Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-30
MOULT0N'S SHOPS.
Gossip Pertaining to Brookields
Attitude.
Townspeople Have Done Much for Cor
poration and Hope Shops viii
Remain in Town.

The outlook for the retention of the
Charles H, Moulton & Co shoe business
in Brookfeld, grows more encouraging.
While it is the universal opinion that
the granting of bonuses and special pri-
vileges to manufacturers to locate in any
particular city or town was a dangerous
precedent to establish, yet the fact re-
mains that the custom does exist today
in all parts of the country, and that
competition and rivalry among boards
of trade in cities and towns is sharper
In that direction than ever. The people
of this community realize, now if never
before that, to great extent they are
at the mercy of any manufacturer who
may make certain demands; that they
must in a measure comply with these
demands by going into their pockets,
or else the manufacturer will simply
say: well, must conduct my business
in the way that l consider the best for
my interests, and as I have a better
offer than you can make, l will accept
that offer and take my business from
your town. Local business men
thoroughly understand this in this parti-
cular case. The threatened removal
of this industry from their midst means
patronage at stores and markets But
what about the stockholders of the fac
tory building?" said a local citizen Sat
urday. What about the interests of
those men who invested their money in
| building this factory for the good of the
communityY' ut is no answer to the
question to say that they went into the
matter as into any other business trans
action, and if the project has not been
remuneratfve they are themselves to
| blame. They for five years gave this
factory rent free, with the understand
ing expressed or implied, that after the
| expiration of that time a reasonable
rent should be reeeived. for 1T. 4 Well the
| five years have about come to q close,
/ and now the non-rent paying tenant
hobs up -sereneiy and practically says to
! these men, "I have had the use of your
factory for FIVE years for nothing, and
have now received an inducement to To-
cate elsewhere, which I will do forth
with unless you in turn offer me an
extra inducement to stay here
1t has been stated by several that he
management prefer to hire out of town
help, Careful inquiry fails to discover
anything to substantiate such state
mems The firm in question employ
about 300 hands, all OF whom reside here
with the exception of 49, which is not a
large percentage of outside help. all
things considered. The town has abated
the taxes of the concern for the past
five years, but can they continue to do
SO? Aside from the question of the lega-
lily of that policy, the people of the east
village are protesting vigorously against
any farther proceeding in that direc-
ton, and it may be, and no doubt will
be strenuously opposed at the coming
spring town meeting. Prominent men
at both ends of the town say that there
is not much use in making any further
exertion to bolster up a concern that has
had the advantage of a factory rent
free for five years, taxes and now comes
before the people demanding additional
favors and privileges at their hands.
The question remains will such demands
ever cease.
The Brookfield Grange accompanied
by a large number of friends enjoyed an
old-fashioned sleigh ride Saturday, end
ing with a supper and dance in A. o. H.
Hall.