The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-24

Propositions OF Tne1r OperAtiSe
Say Superior Advantages in Other states
Especially at the south Compel keduc-
lon In Wages in Order to Manufacture at
Any Proft-Other Mills Cutting Wages
Fall River, Mass, December 21.-Af-
ter an informal discussion, lasting
nearly all of the forenoon, a formal
meeting Of the manufacturers commit
tee was held this afternoon and the
answer to the operatives proposition
war framed. 1t recites the conditions
affecting the industry in Fail River and
the reasons for the proposed reductions
of wages. The nswer says:
'9The manufacturers a carefully
considered the three propositions SUBJ
mitted to them by the representatives
of the various labor organizations there
assembled.
LAS you very we'll know, cotton mills
in Fall River find confronting them a
conditions 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
10 dispose Oh ulSlT output dL SUCl piICSS
as will admit Of any return whatever
on the capital invested. The compe-
tition 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 toward those of her citizens
who have appeared to need her SYM
pathy.
THE hours of labor in massachusetts
have been shortened more than in
neighboring states and more than her
manufacturers can stand. While such
laws have apparently relieved the bur
dens Of the operatives in the factories
they have really worked to their finan-
cial Disadvantage, because such laws
have induced undue competition out
side OF Massachusetts, where hours of
labor are longer and where every in
ducement is offered capitalists to in
vest.
THE south has modern mills contain
ing most improved machinery and a
very 1ow-cost labor. Massachusetts is
Handicapped by the shortest labor hours,
an extremely restricted legislation COM
pared With other n competing states.
Mills must u and earn dividends for
stockholders or there is no inducement
for capital to invest in Massachusetts
or in Fall River. 1t must be evident
to you, as it is to the committee, that
there is no honey for stOckhOlreds nor
for employees either when the mills are
idle or running on 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 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.
I'VE work against ourselves every
time we stop our mills without the CO.
operation of the rest of the spindles of
the country, and in our opinion our
competitors would be willing to join
with US in c%urtailing production only
when Fall River is able to manufac-
ture cotton cloth at as low a cost as is
possible elsewhere.
THE facts are that Massachusetts
works fifty-eight hours per week and
other states nave 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 he southern
mills is very much lower than in New
England and they claim advantages in
'"dttI power, JANIS, cIlcdp dIlSpOI d
tion 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 stares us in the face that they
can undeTSell us in the market on &C
cOunt of lower cost of production.
But reducing labor is not all. Some
concert of action should he taken to
see if legislation in this state cannot
be made friendly to it's industries, so
that capital may be nduced to stay
here rather than go outside.
when it is considered that the mills
in Fall River 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 condi-
tiOns, it 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 eff
feet, and inasmuch as the mills of Fall
River have run during the past year
Or more under conditions so very dis
couraging unremunerative, druing
which time we have tried the expert
1nent of curtailment extensively, the
committee of manufacturers feel that
the situation is such that they must
adhere to their decision that it is alb
solutely necessary to reduce wages in
FAN River mills II 1-9 per cent, said
reduction to go into effect on the 3rd
day Of January, 1898, as voted by the
manufacturers at a meeting held on
the Sth day of December, 1897"
The sentiment of the employees is
said to he in favor of resisting the re-
duction.
Worcester, Mass, December 21.-The
Millbury cotton mills, following the
e of the Fall River mills, has posted
q nntioa IF q ont Of ~ NOR oont ~ folya
effect January 3rd. This was expected
n the owners say they We're forced
to make the cut by the condition Of
business.
South Bridge, Mass, December 21.-
Notices have been posted at the Fisk
dale cotton mills in Sturbridge, that
on and after January 3rd, the wage
scale will be lowered. The notices do
not state the amount of the reduction,
but it is understood it will be between
10 and II per cent, OF about the same
80 4L4A xl L.. IN" NJ.