Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-11-07

in any factory there, 1t may be OBJ
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
20 per cent. here. 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 Dolgeville 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 i'll 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 Dolge's boast that in this way he
stimulates his employees to do their best.
| Twenty or twenty five who have worked
hard and overeaned their old wages of
perhaps 81 25 or $13il5 per day, usually
| get an advance of about one shilling.
Many others are disappointed, but Dodge
| gives theun nope ny VelllhS Ihen that II
they 90 thelr nun ouVy thelr turn Will
| come next.
| At the reunion in February, 1891, be
tween forty and fifty had their wages
advanced smiling each and the hours OF
labor We're reduced from ~ to W., with
the promise (the supply OF promises Is
never shorIl thaG II the employees ac'
conphshed as much III 912 hours as they
lormerly had done IN ten, the hours
would oe Iurther reduced TO nine at the
next annual reunion inns advance IN
wages was sllghtly more than usual. II
may be accounted Tor by knowing that
DolSe, by gross misrepresentation OF
iactS, had been successful IN loOO IN hav-
ing the duty on piano IeltS increased
from between 6O and ~ to an average OF
about lOo per cent. Dodge already had
monopoly or American made felt and
this would cut on much OF the foreign
competition.
Besides, he had from free trader in
| lSS2-3 become most ardent protection
| ISL, ana hau told ms employees IN his
speeches that mgher duties meant higher
wages Inc men intended to take him
at his word. In the next place Dodge
had heen hSurlns TO get the Reput llcan
nomination Tor congress IN his district,
and knew the value OF such a move in
| poHtlcs. linen, also, he appreciated the
advertising that ms business would get
througt kepuollcan editors who were
securing the poilticM and industrial
horizon TO ma case OF higher duties
followed by higher wages. 1t Is also
salG ny the very best judges, both IN and
out OF his factory that he is making at
least lOo per cent. clear profit on his
Ieit'' Whlch he sells Tor about S4 per
pound Ii he had not made advances in
wages ms own employees might have
exposed ms greed ana the falslty Ct his
! promises lie mas gotten thousands OF
aollars worth OF advertising and has
Iao ms VANITY ucKlea Dy havlns ms per-
sohsHty ana ms business described IN
nearly every hepuoican paper IN the
lahI, Dut up TO date he mas not captured
the nomination Ior congress. lie IS
however, on the New York Irhune's
ilsC OF lhllIlohaifes' ana as ne mas made
| % 'J
ms prospects are good. His standing
with the Republican party is now so
gooc 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 D"lgevilie 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-
pocted 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
| S,,F &