The Portland daily press., 1886-11-04

was finished in January and the following
May work commenced in earnest. During
tne winter numerous houses were erected
near by for the help. There were in all
eignteen tenements put up to rent to the
plete the building 1t was found that more
than $4,000 would be required 10 finish the
loD al up In satisfactory manner. When
!he S5O,UOO subscribed had been expended II
looked blue. Keene Bros. wanted
in one end Of the long building so that when
they put on the other 200 feet It would be
right In the centre Of the building Gov.
Coburn came to the rescue and loaned the
trm $1,000 on which they pay six per cent.
90 90 while ths plant as IL now stands cost $780,
wv, e5O,OOO was subscribed by the citizens
ana the remainder hired. The firm lease the
entlre property for ten years and the inter-
est and all makes their rent 1880 per an
mum. Gov. Coburn's original subscription
was $1,000 and his loan afterwards made his
lhseress IN the property at the time Of his
death, 81 900. The stockholders never in
tended their subscriptions in the light Of an
investment. They gave the money freely
hoping TO realize benefits indirectly.
The first year Of the business was not very
profitable to the firm; The hands were green
ana much OF the work was bOtched and job
Ders complained Of 1t bitterly. The hands
were dlscontented and complained because
they could not make higher wages. AS time
passed on by great diligence and persever-
ance on the part Of Supt. Stafford and those
under him the defects were gradually reme-
died until a customer was unable stO tell
whether his goods were made In Lynn or
Sk0whegan. The firm considered that a
great victory had been won when the Sk0w-
hegan goods could not be recognized. As the
quality Of the goods improved the business
increased rapidly. Thus matters were pro-
crossing year ago this time. There had
been. slight rum0rs Of trouble before but
nothing OF serious nature until October
1889, when II was noised about that an as
sembly OF knights Of Labor had been or
ganized In the town. The report made de-
clded sensation. The different manufacture
ers held consultations and it was decided TO
take aggressive steps. Accordingly all em-
Rloyes IN the several mills were informed
that they must withdraw from the organiza-
ton or leave their employment This quiet
ca matters everywhere except in the factory.
There they had backing in Lynn and were
DEFIANT. Accordingly on November nth last,
1t being Saturday night, the entire force was
paid OF and told lthat there was no more
work. Monday morning those who applied
Tor work were required to sign document
declaring they would not strike or Join any
labor organization. 38 lasters thereupon de
clared they would break up the firm and
tneir business, and they set about their work
cause.
A new lot Of lasters were engaged TO fill
the places OF the 80, and after few months
work was progressing inside apparently as
well as ever. The new men insisted on hav-
ing work for year and were assured that
they should. Some Of them were given doe
nments to that effect. In July they were
discharged and now suits are pending for
damage on account Of the non-fulflment of
those contracts.
The history of the struggle Of Keene Bros.
with the Knights of Labor is a Shameful one
and no words here can change the record
then made. The firm made many foolish
boasts OF their power 10 withstand the
assaults OF the men and then Welded
and July 11th the 80 men who had been
out since November returned to their
work, conquerors. The men who had stood
by the firm during all the struggle were dis.
carded. Since July little OF nothing has
been doing In the factory, and In the midst
OF the dullness comes the demand of the
knights for an advance, which Is called 20
per cent, but which In some instances Is said
to be as high as 68 per cent. When the fac
tory was running in full blast over 400 hands
were employed, and the pay roll was up
wards OF 81, 900 per month. Now nobody Is
employed regularly and the pay roll Is minus.
Thus the matter stands today and the fu-
ture OF the Skowhegan shoe business Is
shrcuded in an impenetrable mist. When
tne clouds will arise or what they will reveal
Is mystery.