The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-07
WHY WAGES ADVANCE.
Free Wool Has Opened Mills and Caused Z
Gsest Demand for Lab0r-Wsges Adj
vance In SIX Great Mills.

some results not dreamed of by the
Mckinley school Of philosophers. For
the first time in four years the ten
dency Of wages in textile mills Is up
wards instead of downwards. The
prot cction theory that increased du-
ties which foster trusts that advance
or sustain prices by closing mills to re-
strict production, will advance wages
has proven an ignominious failure.
The American Economist, in is9.. after
searching the whole country and send
ing out thousands of circular letters
beseeching protected manufacturers 10
report all wage advances. published a
list of twenty-three purported adj
vances. The Reform club promptly
made an investigation of each case and
proved that the list was fraud. In a
ma jority of the mills mentioned there
had been heavy wage reductions. The
Reform club did more-it published a
list of owe 1000 eases of wage reduc-
tons in protected industries during
the first two years Of Mckinley pro-
lection. This was bad beginning for
a theory that promises so much. II
will. however, scarcely be denied. even
by republicans that wages declined
more during the last. than during the
first. half of the Mckinley period. Mills
not closed were running on short time
and paying low wages.
A great change has occurred since
wool became free. Instead of three
men after every job. there are now
more jobs than men. Lower prices,
greater consumption. increased pro-
duction. greater demand for labor.
higher wages-thcse are the logical
sequences of free raw materials and
reduced duties Confronted by this
new condition the wooden manufac-
turers in spite OF their theories are
forced To raise wages II goes SO
against their "a. = to advance wages
just before "A congressional election
that many partisan protectionists may
resist the pressure until November:
but many cannot hold out. Gradually
but surely the wage-earners are get
ting back to where they were before
the Mckinley bill struck them.
The Wool and Cotton Reporter de-
votes page each week to Bulletin
of New Enterprises. During the
seven weeks from August 81 to
October Is. it mentioned ). new
Mills" III "enlargements and i'm
provements.' 15s mills starting up"
and only seven mills shutting down"
because of lack of orders. Hands are
becoming scarce in some textile dis
tricts Thus on October IL. the Re-
ha mil in,
West Virginia tone the largest in
the state) are running on five quarters
time and are still unable to fill orders
offered Though before September
they had no trouble in filling all orders.
working half time. One will work
double time as soon as enough men
can he gotten"
High tariff or low tariff. wages will
go mp when the demand for labor ex-
Feeds the supply. Hence the following
wage advances probably the first ones
IN wooden mills for four or five years:
On September the Wool and Cot
ton Reporter said that ''Rawitzer Bros.
If stafford Springs. had settled with
their dissatisfied weavers. giving them
- per cent. advance in wages
On September ?. the Reporter said
that the winders at the Riverside knit
ting mills at Cohocs. \. ". struck for
an increase of wages last week. Mr..
Boehlowitz. the proprietor, stated that
an increase would be granted October
L. The knittcrs and cardcrs were also
promised an increase on October |.
On October the Reporter said that
the strike at the wooden and worsted
mill Of Alexander Crow, Jr.. at TWEEN
ty-first street and Pennsylvania avenue.
Philadelphia. was declared off on the
a5th ult., a compromise being effected
with them. Mr. Crow agreed to restore
10 per cent. of the reduction. and the
400 employees returned to work next
day.
On October 4 the Reporter said:
1.-The Woodstock mills, Norristown. Pa,
rcopcned Monday and the strike is
broken. The company will pay all en-
ploycs the rate Of wages they received
before the last reduction was made on
February II.
On October II the Journal of Com
mcrcc and Commercial Bulletin said:
1.-THE employees of the extensive Black
inton wooden mills. at North Adams.
Mass. commenced work to-day under
10 per cent increase The advance
was voluntary on the part Of the man
agement."
On October II wages We're advanced
3 per cent in all departments of the
Cohocs mills. Dover y. H. This re-
stores half of the cut-down Of last sum
mer and is good news to thousands Of
operatives. II will probably end the
mule spinncrs strike.
On October L. the strike at the
wooden mill Of the North Adams manu-
featuring Go. ut Braytonville was set
tied a compromise having been cf-
fccted. The employees had asked for
restoration of the 10 per cent. rcduc-
ton made last March. On that day they
were granted restoration of ; per
cent. with "a promise Of the other
per cent. as soon rs the state Of trade
will permit.
On October ~ il was reported that
the Pontoosuc Wooden Co. at Pittsficld
had advanced the wages Of the en-
plovcs > per cent.
On October % wages were advanced
10 per cent. with extra pay for extra
hourS over fftv-eivht In the great