Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-25
woRKMEN AGITATED
OVER a Bulletin Posted Mt MAX.
Meadows.

wYTHEvILLE, VA. July 24-(Spe-
cial)-Max Meadows is one OF the most
progressive manufacturing towns In this
section. The people, especially the WORK
ingmen, of thar place. are greatly asi-
tated over bulletin. which was posted
In the Crescent Horseshoe Works there
Wednesday q midday. These WORKS ell
ploy about 80 men, most OF wnom nave
voted the Republican ticket. But they
say that they intend TO vote TINS year
for free silver. This change on the part
of these workingmen is accepted by them
as the real cause for the issuance Of the
bulletin In question with this bulletin
was posted a printed scale, showing the
reduction in wages, running from IL to 50
per cent.
Max Meadows, Va. July @, 1896.
To the Employees OF the Crescent Works;
The recent agitation In favor Of the
FREQ coinage OF silver at the ratio or 10
10 has SO unsettled the business world
that no new enterprises are being un-
dertaken. Railroads are not increasing,
renewing. or even keeping up their equip
ment and generally people are only buy
ing what they absolutely have to. The
result OF this feeling of uncertainty and
crease In consumption OF articles OF all
sorts, which naturally very greatly les
sens the price at which any manufac-
tured article can be sold. As a matter
OF fact, hundreds OF mills all over the
country are idle. which would otherwise
give employment 20 thousands Of men;
and II has been a very serious matter
for the management OF the Crescent
works TO decide whether TO operate the
l.. rt...A 10. "a IlI
for the past three months lave not been
over half what they usually are, and
prices have declined fully 80 per cent;
and. should the advocates OF free silver
be successful In the coming election, these
works will be forced TO remain idle for
many years The free coinage OF silver
at the ratio Of &c to l means 40 parts OF
silver, worth only 90 cents. should by
law be made equal In value TO one part OF
gold, worth 100 cents. II means that we
will be forced TO accept dollars worth
only &c cents for the product OF this mill.
and must consequently pay our wages
in dollars worth only 80 cents. instead OF
100 cents, as at present. 1t means when
WAGES are paid they are to be paid in
dollars worth only 81 cents, While, or
course, when tea. coffee. sugar. and
many other goods are bought with those
wages they must be paid for in dollars
worth 100 cents, and the difference must
be lost by the wage-earncr. IL means
that every deposition in a savings bank
must accept 53 cents Ia payment Of each
100 cents he now has ON deposit.
From the above Illustrations You can
nil appreciate what a great disaster free
coinage would be, and how impossible IT
would be to conduct any manufacturing
enterprise with the unsettlement OF af-
fairs that would follow. and how the
greatest loser by free coinage would be
the workingmen.
Having given the matter careful con-
sheraton, the management OF the Cres-
cent works have decided that they
win work into finished product the raw
material on hand. so as TO be In posi-
Zion 20 permanently close their works
after the coming election. should the ad-
vocates OF free silver be SUCCESSFUL; and
that. while doing so. they win pay the
Following rates of wages. work not o be
resumed until SUFFICIENT orders can be OBJ
tanned 10 dispose OF the finished product
which can be made out OF the raw MAJ
seFiai on hand.
coNsoLIpATED COAL. IRON. AND
LAND COMPANY.
Ioean NJ Buliitt, President.