The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-23
MANUFACTURERS ARE FIRM
THEY INSIST ON A REDUCTION IN
THE FALL RIVER COTTON
An ANSWER 70 TIE OPERATIVES
Dwells on Cheap Labor and Long
Hours In the South ns Compared
With Massnchusetts-In Janu-
AIRY Reduction Takes Eject.

Fall River Mass, Dec. 21.-After in
formal discussion lasting nearly all of
the forenoon, formal meeting of the
manufacturers, committee was held this
afternoon, and the answer to the Sg,,EzlEEz
tives was framed. 1t rccited the cond.
tons affecting the industry in Fall River
and the reasons for the proposed rcduc-
ton 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. You
very well know the cotton mills in Fail
River find confronting them condition
of things which, to say the least, is
startling, and the condition of the cot
ton cloth trade is such that the mills in
Fall River find it impossible 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 has to meet has been brought
about in part by the philanthropy which
the good pcople of Massachusetts have
shown towards those of her citizens who
have appeared to need her sympathy.
The hours of labor in Massa chusetts
have been shortened more than in neigh
BORING states and more than her manu-
facturers can stand. While such laws
have apparently relieved the burde: Of
the operatives in the factories they have
really work to their final disadvantage
because such laws have induced undue
competition outside of Massachusetts,
where hours of labor are longer and
where other inducenent is Offered CAPT
talists to invest. The south has modern
mills containing most improved ma
chinery and "A very low cost of labor.
Massachusetts is handicapped by the
shortest labor hours and extremely re-
stricted legislation compared with other
and competing states. Mills must run
and earn dividends for stockholders or
there is no inducement for capital in
vested in Fall River or Massachusetts
1t must be evident to you, as il is to
the 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
Fall River mills to do all the curtailing
of production. When we stop our mills
every one else runs full time, and if cur
tailment of production here brings about
better prices it is only temporary and
simply offers an inducemcnt for capital
to build more mills, not in Fall River
but outside of Massachusetts.
1.-THE facts are that Mussa chusetts
mills work fifty-eight hours per week
and other states have siXty-hour laws
for labor. The southern mills run from
sixty to seventy-two 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, tax and cheap transportation
and cheap cotton AS well as in longer
hours of labor. Their mills are rs good,
but no better, than ours, and the fact
stares us in the face that they can I'M
dcrSell us in the markets on account 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
90 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
a close competition in trade under such
adverse conditions, it seems to this com
mittee that nothing is to be done by
putting off for two months Il rate Of re-
auction in wages which should 20 into
effect at once, and inasmucn as the
mills of Fall River have run during the
past year or more under conditions so
very dscouraging and unremunerative
during which time we have ricd the ex-
pertinent of curtaimcnt extensively, the
committee of manufacturers feel that
the situation is such that they must
adhere to their decision that il is abb
solutely necessary to rediice wages in
Fall River mills II 10 per cent, said
reduction to go into effect on the third
Monday Of January, 1898, as voted by
the manufacturers Mt n meeting held on
the 9Th day of December. 1897"