Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-09-20
served thai no paper printed IN Falton

piano felts, sounding boards, cases and
other piano supplies. He also makes felt
shoes and slippers. He employs alto
gethef nearly 500 persons. It the GUS
tom at Dolgeyille to hold an annual re-
union. At such times Mr.. Dodge, the
paternM proprietor of the place, makes
an address and announces the promotions
and advances IN wages 10 be made for
the ensuing year. The new employees
who have been earning what may be re-
garded as apprentic ticeship wages and dsome
of the older employees who have served
their employer most faithf fully, expect to
have their wages advanced at this time.
It is D6lge's boast, that,in this way he
stimuli iatd .hisempl ployees to do their best
Twenty or twenty five who have worked
hard and overearnel their old wages of
perhaps $1.a5 or 1.3T5S per day, usually
get an advance of about one shilling
Many others are disappointed, but Dodge
gives them hope by telling them that if
they do their full duty their turn will
come next.
At the reunion in February, 1891, be-
tween forty and fifty had their wages
labor were reduced from 10 to Oh, with
the promise fthe supply of promises is
never short) that if the employees ac-
complished as much in 01SS hours as they
formerly had done in ten, the hours
would be further reduced to nine at the
next annual reunion. This advance in
wages was slightly more than usual. It
may be accounted for by knowing that
Dodge, by a gross misrepresentation of
facts, had been successful in 1890 in llav-
ing the duty on piano felts increased
from between go and 20 to an average of
about 100 per cent. Dodge already had
a monopoly of American made felt and
this would cut off much of the foreign
competition.
Besides, he had from free trader in
1928 become a most ardent protection
ist, and had told his employees in his
speeches that higher duties meant higher
wages. The men intended to take him
at his word. In the next place Dodge
had been figuring to get the Repul lican
nomination for congress IN his district,
and knew the value of such a move, in
politics. Then, also, he appreciated the
advertising that his business would get
through Republican editors who were
securing the political and Industrial
horizon to find a case of higher duties
followed by higher wages. 1t 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 for about "a per
pound. If he had not made advances in
wages his own employees might have
exposed his greed and the falsity Of his
promises. He has gotten thousands of
dollars worth of advertising and has
had his vanity tickled by having his per-
sonality and his business described in
nearly every Republican paper in the
land, but up TO date he has not captured
the nomination for congress. He is,
however, ON the New York Trihune's
list of millionaires, and as he has made
his money during the last twenty years
his prospects are good. His standing
good that from ten to twenty girls are
kept busy addressing wrappers for the
New York state Republican committee,
in which to mail copies of the Dolgeyille
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 $1,000 per box as he now gets
for $780,
But there is another side to this case.
No wage advances occurred at Dodge
vile this year. Some of those who ex-
pected advances have been greatly dis
appointed and have asked for them
Moreover, the hours of labor have not
been reduced to nine, though Dodge ad-
mitted 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 adj
vances. Four years ago common labor
ers in Dolge's employ received 81. so per
day; they now get bat $1.25. The price
for hauling lumber to Little Falls has:
been reduced from $3.50 per Thousand
to 81, and for coal from 10 to 8 cents per
100 pounds. These reductions affect at
least fifty or sixty employees in and out
of the factory. During the last year tho
price for covering and trimming piano
hammers has been reduced from % and
8 cents, respectively, to IS and cents
per set. Three years ago the felt shoe
makers got > cents per pair; they get
80 cents now. The girls in the shoe de-
partment and many others throughout
the mill have also had their wages re-
duced.
Two-thirds of the employees are
foreign born (mostly GERMANY, and it is
said that only Republicans and foreign
ers have much chance of promotion or
advancement under Dodge Certain 1t
is that nearly every foreman and sub
boss is foreigner. gt.
Reports said that wages had been ad-
vanced Is per cent. at the Hawthorn
mills, at Glenville, Conn. These mills
employ 2l0 or 215-about 175 in the
woolen department, where suttings,
cheviots, ETC., are made, and thirty or
forty in the felt department, where pol
ishing feltS are produced. Some of the
employees interviewed had not heard of
the campaign wage advance report
When shown it they were quick to de-
pounce it as a lie, and began to tell OF
the numerous reductions of the last
year. One employee said, "If / had
known you were going to be here
could have prepared list of reductions
a yard long"
In the wooden department about eighty
men-all Hungarians, Poles, Russian
Jews, Swedes and Danes, except six OF
eight Germans had their wages re-
duced in June, 1892, from 81 and &1.I5
per day to 90 cents and 81. In the dye
room ten men-en Poles-were reduced
from 81 to 80 cents, and Manager Hunt
has since told the boss dyer not to pay
over SO cents per day. The men at first