Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1892-09-22

forty OF fifty hands. They potn admin.
ted that there was no foreign competi-
ton in their line Of goods, but they were
enjoying the notoriety they were getting
through the report of the alleged wage
advances of from Is to rs per cent, and
being Republicans did not feel called
upon to deny it. They laughingly said
that they thought wages had been in
creased more than usual in their factory
this year and that the Mckinley bill
might have had something to do with it.
They said that there was foreign compe-
tlon on some KINDS OF gloves made al
tioversville and Johnstown, N. Y, but
that they had heard of no wage advances
In any factory there. It 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 manufactured
piano felts, sounding boards, cases and
other piano supplies. He also makes fell
shoes and slippers. He employs alto.
gether nearly 300 persons. It 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 In wages to be made fol
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 ia
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 overearned their old wages OF
perhaps $1.25 or $1.371S per day, usually
get an advance of about one shilling
Many others are disappointed, but Dodge
gives them hope by telling them that ii
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 shilling each and the hours Of
labor were reduced from 10 to 91f, with
the promise (the supply Of promises il
never short) that if the employees &C.
complished as much in 81 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. II
may be accounted for by knowing that
Dodge, by gross misrepresentation Of
facts, had been successful in 1890 in hav.
ing the duty on piano felts increased
from between 60 and 10 to an average Of
about 100 per cent. Dodge already had
q monopoly of American made felt and
this would cut off much of the foreign
competition.
Besides, he had from free trader in
1928 become 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 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 "a per
mound. If he had not made advances in
wages his own employees might have
exposed his greed and the falsity ct his
promises. He has gotten thousands Of
dollars worth Of advertising and has
had his vanity tickled by having his per-
sonslity 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 30
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.
Bnt there is another side to this case.
No wage advances occurred at Dodge
vile this year. Some of those who ex-
nected 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 $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 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 1S and 8 cents
per set. Three years ago the felt shoe
makers got IS 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