Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-31
INCREASE ASKED.
Fall River Operatives Meet
the Manufacturers.
Asks for 10 Per Cent. Increase to
Begin November 10.
Manufacturers Say They Cannot Afford II
Referred TO Association.

Fall River, Mass, Oct. 30-The mill
operatives of Fall River, through their
representatives in the Textile Council,
this afternoon asked for an increase of
10 per cent. in their wages, to take ef-
feet, Monday, Nov. Il. The manufact-
urers, through their committee, replied
that they had no power to grant the
increase asked for but would refer the
request back to their association for
instructions.
The conference was called to order by
Secretary Whitehead Of the Weaver's
Union. and was presided over by Presi-
dent Chase of the manufacturers. 1t
lasted three hours and the proceedings
were harmonious. The request was
fos an increase of 10 per cent on the
old basis of PA cents a yard for regu-
lars. 1t was represented by the Tex
tile Council that the market conditions
favor the request. The reply of the
committee Of manufacturers was
against granting the request, based on
margins. 1t was set forth by the man
ufacturers that the margin is now
some seven points lower than when
wages were Increased. last spring
They admitted that the price of cloth
is higher. but cotton costs two cents a
pound more. The margin figured from
prices of cotton and cloth, last spring,
was Tx cents, while now it is but
64A.
The Textile Council claimed that
these margins. as in the past, have
been reckoned from basis of regular
prints, which now form less than 10
per cent. of the goods now manufacture
ed here. 1t was also urged that the
prices of the regulars. from which the
margin is reckoned. is held far lower
comparatively than the other grades of
goods produced from the loom.
There are 10000 looms in Fall River
running daily and less than 10000 are
on the regular prints from which the
margin is reckoned. The fair thing,
they urged, was to make the price of
regulars equal in comparison to the
odds, say 27s cents when the price is
~ and then figure. margin would
then be shown equal to that point, the
last winter, when a restoration was
granted to the help.
The manufacturers said that the eX-
ira prices for odds, in many instances,
were a result of holding the goods on
speculation; that they might have lost
by holding 50 that the employees in
that case could not have been asked to
share the loss; the operatives have no
right to share in the result of sue
cessful speculation. They also claim
that figuring regulars at 27s cents.
even then. the margin would fall near
ly to point short of what it was when
wages were raised. last winter.
The textile representatives insisted
that in the present condition when odds
and spring grades are selling so high.
it is perfectly fair to urge for an in
crease.
The manufacturers committee con-
tend that the mills could not make
fair returns to stockholders if the in
crease should be granted. However.
they were not authorized to take any
position at today's conference. but We're
present to hear what their employees
had to say and report to the associa-
ton.
Secretary Whitehead of the Weavers.
who is also secretary Of the Textile
Council, said. after the meeting, that
he was satisfied with its progress, even
while nothing definite was decided.
Asked what would be done if the man
ufacturers refused to comply, he said
that could only be decided by the sew
eral labor organizations.
Secretary housewife Of the manu-
facturers. said he did not feel that the
mills could afford such an increase, but
the association must settle the question
for itself