The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-26
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The soycotting of Agent Pratt.
Boston Journal.)

The action of the Knights of Labor in boy
cottlng Ii. l.. Pratt, agent of the Bates Mills
OF Lewiston, is the universal theme of con-
versation. Nothing of the kind ever before
occurred in Lewiston, and the result is anx-
iously awaited by all. At a special meeting
of the Knights Of Labor on Monday evening,
the 18th, vote was passed boycotting Mr.
Pratt 'for antagonizing the order by the cut
ting down and diseharging members of the
order without giving reasons for doing so.'
A vote was also passed to boycott all mer-
chants or other business firms having deal
ings in any way with Mr.. Pratt On Tues
day committee of the Knights of Labor
notified the traders, doctors, druggists, black
smiths, BARRIERS, and in fact all business men,
not to supply Mr.. Pratt with goods of any
kind; not to do any work for him or have
any business dealings with him or his family
whatever
The issuing of such an order against one
OF the most prominent business men of
Lewiston has created profound sensation
The widest rumoTs have been afloat as to
the effect it was having on Mr.. Pratt In an
Interview with your correspondent Mr. Pratt
was asked what the trouble was between
himself and the Knights of Labor. He re-
piled that he had not the slightest idea. He
was not aware of having injured them, nor
had he given them any cause for their action
toward him. With the exception Of short
interview with a committee of the knights
of Labor more than three months ago In re-
gard to the discharge of one man, Mr.. Pratt
says he has received no communication Of
any kind, verbal or written, either to do or
refrain from doing anything, and has not
directly or indirectly received any notice or
intimation from the Knights of Labor of any
request or notification that all was not per
fectly harmonious between himself and the
order The first notice he received that
there was trouble was, he says, through
note found on his desk from grocery firm
to the effect that they could no longer supply
him with groceries. MI Pratt says the
trouble appears to come entirely from out
side the Bates Mills, as he has received no
complaints from his employees, and the best
of good feeling prevails between the oper-
atiYes and himself. He says he is willing to
rest his case entirely in the hands OF his
overseers and operatives. One request was
made to increase the pay OF weavers, but on
explaining to them that in the depressed
condition of the market the mill was barely
able to hold its own, that to increase woul1
result in heavy loss or the closing Of the
mill they withdrew perfectly satisfied. IL
has been said that the length of the 'cuts"
had been increased without increasing the
price. Mr. Pratt states that no change has
been made or contemplated in the length Of
the ''cut" which remains now exactly as 1t
was when he took charge of the mill. The
only important change made in help has been
the discharge of three oyerseers, the reason
for their discharge being the consolidation
of six rooms under three overseers. instead
of six as before. Last summer quite an
amount of extra help was employed in max
ing repairs and building additions to the
mill. The work being nearly accomplished
for which they were hired, Mr.. Pratt order
ed the master mechanic to reduce the num-
Der as fast as practicable, without any refer
ence to who should be discharged or who re-
tanned. Mr.. Pratt said that the proceedings
against him are uncalled for and SAVIOR Of the
Star Chamber in this: That the sentence
has preceded the accusation. He says that
he has not thus far experienced any trouble
in supplying the wants of himself and fami-
ly, that offers are made ON every hand from
friends and strangers to supply him with all
he may need. Several of the traders have
notified him that he can have goods from
their stores.