The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-10-01

served that no paper printed in Fulton
county had published these reports.
The factory of Alfred Dodge, of Dodge
vile, N. Y, was also visited. The re-
port said that wages had been advanced
90 per cent. hsre. Dodge manufactures
piano felts, sounding boards, cases and
other piano supplies. He also makes felt
shoes and slippers. He employs alto
gether nearly 300 persons. 1t is the Gus
tom at Dolgeyille to hold an annual re-
union. At such times Mr.. Dodge, the
paternal proprietor of the place, makes
an address and announces the promotions
and advances in wages to be made for
the ensuing year. The new employees
who have been earning what may be re-
garded as apprenticeship wages and some
of the older employees who have served
their employer most faithfully expect to
have their wages advanced at this time.
1t is Dodge boast that in this way he
stimulates his employees to do their best.
Twenty or twenty five who have worked
hard and overearned their old wages of
perhaps $i.2j or $1.37B 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
advanced a shilling each and the hours Of
labor were reduced from 10 to 915, with
the promise the supply of promises is
never short that if the employees ac-
complished as much in OF 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
may be accounted for by knowing that
Dodge, by a gross misrepresentation of
facts, had been successful in 1890 in 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
1928 become a most ardent protection
list, and had told his employees in hi
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 Republican
nomination for congress in his district,
and knew the value of such 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 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 81 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 Tribune'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 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 $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 and have asked for them
Moreover, the hours of labor have moi
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 ad-
vances. Four years ago common labor
ers in Dolge's employ received so per
day; they now get but $l25. The price
for hauling lumber to Little Falls has
been reduced from $3.50 per thousand
to 81, and for coal from 10 to 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 20 and
cents, respectively, to IS and cents
perNset. I zee years ago the felt shoe
makers got IS cents per pair; they get
80 cents now. The girlsin the shoe de-
partment and many others througho
the mill have also had their wages re-
duced.
Two-thirds of the employees are
foreign born (mostly Germany, and it 3
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 a foreigner.
Reports said that wages had been ad-
vanced Is per cent. at the Hawthorn
mills, at Glenville, Conn. These mills
employ 210 or 215-about 175 in 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 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 Eungarians, Poles, Russian
Jews, Swedes and Danes, except six or
eight Germans had their wages re-
duced in 'rune, 1892, from 81 and $1.l5
per day to 90 cents and ST. In the dye