The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-08-24

elk stated it must be to the interest of
citizens and stockholders if some way
could be devised whereby the indus
tries might not have to remain idle.
Secretary Ross, of the Spinners' union,
stated one reduction had followed anoth-
her,an during the two years there had
been reduction of % 1-2 per cent, while
the reduction on fine cloths amounted to
80 per cent. The spinners were brought
down to the level of other cities.Y One
trouble is the manufacturers never
advance wages, no matter how. good
trade IS The spinners are never ia
formed OF the amount oil the reduction
they are to receive, and they never will
go back into these mills without know
Ing what they are to receive. He never
advised a,strike and never would One
reduction following another undoubted-
ly, caused the strike The action on the
part Of the mill managers seems to have
been hasty
Matthew Hart, representing the Weav-
ers'sUn1on, said since 1890 the weavers
had, by system of lengthening the
cloth, changing of style, and payi lg less
wages, been cut down continually. The
particulars bill had become law, but
Ine manufacturers aresnot willing to pay
according 60 law. They do not intend
to be honest with the operatives, or why
do they lengthen the cuts without the
knowledge of theSweavers?FSinc 1884 the
speakers wages were cut from $l2. SO
week to Sc. so.
Secretary Connolly, of the Card and
Picker Rooms Association, said he did
not think the cut fair, and he did not
believe the operatives would accept it.
Hon. wv. Grape said he was present
at the request of several of the mill man
ayers. Mr.. Crapo thoughtssMayor Brown
ell did right in calling the conference
in the interests of peace, harmony. con
tentment and prosperity of the commun-
ity:, He thought the gentleman .spoke
with great moderation as "a stockholder.
He thought they swere wrong and that
figures would show it. This hostility
between the management and help does
not exist. No one in the world would
like to pay the high wages as well as the
mill managers. 1t means good times
and prosperity, and low wages mean
hard times, want. suffering ana debts
Inc times are to blame. not the man
ayers He said some mills paid divi
dends, not out of recent earnings, but
from moneys laid aside for other pur-
poses. If the operatives don't think
they get enough wages they are free to
go elsewhere. Now we have gone as far
as we can and done everything possible
to make both ends meet. We come to
uA4o SchCluSiOA WC iAuSl IOGuCc wages OF
stop the mills. If we stop the mills a
state of idleness ensues, with accompa-
nying lawlessness aud crime. Mr.. Crapo
said he felt it his duty to look out Tor
the 1900 stockholders of the Wamsutta
mills. He stated the reduction propos,
was not as much as the operatives claim.
He said higher wages were being paid
in New Bedford than in other places. 1t
secured asbetter class of help, and fer
this reason the manufacturers like to
keep up wages. When the spinners OF
this city got $14.90 for doing the same
work for which Lonsdale spinners get
$40. so, it makes competition hard. EaJ.
Crapo was glad the arbitrators were
present, but he could not say the mills
were willing to arbitrate. They would
give the board every fact in their knowl-
edge. They would open the books for
comparison, and let the arbitrators see
if the manufacturers were not Obliged
to reduce wages. He said it was impos-
sible for the manufacturers to keep up
wages when they awere failing every
where else.
When the meeting adjourned it looked
as if the present mill difficulty might IL
settled by arbitration.