The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-22
THE WINTHROP OIL FACTORIES.
Mr.. c. ri. Bailey interviewed by a
Reporter.

A Bangor Commercial reporter lately In
terviewed Mr.. c. NJ. Bailey of BaileyYille,
where he employs some 200 hands, on
account of the report that Mr.. Bailey had
discharged hands for joining labor organ
ization. The correspondent found Mr..
Bailey in his little brick office near the rail-
road track, when the following conversation
occurred:
"Mr, Bailey, is it true that you don't allow your
'Yes sir, it is quite true"
'0n the ground that dancing is immoral?"
| Ne, not on that ground at all, but because OF
| its effects on my wOrkmen. They used to go to
dances continually, stay up half the night or per-
haps the whole of it, and then come TO my factory
next morning unfit for good work, and spoil my
goods Consequently forbade dancing and no
one can work for me who does not accept that
condition.
"How about drinking and playing billiardsqp
81 do not pretend to know anything about the
movements OF my men outside OF business hours
II should see one Of my men drunk I'D discharge
him. but they don't have to be tetOtalers AS for
billiards. 1t Is absurd and there are none in town
anyway" MI Bailey probably forgot where
Berry and Tom Pinkham play together.
How about your men being allowed to play In
the bandY"
IIIey can play in the band if they want to, and
believe Two Of the band are at work for me now
The way that story came to get around was thus;
A man named Webb once worked for me and L
discharged him for iudolenee and for being late
at the mill mornings. Later he came back to me
Ot his OWN tree VIII, promised TO DO Detter, and
among other things stated that he would never
play in the band again. 1t was free trade and
tirely voluntary on his paIt. Again l had occa-
sion to discharge him because he did not do well,
and not because he played in the band at all so
| that settles that question"
Next the writer asked, -"Am rightly Informed
| when am told that you forbade your help join
ing q labor organzatiOn?"
Yes sir; you, are; and when four of them
Jolneu IL, WHO work Tor me here in Winthrop. and
elght VINO work in Baileyvlle, | discharged
| s.uave any ,,,oro. ici,,oa .s...o,
mot that l am aware Of"
''If others join, will you discharge them also7''
a nl oii not prepared 70 say certainly, whether
| to make up my mind on that subject when others
join them, aud don't believe any more will do
"Will you take back such as have Joined al
ready, at the request OF the labor committee that
| have called on yOu?"
"In regard to the Winthrop men, l shall not
] take back one OF them under any circumstances.
| II It comes to point where ! can't run my own
business to suit myself, can at least give it up,
and go TO work raising fruits aud vegetables on
| little farm have near by. But If deputaton
| OF my fellow citizens cares to come to me and
| state that they wish me to shut down my business,
| | am willing to listen to them respectfully and
| pay heed to their suggestions But those Win
| thrOp men whom have discharged, can't work
| for mt further; but in regard to the men who
were discharged at Baileyve, it IS different, and
it Is possible that may take one or two Of these
! back because they are likely young men and
| good wOTkmen."
But supposng there should be n strike to COM
| pei you to take these men back?"
But there won't be any strike and no strike is
! threatened"
Haven't you been notified that you are to be
| boycUtted?'
| Il have received no such communication, and,
| on the contrary, may say that customers are
not of a class that will be likely to pay much at
tenton to boycott even If one is decided against
| me. But see no signs OF yet, and we are re-
ceiyng unusually large orders for our goods from
| customers West What these people expect to
| accomplish Is beyond me altogether What good
would it do them to shut up my mills even if they
| could? Would they be any better off because
| was worse OFF? And il is not question of wages
! either The wages of my men average as high, or
| higher than any mill in the State. IN fact while
| won't state the fact as an absolute certainty,
/ don't think have man IN my employ who earns
| less than 81 so per day"
| "Is there any truth in the statement that you
| and your sster-iI-law don't agree in a business
| STANDS ready to buy your mill here, in case It
| shuts down. and is ready to run il at terms of
! wages to be agreed upon between her aud the
| knightS?A
"There is no truth in the report at all; Mrs
| Hannah Bailey and myself are on the best Of
| terms, may say hand and glove with each
| other"
sIt is said that your praying band was at Pitts
| ton when the trouble first came up here ana was
| at once boycotted." This statement actually
! made Mr.. Bailey laugh and remark that if that
| was a sample of the boycott he should like. SUm9
more, as tie truth was, the hall was packed and
! people turned away.
| "Why" lie said, 'see here; the drawer of my
| desk is packed full with Invitations for my little
band to visit different towns in ihe state. We
| can't accept half of them. 1t certainly isn't for
| any desire for an advertisement that | maintain
| that band year after year at personal cost OF
| thousands of dollars"
| There was little more to be said rs Mr. Bailey
only reiterated his statement that he looked for
| no further trouble with the Knights. SO, having
| thanked Mr.. Bailey for his Kindness, the reporter
| left TO make few more inquiries before leaving