The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-04-24

About 80 of the employees of the carpt
mill, comprising all of the iweavers VIII
have been employed there, are on
strike, and none but spoilers and dyer
were yesterday engaged in the establish
ment.
Forty-two of the men have been EN-
ployed in weaving jute carpet known a
Javanese Wilton. For this they wer'
paid ST cents per yard for weaving, which
the men claim is insufficient, and they
asked Superintendent Westwood fer ar
increase to cents per yard, which wal
refused, and the strike ensued on Thurs
day.
The employees claim that Superintend
ent Westwood ordered the other weavers
who were not interested in the strike, tt
operate the deserted looms, but they re
fused on the ground that the strikers
should be given that work. AS conse
quence the tapestry weavers joined in the
strike, and the looms were thus all made
idle.
A committee of the strikers called al
THE News office on Thursday. 1--WE
called to give you our side of the story
they said, $50 that the matter can be
placed before the public in its true as
pect."
Continuing, they said: 1--WE do not ask
for big wage, only enough to allow us to
make a living. The increase of three
fourths of cent yard is not unreason-
able, as the price for such work should be
at least seven cents per yard. AT the old
rate we cannot make living, as our
average wages amount only to about S6
per week The price now paid is re-
duction of about 80 per cent over that
paid before the mill shut down"
The committee further stated that this
is the only mill in the United States man
ufacturing this grade of carpet and that
therefore the matter of competition does
not enter into the transaction and cannot
be the cause of the refusal of the increase.
So much for the workingmen's side OF
the story. Now we will give the firms
version of the affair.
Superintendent Westwood, when seen
at the mill yesterday, spoke freely on the
subject, claiming that the men had no just
cause to strike. 1.-THE manufacture of this
jute carpet" he said, "is comparatively
new thing in this country, and consider
able trouble has been experienced in get
ting the work well under way. Things are
not yet running altogether right, and
when they do the men will make big
wages. We have had considerable trouble
in getting the proper kind of yarn and the
mill we buy of has not been able to sup
ply it fast enough, consequently the men
have not been able to make full time,
being compelled to wait occasionally for
more material.
"They have made three-quarter time,
however, or, in other words, nine days in
every two weeks. when pay day arrives.
About month ago, when the men were
engaged in making samples, they request
ed me to put them upon day work, which
proposition was accepted and they were
paid SO per week, which was more than
they could make then at piece work.
They afterward asked to be put back on
piece work which request was also
granted"
Mr. Westwood then produced the pay
roll of the men, showing that the men re-
ceived, at ST cents per yard, an average of
from $22 to $24 every two weeks for nine
days work. One hand, working on full
time for two weeks, had $27.34 to his
credit.
"Those are not starvation prices" said
Mr.. Westwood, "as any sensible man will
see. AS soon as we get our looms prop
erly adjusted and the yarn all comes in
proper shape, as it Is just beginning to do
the wages will be increased considerably
if the men only do fair amount of work
81 requested the strikers" he said, ito
give the work four weeks more trial and
then they would be convinced that they
can earn good salaries. We are just be-
ginning to get in shape to do the weaving
expeditiously, as the men well know. l
cannot conceive any good reason for the
strike. The firm is paying good wages
and giving all it can afford to-"
Mr. Westwood then showed some of the
difficulty they have had with the yarn,
which has been received in such shape as
to require the additional expense of
winding on large bobbin aud then re-
winding on smaller one to fit the looms.
The last consignment of yarn received has
been put up in different shape so that this
extra winding and consequent delay will
hereafter be avoided, and the men can
have a chance to work on full time.
The firm on Saturday posted notices
on the mill stating that unless the strik-
ers went to work this Tuesday, morning
at 6.45. the place will be closed up until
the 18th of June.
The firm claims that the news of the
strike getting noised about has caused the
cancellation of large orders for carpets, as
the trade will not brook any uncertainty
as to the delivery of goods.
This morning the strikers refused to
return to work and Manager Westwood
says the mill will be shut down until June
10Th.