The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-21
DINGLEY ON THE WAGE CUT
COTTON IND USTRY DEPRESSION UN- FORTUNATE BUT EXCEP TIONAL.

FORTUNATE BDT EXCEPTIONAL. Due to Sudden Decline in Price of Cotton
 and Competition in South-Labor Should
 Over the Country-Progress of the Strike
 Other Labor News.
 Washington, D. C., Jan. 20.-Con- gressman Dingley in the house man. aged to squeeze in between the Cuban speeches to-day some animated remarks on the wage reduction. After such a revulsion of business as the country had experienced during three years 1t was natural, he said, that recupera tion was slow. In all but the cotton in- dustry improvement was noted and wages had been advanced. Along side of the 10 per cent. reduction of wages in the cotton industry had come an in- crease in the worsted industry. He ad- mitted that the depression in the cot ton industry was unfortunate, but the cause was exceptional. It was due to the sudden and unexpected decline in the price of cotton.
 In addition to this he pointed out the effect of the competition that had grown up In the south where longer hours were in vogue. Eventually the south would come up to the northern standard, but temporarily present con- ditions gave the south the advantage. If the hours of labor were capitalized and the labor organizations would urge congress to equalize hours all over the country, matters would be different Mir. Simpson asserted that MT. Ding ley's explanation of the depression in the cotton industry collided wit hthe theory of James G. Blaine that cheap labor was dear labor, and said that if things continued as they were going in New England MT. Dingley would soon be advocating protective tariff against the south in order to preserve wages there.
 
 new features in to-day's progress of the textile troubles was the shutting down of the Cabot mill at Brunswick, Me, because of desertion of help in sym- pathy with striking weavers, and the announcement that a small mill of the Social Manufacturing company at Woonsocket, R. l., would shut down for few days for lack of orders. But mill troubles, evidently, are not to be confined to mill cities, for the side is- sue brought up to-day was labor legis- lation in the Massachusetts general court. It will be- remembered that the Arkwright club in recommending cut down of wages laid stress upon the competition of southern mills, through a longer working day. The club fur thermore urged the repeal of the re- strictive measures in force in Massa- chusetts.
 With the first inklng of an attempt to carry out this recommendation labor representatives in the house introduced bills for new legislation for fifty-flve- hour week. no overtime for women and children and to investigate the present textile situation. So on the fourth day of ths strike the popular interest is di- rected to Beacon Hill more than to New Bedford Along the line of battle from New Bedford, Mass, to Lewiston, Me, there was absolute quietude. The state board of arbitration sent member Rich ard P. Barry to the former place to see if the strikers would not abandon the fning issue, but the outcome of his er- rand will only show in the talk at the union meetings tomorrow. In Fall
 River the discomfort although entirely beneath the surface. Is growing and the | mill owners know it and are apprehen- sive.
 Woonsocket, R. l., Jan. 20.-The Alice | mills of the United States Rubber com pany, which employ about twelv hun dred hands, were shut down tonight fo1 | two weeks. The Social Manufacturing company is contemplating the closing of it's Globe mills, employing five hun dred hands, the end of the week on ac- count of lack of orders The mills manufacture cotton cloth, and cut ir | wages of ten per cent. went into effect there last Monday. It is believed that | the shutdown, if it takes place. will | last but short time. The Social Man | ufacturing company has two other | large cotton mills in this city, which are running at their full capacity and will probably continue.
 | Bay City, Mich, Jan. 20.-Wheeler Co.'S shipyards shut down to-day | throwing seven hundred men out o1 | work, as a result of the riveters refus. ing to accept seven per cent. increase instead of an increase to their old wages | of 1895.
 WILL RETIRE FROM POLITICS. Intention of Secretary Bliss of Interior Wishes Freedom from Responsibility. New York, Jan. 2O.-Ex- Mayor Will | liam L.. Strong of this city was elected