The Cotton Peace The cotton lock-out was ended on Friday,
February 18th, by the voluntary act of the employers. The mills were reopened on Monday. The lock-out began on Janu- ary 19th. This extraordinary change in the situation was most creditable to the employers. They have shown the moral strength of men who are not afraid to be called weak. Mr. J. H. Grey, Chairman of the Cotton Spinners' and Manufacturers' Association, explained at length the reasons for their decision. The employers have by no means abandoned their case that the principle of " more looms to a weaver " is both scientific and practicable and is indeed ultimately essential to successful competition with foreign countries which have already adopted the principle. They have been influenced by a combination of facts, the chief of which are : (1) that the deadlock was hopeless, as the Trade Unions by a ballot had deprived their leaders of all power to negotiate ; (2) that Mr. Snowden's warning about the grave financial condition of the country made the ending of the dispute seem more important than the assertion of a principle, and (3) that an immense trade dispute coincided very ill with the opening of the Cotton Textile Trades Exhibition in London.
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