Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-22
FALL RIVER OWNERS
Feel Obliged to Decline the
Operatives Proposition.
They Notify Committee that Cutdown
Will Take Effect Jan. 8.
Representatives OF The Various Unions Pre-.
dict q General Strike.

1
the forenoon, formal meeting of the
this afternoon, and the answer to the
| operatives propositions was framed.
1t recites the conditions affecting the
industry in Fall River, and the reasons
| for the proposed reduction of wages.
| closing with the statement that tn
| situation is such that the manufactur-
ard more, it is absolutely necessary
| to reduce wages in the River mills
ii 1-9 per cent, said reduction to go
into effect Jan. 3, 1898. In giving their
| reasons for this decision, the manufac-
| turers deal at length with the matter
of Southern competition and urge some
concerted action to bring about legis
lation more friendly to the industries
of Massachusetts. SO that capital may
be induced to stay here rather than
go outside. The full answer is as fol-
lows:
Fall River, Mass, Dec. q, 1897.
Thomas O'Donnell. Secretary of Con-
ference Committee: Dear Sir: The
committee representing the manufac-
turers of Fall River. have carefully
considered the three propositions
which were submitted to them at yes
terday's conference, and which We're
so ably discussed and endorsed by the
representatives of the various labor
organizations there assembled This
committee, after due elaboration and
after carefully considering the matter
under controversy in all its bearings.
and ever having in view the best inter-
ests of the manufacturing industries
of Fall River, both as regards en-
ployer and employe, have arrived at
the following conclusion and beg
leave to submit their reply:
AS you very well know, the cotton
mills in Fall River. find confronting
them condition of things which, 20
say the least, is startling. and which
may well cause those interested in
their welfare to pause and consider
calmly and dispassionately the causes
which have brought this condition
about as well as the remedy for it, if
it may be possible to find a remedy.
The condition of the cotton cloth
market is such that the mills at Fall
River find it impossible to dispose of
their output at such prices as will ad
nit 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 people of
Massachusetts have ever shown
towards those of her citizens who have
appeared to need her sympathies.
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 operatives in the factories, they have
really worked to their financial disadvan-
tage. because such laws have induced un-
due competition outside of Massachusetts
where hours of labor are longer. and
where every inducement is offered capt.
talists to invest.
The South has modern mills, containing
the most improved machinery. and very
low cost of labor. The rest of the New
states, as well as the Southern |
states, have much longer hours and COM |
no supervision and no penal !
ties for the infringement of the laws. |
on the other hand. is ham |
by the shortest labor and eX-
tremely restricted legislation compared |
with other and competing states.
Mills must run and earn dividends for |
stockholders. or there is no inducement |
for capital to invest in Massachusetts or |
Fall River Fall River mills are as well |
equipped with modern appliances and ma
chinery as their competitors. and with |
the same advantages in hours of labor /
and pay would be able to compete with
any section of the country.
1t must be evident to you, as it is to this |
that there is no money for |
nor for employees either |
when the mills are idle or running short |
time. and it is useless for the Fall River
mills to do all the curtailing of produc-
ton. When we stop our mills. everyone
else runs full time. and if a curtailment
of production here brings about better
prices. it is only temporary and simply |
offers an inducement for capital to build
more mills. not in Fall River, but out
side of Massachusetts,.
We work against ourselves every time
we stop our mills without the co-opera-
ton of the rest of the spindles of the
and in our opinion our COMPETE
tors would be willing to join with us in
production only when Fail
River is enabled to manufacture cotton
cloth at as low cost as is possible else
where
The facts are that Massachusetts mills
work IS hours per week. the other states
have GO hours for labor; the Southern
Mills run from 66 to u 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
hey claim advantages in water power.
axes. cheap transportation and cheap
cotton, as well as in longer hours of
aDOT. lnelT LnlllS are as SOOO, Out no
better than ours, and the fact stares us
n the face that they can undersell us III
he markets on account of the lower cost
IF production.
But reducing labor is not all. Some
action should be taken to see
f legislation in this state can be made
more friendly to its industries. SO that
capital may be induced to stay here
ather than go outside. The employees
md employer ought to work together and
lot clash through misunderstanding and
ealouses. Their interests are identical
They each want a living out of this bust
less, and whatever works to the disad-
of one hurts the interests OF the
,ther.
When it is considered that the mills in
Fall River and Massachusetts run less
lOurs than in other states and that 1t is
Necessary for us to meet such close
ompetition in trade under such adverse
onditiOns. ii seems to this committee
hat nothing is to be gained by putting
If for two months more the date at
which a reduction of wages should go
nto effect, and inasmuch as the mills of
all River have run during the past year
r more under conditions so very discour-