, 1874-02-21

Do6aETr, BAssErr H1LLs.
Mr. Hills OF Dosgett, Bassett Hills, agreed
entirely Gn with the account given by Mr. Dodge.
1he manufacturers had made fair offer to The
men and intended to abide by it through the
whole summer If necessary. They might lust os
well pay sc next fall. as to pay IS with interest.
insurance and storage for six months. In their
shoPs the men had received Sl8l last week from
the other shops to help them through their
strike: The mauufactl1rers' were, therefore.
forced to unite and close their shops until their
terms (Which tho men acknowledged to be- fairl
ehould be accepted.
places whero the Crispins have main
talned aoy compactness and strength.
and, while the employers carefully avoided any
mention OF Crispna in their ultimatum to the
men, It was well understood that the regulations
OF that organization wore the only bar 20 a at
tlemcnt Of the question on the terms offered. Il
WAS therefore probable that the who1e strength
OF the Order would DO put into the struggle
since, II 1t should fail in its effort this time, it
could never have, any further influence. ANY
on ono wishing to work at the rates offered would
20 allowed to do 30, by accepting the sole coidl-
ton annexed, and the fact that nearly all tho
men were ready to work at those rates without
the CONDITION, was evidence that they we're fair.
SHUT Up.
Ihe chops were practically closed yesterday,
no new WORK being given out, but lle men were
allowed to finish the work they had in hand.
To-day, he thought, would undoubtedly deciIe
the question for many of the workmen, since it
was more than likely TINT many Of the more sen-
6bls workmen would refuse to be bou:ld by the
arbitrary orders OF q minority Of their number.
u. D. WELLS ! CO..
The reporter next called at the establishment
OF IL. D. Wells d Co., and WAS at once referred
to Mr. Mcfarland as the ono most familiar with
the situation. Him the reporter asked concern
ing the nature and extent Of the difficulty with
the workmen.
Mr. McFarland-1t was correctly stated in The
TRIBUNE this morning. The mon, outside OF
Doggctt Bassett i Hills manufactory, say that
they do not intond to strike for higher wages
but that il quibble-they do moan to have the
rates raised to last years schedule. They pro-
pose to accomplish it IN roundabout-way, in-
stead OF resorting to q direct strikes that is, by
helping the strikers to maintain their Positions
and gain the increase Of wages demanded. They
know that all the other houses will be forced to
advance wages in like manner.
CANNOT RAISE RATES.
R.-You aro not willing, then, to raisc rates to
last years schedule?
Mr.. McF.-We cannot do it without losing
money. Eastern competition is SO strong that
leather can bo shipped from Chicago to Worces--
tor and Milford, MeEs there made up into the
Chicago boot" and shipped back here aud sold
cheaper than we can sell. provided we have to
pay last year "a rates.
THE DIFFERENCE.
R.-Wbat is the difference between tho rates
now and then?
hottoning stoga boots; this gear the rate is
S4.50 per case. On the list of April it will DO
raised to IS, and on the 1st Of August to $3.50.
and will continue at the latter figure until the
LIST Of January.
R.-How is it that Eastern manufacturers can
buy their hides in Chicago, ship them to slasea-
chusctts, and send back the boots, aud undersen
you?
Mr. McF.-simp1y because they get their work
dNna cbaa1,er finn wa ThnrA q a fiffArcrro
of 81 per case between the Chicago and Mas
sachusetts rates for bottou,ing stoga boots.
Here, we pay $3.50; thore they pay $3.50, the
men finding their own pegs and nails which
amount to shout SO cents per case. There is no
good reason why tho price Of labor should be 30
much higher in Chicago, for, with tho exception
OF the item Of house-rent, living is cheaper here
than in Massachusetts.
WHAT TIE MEN GET.
Rat the rates you now pay, what wages do
the men make?
Mr. McF.-The bottomers work in teams Of
two men each. One does the striking (driyes
the pegs and nails); the other the trimming. A
fair weeks work for the team is ecvcn cases of
stogas, amounting to s31.50 at tho present rate.
and s35 at the rate which will go into effect af-
ter the 1st Of April. There are few mechanics |
who average better wages than these oil the I
year round.
R-You seem to regard the rites as too high |
to enable Chicago manufacturers to compete |
successfully with the East.
hrIS TIM Srt1 NH
49,. ~. ~ ~ n, Tnen ~ eo
casi, ana +,.t o,,r c"ntai s inclod . ~ T.; .s
way for six months in the year. Why, the inter- |
80 oa5a - Wi t,,a,r ~ sa'd - 20
NJ az i-. hoot.m.,inG IN ch;csgo xrouih to,Jnv
ha II 1asi h,,e;,,a.a e. ;tos1y E3,t ~ - he,s -.
sa,i ntbaf I.as ~ s,ort,a -, hic1, tha-le 10
iare,a,. ,,roft e,5 nsa a,s ao~;nna.to fos,ar
Chicacd,s rna,nnfsctnrine ;nt.rests "a nrefer to
-,a1ra 2,ota l,ra rotL~ 3ber - b,r +haFn - tha
Enat rrast desI ~ trorh1a and snnorance
.snn1a he 5ro,:1ed II worknoan nn1v lnetg tiat to
~ ;ncreosa If rafas 1raa % ~ afrer strono
;naucemcnt ~ the raonfactnror to c1nse m liz |
abnn + hnne the time vii coma rhen Ch3caco
vorkmen vii Tealizn tbnt their ;ntcrests and
thosa of tba manufacturers ava identical
wu.T Tur MAyuRlcrnnrns pprrrR
R-In casn 81 tba ~ work1nen Han ,'''1 remain firm in
tbe;r resistance n tha nreeent ntt;t1,de ~ tho
arnn,avs-s .roul1 tha ntareat',, tho Iattar snf
Tar n;,ter;allv m acconnt of !. snsnens1on ~
WORK?
~ arcF-Ue ron,d nreter tn co on With
mannfact1,r;ng bnt aTa nranared to ston FIR
time If we ara comnelled to. Our stock is al