The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-26

DEERE s co.'s ANSWER.
To Geo. L. Cornwall, Dan Stewart, W. r. Oyler,
and others, Con mittee:
Ia reply TO your communication of to-
day, we submit the following:
1t may not be generally known that
there was a serious and continued decline
during the past six months in the price of
implements of our manufacture; that
more goods are left over .unsold, at home
and IN the hands of dealers, and that
heavy losses from bad debts have occurred
during the last twelve months than in any
previous year since 1857.
1t is also true that the selling price for
the fall trade opens considerably lower than
those ruling for the spring trade.
1t is admitted by all that the prosperity
Of every citizen Of this city, and to some
extent of the adjacent country,is Intimately
connected with the continuous opera
ton and prosperity OF its manufactures
and at the close of this business year it be.
came serious question with US on what
basis Ee could run our works with safety,
and maintain our trade for the coming year.
! In regard to wages for the future We
can say that We will not ask men to work
| for US for less money than like establish
meRts are paying throughout the country
We are not willing now aud cannot fiz
wages for the year and agree to run oul
works.
Our past record should be sufficient
guarantee to our old ployes-many O.
whom have been identified with the growth
and prosperity of this concern for years
and can testify that they have shared thei
full measure of benefit from such pros
perity-that we shall adopt no reduction
Of wages beyond what the times demand
and that in the proposed reduction, which
we have not fully matured to our satisfac
ton, it is our aim to adopt the course tha
promises the best results to all concerned
EzWe cannot hope to continue our preseD
extended business without the support ant
Co o-opeIation of our employees, and will il
these trying times consult freely with ou
workmen, as heretofore, on each individua
case as fast as we can reach them, and d
all 10 our power to put, and keep our work
in full operation to our mutual advantage
and to the end that the largest numbe
may be benefited.
In tues of popular excitement, falls
and idle rumors are started and kept i
circulation, thoughtless!y, and general
with no purpose Of creating disc9rd an
tumult, but always with that effect, an
discussion growing out of false statement
: and misapprehensions of the real fact
are never productive of good results I
any one.
, We kindly and earnestly counsel all WI
: are identified with these works to a call
and rational consideration of the questic
in all its bearings. assuring them tn;
they shall be met with a like considerable
on our part.
/ Respectfully yours, DEERE d Co.,
By Chas. II. Deere, Vice Pres't.
s These communications, it will be unde
q stood, passed between the parties after Il
e strike took place, and after the workme
e in deliberate consultation. had resolved
# put their request in writing. Ii is al
a stated the workmen had received
It previous intim alton of a reduction
: wages. but at the last pay daV were
s formed their wages had been reduced t
y per cent, including the pay for that tir
as we'll as for the future.
The correspondence which we print, al
these statements in regard to the time a
al manner of the reduction. will enable O
re readers to fully understand the prese
v relative position of the parties.
Ig a careful perusal of the reply of Dee
st Il Go. fails to impress US favorably 10 I
le gard to their views in this emergency.
10 is altogether too vague and general in
E. terms. too indefinite in regard to the
ture, to satisfy the demands OF t
hour. 1t is not frank bu
ness-like statement of the reaso
r which cause them 10 decline to
is turn to the old price. The whole ten
er and purport of their reply may be su
o. med up in the simple statement that su
is our viii and pleasure, and you can acce
pi or not as you deem fit. It is tantamor
ly to saying the Company has the right
e, determine what wages it will pay, and
ly is not necessary for us to explain ourselv
a. to our employees any way further than i
general way to say we don't propose to I
any more, business is dull. times depress
We are not doing quite as well as We b.
ds heretofore. and we must retrench.
y. you don't like it We can't help it.
70. However indefeasible may be the ri
iof the employer to fix the wages he !