Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-09-16


labor were reduced from 10 to 81, with |
the promise (he supply of promises is
never short that if the employees ac-
complished as much in 915 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. 1t
NAV be accounted for by knowing that /.
Dodge, by gross misrepresentation of
facts, had been successful III 1890 III hav-
ing the duty on piano felts increased |
from between 60 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
1923 become Il most ardent protection |
list, 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 Reput iican |
nomination for congress N 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 II also
sale. bv the very best jad"es, both in and
ont Of his factory that he is making at
least 100 per cent clear profit on his
felte. which he sells for about 81 FER
pou,.l. 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 ticliled by having his per-
sonalitv and his business described in
nearly every Republican paper in the
Lana, 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
with the Republican party is now so
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 Dolgeville
Herald. This paper keeps the public
posted about D0lgeville and tells of the
American terne plate roofs being pat on
by Dodge. Competent judges say that
he could get as good imported roofing
terne for 5000 per box as he now gets
for $3.50.
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 aud have asked for them
Moreover, the hours of labor have not
been reduced to nine, though Dodge adj
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 Dodge employ received $3.50 per
day; they now get but $l.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 s cents per
100 pounds. These reductions affect at
least fifty or SIXTY employees III and out
Of the factory. During the last year tho
price for covering and trimming piano
hammers has been reduced from % and
cents, respectively, to IS and cents
per set. Three years ago the felt shoe
makers got 81 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
said that only Republicans and foreign
ers have much chance of promotion or
advancement under Dodge Certain it
is that nearly every foreman and sub
boss is foreigner.
Reports said that wages had been adj
vanced ID per cent. at the Hawthorn
mills, at Chenille, Conn. These mills
employ 2l0 or 215-about 175 III the
wooden department, where suitings,
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-
nounce it as lie, and began to tell of
the numerous reductions of the last
year. One employee said, "f | had
known you We're going to be here |
could have prepared list of reductions
a yard long"
In the wooden department about eighty
men-all Fungarians, Poles, Russian
Jews, Swedes and Danes, except six or
eight Germans-had their wages re-
duced in June, 1892, from 81 and $l,15
per day to 80 cents and 81. In the dye
room ten 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 at first
refused to accept these wages, but are
now back at work. In the felt depart
ment all are men and foreigners (same
class as above. During Cleveland's adj
ministratiou they got $l.l5 day; they
have for over three years been receiving
but 81 per day.
In the wcaveroom sixty-fve weavers
Cmostly women) make about $3.50 day
when they do not have to wait for fill
ing, warp, etc, hut their average for the
year is only about 81. Last fall, when
nearly half of the looms (sixty-seven in
ALI We're running on certain class of
goods, the manager announced that he
1
ing from % cents per yard to A cents
or he could not compete with another
mill making this same class of goods.
The reduction was made.
In the finishing room about fifteen
women and girls "burl" and "speck"
cloth for so cents day of ten hours. In
the weaveroom there were five loom re-
Coll 4 81 4.