The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-09-16

% ana ~ W m average of about 100 PR
cent Dodge already had monopoly 81
American made felt and this would cut
on much Of the foreign competition.
BESIDES, he had from free trader in
lss2-s, become n most ardent pro-
tcctionist and had told his employees
In his speeches that higher duties meant
higher wages The men intended 70
take him at his word In the next place
Dodge had been figuring 10 get the re-
publican nomination for congress in his
district, and he knew the value OF such
q move ia politics. Then. also, he ap-
prcciated the advertising that his busi-
ness would get through republican
editors who were scanning the political
and industrial horizon to find case OF
higher duties followed by higher wages.
II Is also said by the very best judges,
both in and out Of his factory, that he
Is making at least 100 per cent clear
profit on his felts. which he sells Cor
about - per pound. II he had not
made advances in wages, his own en-
ployes might have exposed his greed
and the falsity Of his promises lie has
gotten thousands Of dollars worth Of
advertising and has had his vanity
ticklcd by having his personality and
his business described in nearly every
republican paper in the land; but up to
date he has not captured the nominal
ton for congress. He is, however, ON
the New York Tribune's list OF mill
lionaircs and. rs he has made his
money during the last twenty years,
his prospects are good His standing
with the republican party is now 50
good that from ten to twenty girls are
kept busy addressing wrappers for
the New York state republican commit.
tee, in which to mail copies Of the
Dolgeville Herald. This paper keeps
the public posted about Dolgeville and
tells Of the American terne plate roofs
being put on by Dodge. Competent
judges say that he could get as good
imported roofing terne for 1850 per
box as he now gets for $3.50. But
there is another side 70 this case No
wage advances occurred at Dolgcville
this year. Some of those who expected
advances have been greatly disappoint-
ed and have asked for them. Moreover
the hours Of labor have not been re-
dnced TO nine. though Dodge admitted
in his speech that as much or even more
work'had been done per hand than in
former years Nor have the changes
in wages during the last few years
always been advances. Four years
ago common laborcrs in Dolgc's employ
received sl.5o per day; they now get but
s1..5. The price for hauling lumber 10
Little Falls has been reduced from 81 50
per thousand to sl0O; and for coal from
10 TO cents per 100 pounds. These re-
ductions affect at least 80 or go employees
in and out Of the factory. During the
last year the price for covering and
trimming piano hammers has been re-
duced from % and cents respectively
to Is and cents per set Three years
ago the felt shoe makers got IS cents
per pair; they get 30 cents now. The
girls in the shoe department and many
Others throughout the mill have ais ,
had their wages reduced.
Reports said that wages had been adj
vanced IS per cent at the Hawthorn
mills. at Glenville. Conn. These mills
employ 30 or 2l5 hands--about 175 III
In the wooden department where suit
ings, cheviots, etc. are made. and 30 or
20 in the felt department, where pol
ishing felts are produced. Some Of the
employees interviewed had not heard ol
the campaign wage advance report
When shown it they were quick to de-
nounce Il as a lie, and began to tell Of
the numerous reductions Of the last
year One employc said: III had
known you were going to be here
could have prepared a list Of reductions
a yard long" In the wooden depart
ment 50 men-all Hungarians Poles,
Russian Jews, Swedes and Danes. ex.
cept Q or 8 Gcrmans---had their wages
reduced in June. 1892. from 81 to 81. Is
per day to 20 cents and 81. In the dye
room 10 men. all Poles, were reduced
from 81 TO 90 cents, and Manager Hunt
has since told the boss dyer not To pay
over 50 cents per day. The men ut first
| refused 10 accept these wages. but ara
now back at work. In the felt depart
ment all are foreigners (same class as
above). During Cleveland's admins
tration they got el.l5 q day. They
have for over three years been receiving
but 81 per day. In the weave room o.
weavers mostly woincn) make about
sl.50 day when they do not have "a
wait for filling, warp, etc, but their
average for the year Is only about Il.
Last fall when nearly half Of the looms
| t6s in alD were running on certain
class Of goods, the manager announced
that he would have TO reduce the price
Of weaving from 81. cents per yard ID
81 cents or he could not compete with
another mill making this same
class OF goods The reduction was
made In the finishing room about
Il women and girls "burl" and
"spcck" cloth for 20 cents a day Of ten
1 hours.
These reports embrace six OF the
twcnty-scvcn cases Of wage advances
attributed 70 McKinleyism II is now
the intention Of the reform club 70 in
vcs0gatc and report on all. II there
has been case in protected industry
where wages have been advanced, and
the advance Is not due 10 the demands
Of strong labor union, or where this
members OF the firm are not in politics
and are not writing articles for repub