The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-22
BEGAN TO FIND EXCUSE
STRAlGHTWAY NEW ENGLAND COTTON
FACTORS BLAME sou THLRR MILLS.
The Mckinley Wave Reduction Insisted Upon,
But the Employees Seem in Favor
of Resisting.

of the forenoon, formal meeting of the
manufacturers committee was held this
afternoon and the answer to the OPERA
tiycs' proposition framed. 1t recites the
conditions affecting the industry in Fall
River and the reasons for the proposed
reduction of wages.
The answer says:
"The manufacturers have carefully
considered the three propositions sub
mitted to them by the representatives of
the various labor organizations there as
sembled.
AS you very well know, the cotton
mills in Fall River find confronting
them a condition of things, which, to-
say the least, is startling and the con-
dition of the cotton cloth trade is such
that the mills in Fall River find it inn
possible to dispose of their output at
such prices as will admit of any return
whatever on the capital invested. The
competition which Fall River mills have
to meet has been brought about in part
by the philanthropy which the good peo-
PIE of Massachusetts have ever shown
toward those of her citizens who have
appeared to need her sympathy.
THE hours of labor in Massachusetts,
have been shortened more than n neigh
boring States and more than her manu-
facturers can stand. While such laws
have apparently relieved the burdens of
the operatives in the factories, they have
really worked to their disadvantage, be-
cause such laws have induced undue
competition outside of Massachusetts,
where hours of labor are longer and
where every inducement is offered cap
italists to invest.
THE South has modern mills contain
ing most improved machinery and very
low cost of labor Massachusetts is
handicapped by the shortest labor hours,
an extremely restricted legislation COM
pared with other and competing States.
Mills must be run and earn dividends
for stockholders, or there is no induce
ment for capital to invest IN AIassachu-
Setts or Fall River. 1t must be evident
to you as it is to this committee, that
there is no money for stockholders nor
for employees either when the mills are
idle or running short time, and that it
is useless for all the Fan River mills to
do ali the curtaAIng of production
When we stop our mills every one else
runs full time, and if curtaIment Of
production here brings about better
prices it is only temporary, and simply
offers inducement for capital to build
more mills, not in Fall River, but out
side of Massachusetts.
I'VE work against ourselves every
tine we stop our mills without the co..
operation OF the rest Of the spindles OF
the country, and, in our opinion, our
competitors would be willing to join with
us in curtaiiing production only when
Fall River is able to manufacture cot
ton cloth at as low u cost as is possible
elsewhere.
The facts arel that Massachusetts,
mills work 80 hours per week and other
States have 60 hours laws for labor, the
Southern mills run from G6 to y hours
weekly, and in some cases run day and
night.
The cost of labor in the Southern
mills is very much lower than in New
England, and they claim advantages
in water power, taxes, cheap transpor-
tation and cheap cotton, as well as in
longer hours of labor. Their mills are
as good, but no better than ours, and
the fact stares us in the face that they
can undersell us in the markets on ac-
count of the lower cost of production.
But reducing labor is not all. Some
concerted action should be taken to see
if legislation in this State can be made
friendly to its industries, so that capital
may be induced to stay here rather than
go outside. When it is considered that
mills in Fall River and Massachusetts,
run less hours than in other States, and
that it is necessary for us to meet such
close competition in trade under such
adverse conditions, it seems to this
committee that nothing is to be gained
by putting off for two months more the
date at which reduction of wages
should so into effect, and inasmuch as
the mills of FAN River have run during
the past year or more under conditions
so very diScouraging and unremunera-
tive, during which time we have tried
the experiment of curtailment extensive
ly, the committee of manufacturers feel
that the situation is such that they must
adhere to their decision that it is absO-
luely necessary to reduce wages in Fall
River mills IL 10 per cent, said reduc-
ton to go into effect on the Bird day of
January, 1898, as voted by the manu-
facturers at a meeting held on the Sth
day of December, 1897"
The sentiment of the employees is said
to be in favor of resisting the reduction.
AND AT WORCESTER.
Worcester, Mass, Dec. 21.-The Mill
bury Cotton Mills, following the lead II
the Fall River mills, has posted no.
tice of cut of 10 per cent, tJ E-
effect January 3. This was ,r0e-ra..
and the owners say they were fol 70
make the cut by the condition OF b4zi
ness.
A SOUTHBRIDGE CUT.
Southbridge, Mass, Dec. PIN ices
have been posted at the Fiskdale Cotton
Mills in Southbridge, that on and af-
ter January 3rd, The wage scale wi bel
lowered. The notices do not state he
amount of the reduction but it is un ar,