception, having been free from
disorder or outrage 1t .would have been better for
themselves and their own had they continued in
this honorable career for the onesided and
regulations would have died natural death, what
perhaps is more likely they would have been laughed
and the assaults of the press. An agree
ment condemned by every one who reads it
is not an agreement at all however many may sign it,
and to act upon such document is moral imposs-
bility The manufacturers may have legal and tech
nical right TO say 10 the help 'Sign this sarve
but they have moral right to impose such conditions
and we are astonshed that gentlemen should mako
such an attempt Fall River has twice been sub
jected to the disgrace of calling in military force
maintain order, and this disgrace lies the doors of
the manufacturers, not of the people Had these
pusive conditions not been inserted in the agreement
the operatives would have gone their work yesterday
and the mills would have been running full to-day;
is it to forgotten that while the manufacturers are
| determined to put down the unions of the workmen
they as determined to maintain their own. This is
peculiarly of the present trouble and is OF a piece
with the moral perceptions of men who ten days.
notice from the help, but Will give none.


WHAT THE MANUFACTURERS SAY.


Your correspondent waited upon several of the lead
ing cotton here this morning in order to ascertain
hoT tilSJ intend Strange to say they seem
to feel that the press has been doing them
almost rreparable injury in New England and New
York. They believe that attempts have
been made destroy the credit of the city
by inviting scrutiny to coored statements and by pre-
tending that Fall River with its $50 900 600 OF capital
invested in mills has not good any other
city to compete for the trade Of the country. When
the help left they admit that it was thought months
vacation" might have some effect sending up
the prices and thus keep the mills going.
Through Superintendent Stanley | was INTRODUCED
to Mr. j. NJ. Osborn, treasurer and director of the
Sade Mills. Mr. Osborn is also a director several
other mills and institutions in the city He is also
member Of the Manufacturers Board of Trade


''what do you intend to do nowH'' said to him;
''you the help will not go in this documcnt;'
| of VIII he had wit blank for
signatures


''Now to these rules, there is tyranny or in
| tended imposition part. We found that things
began look blue that would be necessary
| to reduce the wages or the quantity Of goods pro
duced To lessen the manufacture would DO to
place our business in uhe hands of other
makers, and that is why we did not wish to
stop entirely. We therefore proposed put the help
three quarter time That is pay them for four days
week. which they could support their families This
in October, but went making until the 10th
December. The reduction to takc place on
the LIST of January. On the 1st of jan
uary the price of goods was no higher
than it had been in October. We got them to work,
but told them would be necessary reduce their pay
ten per cent leave twenty per of the looms
standing idle. Great dissatisfaction manifested
at this however, and finally, on the 1st
of April, agreed to give them back the
ten per cent until the 1st of August | am bound to
say that they exuted considerably over the that
they had carried the day the last of July.
Business began TO drop that we had to
tell the help that we should have TO reduce
the pay ten per cent in order to be able to run
the mills We wanted keep goods in the market
and did want to close up This reduction to
commence the I'd of August Well the last
Saturday in July the help went usual witsJut
giving least hint that they coming back
Monday morning. The night they had arranged
to have meeting at the Opera House, which they held
and finally agreed this vacation Of thirty days. To
prevent what considered would be the necessity for
reducing either time wages we stopped mills but
l need scarcely tel you that II in
accordance with wishes. We have planted our
capital here and want TO It, At the end OF the thirty
days still demanded ten per cent and would
have started mills but the Union around
in great numbers and shouted and yelled and intim
Dated and thus drove away what little help would have
come in.


| CoRREsPoSDENT-Bu they object 70 this document
as arbitrary and UNJUST refusing them the privilege
you yourselves have.


Mr.. OsBoRS-There is neither injustice arbitrary
action here We have simply made these rules to keep
our mills going If they properly understood the
objection would be less. We going to take any
advantage. We do not wish them to keep from organ
cations, but we do not and will not have such men as
spoke to them yesterday and say We are in
tho majority and will empty your mills Up goes
a hand and out goes the help. What We want
is that when these ocaed others como
round TO be able to keep help and keep them
steadily at work Martial law would be terrible thing
IL its principles constantly in operation,
but it is good when necessity arises We propose TO
apply IL just In this way. We have no covert meaning
any show that this document be 50 con-
strued.