The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-06-14
THE MILLS THAT GRIND.
The Ubiquitous "Fining" System of the
Massachusetts, Factory Lords.
Special Correspondence

proposed, not disturbance is contem-
plated. simply free and forcible applica-
ton of the ballot Only recently has
labor realized that the remedy for
wounds inflicted by capital rests in leg
islation. The last two legislatures OF
Massachusetts, have throttled SO many
needed labor reforms that workingmen
now are compelled TO admit that TO Sc
cure anything they must go behind leg
islating, and make and unnake lcgis-
lators. This decision to use the ballot
at the next election TO punish enemies of
labor measures is no sudden resolve, but
has been finally precipitated by the de-
feat Of the "weavers' fines bilr' by the
Massachusetts senate,
For two years that Nestor Of labor
champions, Senator Bob" Howard, has
fought with all his powers of persuasion
and diplomacy to secure its passage.
The bill had for its purpose the forbid
ding of most nefarious practice, that
of exorbitantly fining weavers for i'm
perfect work Filming Is not limited TO
Fall River or to Massachusetts,, but pre-
walls wherever medium and fine cotton
goods, also woolens, are woven. Manu-
facturers opposed the bill with every
means Mt their command, but weavers
went before the committee and told of
such outrageous fining that no one could
deny crying injustice existed. Yet the
bill was defeated by one vote.
Spite of overseers and superintendent
is called into play in tining, and in many
cases positive hardship is entailed. I'm
agine working one whole week only to
DO told that the result Of the six days
toll was retained for poor weaving. Yet
that is just the experience Of a Dodge
vile weaver and the overseer subsequent
" told the weaver that he was supposed
to make his salary by imposing fines
upon weavers.
1t is upon women, not upon male weav-
ers, that filming falls heaviest. A young
woman may work six days and earn So
or 81 and as likely as not find IS cents
to 81. so taken out for fines. Many fines
are imposed for oil spots, and yet the
girls are not allowed to oil their own
looms, a man being appointed for that
work, and the girls must suffer for his
carelessness. A small piece Of sateen
seven inches square was exhibited to the
senate. There was nothing strange in
that. The cloth had a spot Of oil on it
about the size of silver quarter. Neither
was there anything remarkable in that.
But that oil spot cost one girl weaver
Just 80 cents. The girl had pluck
enough to object to being fined for what
she was not responsible for and the over
seer fined her an additional dollar for re-
porting it.
In two mills in Olneyville, r. l., the
regular fine for oil spots is 25 cents each,
but the weaver has right to see what
he is fined for and that is privilege not
always accorded.
That fines are no insignificant matter
is proved by the way millmen fought
against their adjustment. They argue
that fines serve as a lash to spur careless
weavers to better work. Weavers them
selves say, "Let careless or incompetent
weavers be discharged" More often
than not fines are imposed for causes
over which weavers have not the least
control, for imperfections caused by bad
warps, soft filling, imperfect looms and
kindred other causes. And weavers have
to suffer for it all Sometimes deduc-
tons are so large that girls prefer to buy
the cut at market value rather than pay
the fine, but millmen seldom consent to
this on the score of establishing bad
precedent.
In Lowell, Mass, mill girl was
away one week OH account Of sickness,
being placed on her looms.
When she returned $l9O was charged
against her for imperfect work done dur
ing her absence. She demonstrated, but
only 40 cents was returned. In Law
renee mills fines range from 81 to $3.50.
In one mill at Lowell last years fines
to $4,000. A man was fined
B. 60, and only knew it when it had been
deducted from his wages. In mill at
New Bedford, Mass, they charge 80
cents for the first black mark and 81 for
every additional one. Fine lists that are
tyrannical are in vogue in Rhode Island
The Trades Council, composed Of all
Fall River, industrial organizations,
has issued an appeal to all the state
to remember the roll call on the "weav-
ars' fines BILL" to oppose the nomina-
ton and vote against every man whose
name appears among its murderers or
who lodged the question. But the black
listed legislators solace themselves with
the idea that working mems memories
never last six months, and the fines bill
and every other labor measure consigned
to oblivion by the present legislature
will be wiped out of the mind Of every
voter who took any interest in those
bills long before the next election oc-
ours. Should it, however, prove that the
minds of the laboring men are as long rs
the average, some of those legislators
will find themselves in private life in
1901. X. l.. MCGURK.
Fall River, Mass.