The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-21
Their Sorry Christmas

y NEW EnBiaHd cotton-mlll towns
the campaign watchword was last
year, open the mills instead of the
mines and you'll have prosperity"
The Christmas present awaiting thou
sands of the New England operatives,
after nine months of Mckinley rule,
is the announcement that the cotton
manufacturers at Fall River and at
other points will order a ten-per-cent
reduction in wages, beginning with the
first day of the New Year.
The explanation given by the New
England newspapers is that the cotton
cloth market is loaded with unsold
goods and that the surplus is rapidly
piling up. 1t is the opinion of the PROV
idence Journal that the reduction of
wages is really proposed in the hope
that it will precipitate a strike. For
time, under a general agreement, the
mills We're run on short hours, but this
arrangement was not long kept up and
stocks are accommodating. Says the
Providence Journal. which was an open
the-mills organ last year: IF the en-
ployes accept the reduction, well and
Spuhf tiip iilliio Neill liltll uIdtIStll tOIu-
petitors and work off their surplus. If
the spinners strike. well and good, then
the mills can take another rest until
consumption catches up with them
again.
That is to say, in the cold blooded
view of this goldbug organ. the mills
will come out on top anyhow-the spin
.if he 4aY
cent cut or sit down in idleness: and
its we'll and good" How long can the
operatives live that way? Official fig
ures show that for more than two
thirds of the male help in Massachu-
sets cotton mills and for nearly all of
the female help the average earnings
are less than eight dollars a week
Families that are able to get father.
mother and some of the children into
the mills manage to make pretty fair
living, but 1t is a very close call for
the family when the father alone has
work-his wages under the cut, will be
$3.50 a week.
The proposed reduction in wages has
brought to public attention the report
mittee representing the New England
manufacturers This report says that
in the South are cotton mills as well
equipped as any in the North, and in
possession of advantages that enable
the goods to be made and profitably
sold at prices that would not cover the
cost of production in the North. These
a that 80
emily near and that freight on ii can
be saved; water power is abundant if
the manufacturer cares to utilize it and
coal cheap II steam is preferred; labor
abundant and cheap and not inclined to
organize against the employers and the
enactment Of restrictive labor laws is
not likely to trouble manufacturers for
many years. The conclusion oil the re-
port unanimously was that cheap
labor long hours and freedom from
legislative interference are the chief
advantages. the others being unimport-
ant and of doubtful value, and that
while manufacturers in the North,
especially in Massachusetts. cannot
undo labor legislation, they must meet
the competition by cutting wages.
This is an astounding departure from
the gilded promises given out last year
when these manufacturers, saying not
a word about competition in the South.
told the operatives that the election of
Mckinley would open the mills, make a
monster demand for cloth. hiring pros
pcrity and furnish steady work al god
wages for all the spinners.