Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-02-07
The DolgevilIe Experience.

We give room to the following article
| because Mr.. Dodge was a former resi-
dent OF this vicinity, living several
years in the town of Emmett, from
there removing to New York:
The workmen of the country ought
| to give some thought to the incident
| connected with the annual meeting of
| the workmen in the great DoIgeville N.
| factories. The low tariff press might
find something in that meeting to en-
gage their careful conside ration. The
factories at Dolgeville are operated by
Mr.. Dodge, and they make a high
grade of felt goods. The industry is
well protected under the existing
tariff, but the prospects of competition
IN the line of goods under the proposed
Wilson tariff has caused a depression
IN the business winch has resulted in
reduced wages and a general suspen-
sion OF operations. The Dodge works
! are the largest of their kind in the
country Under protection they have
developed marvelously, and a town
has been built up in what was recent
ly wilderness in the Adirondack
mountains. Dodge is believer in and
promoter Of the doctrine of profit
Diist' IHS' ~ SclN Ii d1Iudl L1cCIluS vi
the factory operatives a statement of
the years business was made, and in
addition to their liberal wages of the
year they were given a share in the
| profits OF the business, after allowing
TAR rate of interest to the proprietor,
and other deduction suggested by pru-
dent business methods. The annual
meeting was usually attended by a
banquet. This year the banquet was
omitted. The sum customarily spent
for such festivities had already been
spent In assisting former employees
who were out of work and forced to &C
cept charity.
The low tariff press has been bitter
in denunciation of Dodge and his tariff
protected industry. He has been de-
clared to be robber who was enrich
ing himself at the expense of the
people and of his workmen The new
tariff bill sharply reduces the protec-
tive features of the existing law as re-
spects the goods produced in Dodge
vile. The influence of such policy is
already noticeable. The prosperity of
a year ago has been turned into adver-
sity. The mills and the operatives
share in the woes that are the early
fruits of the new dispensation. At the
annual meeting Of the workmen held
on Saturday night Mr.. Dodge said in
his address that many of the workmen
who in 1892 were receiving 81 day
were now employed or obliged towork
on the streets at 81 25 day. The wear
1892 had been the most prosperous in
the history of the mills and liberal
advance had been made in the wages
of the workmen Mr.. Dodge further
SAID that 'for the first time in twenty
five years the factories were closed for
the want of orders, and the men who
year ago were employed at good
wages are now accepting charity.'
This incident is mentioned not be-
cause is the only one ofthe kind in the
country, but for the reason that it is a
striking illustration of the results under
protection, and what follows the first
step toward low tariff policy For
twenty-five years the Dolgeville plants
enjoyed prosperity A proposal 10
change the policy of the government is
attended by prompt destruction of
that prosperity. Some of the employees
in the Dolgeville mills voted for the
change under the delusion that their
high wages would continue and that
they would get the cheaper cost of
living which the tariff reform orator
talked so glibly. These men are now
repenting their rash step, and are peti-
tlonlng congress rot to pass the Wilson
bill. In the meanwhile the brilliant
business men and statesman from the
rural districts of the South sneer at
the petitions and declare that the
workmen are intimidated by the manu-
facturers to join in the protest against
the Wilson bill.-M5laUaukee Sentinel.