The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-22
GUT 1T FALL RIVER
PROPOSITIONS OF THE UNIONS RE-
JECTED BY THE COTTON MAN.
UFACTURERS.
THE REASONS FOR THE STEP
SET FORTH AT LENGTH IN THE AN
SWER TO THE EN-
PLOYES.
SENTIMENT FAvoRs A STRIKE.
Among the Men There Is General
Disposition to Reject the Wage
Reduction.

FALL RIVER, Mass, Dec. Platter
an informal discussion lasting all Of
the forenoon, a formal meeting of the
manufacturers committee was held
this afternoon, and the answer to the
operatives proposition was framed. 1t
recites the conditions affecting the in
dustry in Fall River and the reasons
for the proposed reductions in wages.
The answer says:
THE manufacturers have carefully con-
sldered the three propositions submitted by
the representatives Of the various labor
organizations. AS you very we'll know the
cotton mills in Fall River have confronting
them a condition of things which, to say
the least, is startling, and the condition of
in Fall River find it impossible to dispose
OF their output at such prices will admit
of any return whatever en- the capital invest
ed. The competition which Fall River mills
have to meet has been brought about in Fart
by the philanthropy which the good people
OF MASSACHUSETTS have ev,r shown toward those
OF her citizens who have appeared to need her
sympathy. The hours Of labor in Massachus-
etts have been shortened more than in neigh
boring sta. les, and more than her manufacture
ers can stand. While such laws have appar-
emily relieved the burdens of the operatives
in the factories, they have really worked to
their financial disadvantage, because such
laws have induced undue competition out
side OF Massachusetts,, where hours of labor
are longer and where every inducenient is
offered capitalists to invest.
THE South has modern mills which contain
improved machinery and very low cost of
labor. Massachusetts is handicapped by the
shortest labor hours. Mills must run and earn
dividends for stockholders, or there is no
inducemeDt for capital to invest in Massa-
chusetts. 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 idle or running short time,
and that it is useless for al the Fall RIVER
mills to do all the curtailing of production.
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 outside of Massachusetts.
at seems to this committee that nothing
is to be gained by putting off for two months
more the date at which a reduction 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 dis
couraging and during which
time we have tried the experiment of cur
tailment. extensively-the committee of manu-
facturers feel that the situation is such that
they must adhere to their decision that it is
absolutely necessary to reduce wages in Fall
River mills II to 10 per cent said reduction to
go into effect on the third day of January,
$685. as voted by the manufacturers at
meeting held on the Sth day of December,
1897
The sentiment of the employees is said to
be in favor of resisting the reduction.