Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-08-02
The Strike at COhOes.
THE wRETCHED CONDITION AND PROS
PECTs OF THE 1000 OPERATIVES.

The managers of the cotton mills
at Cohoes, in this State, reduced
the wages of their operatives ten
per cent. while there was a serious
rise in the price Of provision of all
kinds, and it is now thee months
since the operatives, who say they
are unable TO sustain life upon the
rigorous terms offered by the cor
poration, left the mills on a strike.
Their condition has been brought
before the Central Labor Union Of
this city, and the following report
upon it is from Mr.. Robert Blissert,
who has just returned from a visit
OF investigation at Cohoes
To the Central Trade aud Labor
Union:
Beng invited to speak at the
great demonstration and pic mic OF
the united trades at Albany on the
10Th instant, l found myself within
eight miles of the now famous vii
lage OF Cohoes, where there are
nearly 1000 operatives, formerly
employed in the Harmony Mills,
who have been out of employment
for thirteen weeks, owing to a re
duction OF ten per cent. in their
wages, which the employment refuse
to accept. | determined to inves-
tigate, upon the very ground, the
causes Ut this enforced idleness,
and the condition of things gene
rally. And first let me say that |
learn that the original investment
made by the proprietors of these
mills was only a few thousand dol
lars The mill property is now
valued al $15,000,000. nearly all
Of which was accumulated out Of the
industry of the me-, women and
children employed.
Before going TO the offices CT the
company | visited several OF the
homes OF the working people, to
learh from personal obse walton
their real condition. They live in
small two story houses, containing
four families each.
The COMPANY TENANTS occupy
these houses by the month, the rent
being taken in advance out OF their
pay, sc that they may be elected
at any time ION the expiration OF
the month ioi which tie advance
reut is taken. and this upon three
days notice. 1t should be under
stood that they cannot remain I'M
less they will work tor the reduced
wages fixed by the company. even
though they nave the money aud
offer topay the rent in advance.
They must leave when the company
direct at the end OF the month for
which the rent is paid, even though
as in many cases they were born
and have always lived in the house
they are notified 10 quit. Irish land
lordism has no greater power Of
eviction nor landlords there the
right to do so by so abrupt a pro-
cess.
The present condition of these
1000 employees and the families
depending upon them is to day pi-
tilul indeed, and appeals in speech
less woe to every man, woman and
child in this land who has heart
to feel Or hand to aid. | do not
wish to make any statement that
shall be unjust to the Harmony
Mills Company, and | had continu-
ally in my mind this caution to my
self. When ialr wages are paid the
operatives are able to do no more
than live decently and obtain the
necessary food Tor the eleven hours
a day that they work, which inclu-
des children as we'll as adults. The
company's tenements are as comior-
table, ii mol more so. than most es-
adjustments of the kind furnished;
but low, when the cost OF living
has Teen advanced at lest 20 per
cent, and following that a reduction
of 10 per cent. in wages is made,
the question which is pressed upon
these people is simply this. Snail
we work at wages that will not en-
able US 10 obtain sufficient food and
comforts, or shall we refuse to work
and accept enforced idleness tor a
time ? Wages all around us ale
advancing, as is the cost OF living;
our wages are reduced, but not the
cost OF living. Cannot the Har
mony Mills better and more Justly
afford 10 pass DIVIDEND, and pay,
plices ?
Realizing "a. after this inquiry the
sad condition OF the operatives, and
desiring above all other things that
some honorable settlement should
ue made in the matter. so that the
mills might be again in operation.
called "a the next day with friend
upon Mr. johnson, the superinten-
dent oil the mills. He received US
IN "a highly diguifed and distant
manner at first. but gradually be-
came more communicative. and
during the three hours interview
had with him all the arguments
that myself and trend could urge
upon The superintendent were offer
cd with no effect as to the result
we so earnestly sought to assist.
| \