Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-22
COTTON WAGES.
ANSWER OF FALL-RIyER MANU-
FACTURERs TO EMPLOYEES.
ADVANTAGES OF THE SOUTH.
Lower Cost of Labor, More Water
Power, Lower Taxes, Cheaper
Transportation, and Cheaper, Cot
ton Some of These.

FALL RIVER, MASS, December IL
After an informal discussion, lasting
nearly all of the forenoon, formal
meeting OF the Manufacturers Commit
tee was held this afternoon, and the an
swer to the operatives proposition was
framed. 1t recites the conditions affect
ing the industry in Fail River, and the
reasons for the proposed reduction OF
wages. The answer says:
"The manufacturers have carefully con-
sidered the three propositions submitted
TO them by the representatives OF the
various labor organizations.
"As you very well know, the cotton
mills in Fall River find confronting them
condition of things which, to say the
least, is startling, and the condition OF
the cotton-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 have to meet has been
brought about in part by the philan-
thropy which the good people of Massa-
chusetts 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 In neigh
boring States, and more than her manu-
facturers can stand. While such laws
have apparently relieved the burdens Of
the operators in the factories, they
have really worked to their fnan-
cial disadvantage, because such laws
have induced undue competition out
side of Massachusetts, where the
hours OF labor are longer and where
every inducement is offered capitalists
to invest.
"The South has modern mills, contain
Ing the most improved machinery, and
a very low cost of labor. Massachusetts
is handicapped by the shortest labor
hours, and extremely restricted legisla-
tion, compared with other and competing
States. Mills must run and earn divl-
dends for stockholders, or there is no
inducement for capital to invest in Mass
achusetts or Fall River. 1t must be
evident to you, as II is to this commit
tee, that there is no money for stock
holders, nor for employees either, when
the mills are idle or running short time,
and that IL is useless for all the Fall
River mills to do all the curtailing of
production. When we stop our mills,
every one else run full time, and if a
curtailment of production here brings
about better prices, it is only temporary
and simply offers an inducement for capt.
tai TO build more mills, not in Fall River,
but outside OF Massachusetts.
1--WE work against ourselves every time
we stop our mills without the cooperation
of the rest of the spindles of the country,
and in our opinion our competitors would
be willing to join with us in curtalling
production only when Fall River Is able
to manufacture cotton cloth at as low n
cost as is possible elsewhere.
SOUTHERN ADVANTAGES.
"The facts are that while Massachu-
setts mills work forty-eight hours per
week, and other States have sixty-hour
laws for labor, the southern mills run
from sixty-six 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, taxes, cheap transportation, and
cheap cotton, as well as in longer hours
of labor. Their mills are as good as,
but no better than, ours, and the fact
SldTtS US III the ldte lildl tHey can unutT-
sell us in the markets, on account Qf
the lower cost of production.
But reducing labor hours is not all.
Some concert of 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 fewer hours than In
other States, and that 1t is necessary fol-
us to meet such close competition in
trade under such adverse conditions. it
seems to this committee that nothing is
10 be gained by putting off for two
months more the date at which a reduc-
tion of wages should go into effect and
inasmuch as the mills of Fall River have
run during the past year or more under
conditions so very discouraging and un-
remunerative, during which time we have
tried the experiment of curtaiing produc-
ton extensively, the committee of man.
ufacturers feel that the situation Is such
that they must adhere to their decision
that IL Is absolutely necessary to reduce
wages in Fall River mills 1l.9, said re-
duction to go into effect on the 3D. day
of January. 1898, as voted by the manu-
facturers at a meeting held on the sth
day Of December, 1891"
The sentiment Of the employees is said
to be in favor Of resisting the reduction
FOLLOW FALL-RIVER EXAMPLE.