Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-03
A WELCOME DAY.
New England Mills Will, To-
day, Increase Wages.
And 100000 Operators Go to Work
With Lighter Hearts.
The Estimated Weekly Increase in Employees
Wages is $4,000.

Boston, April 2.-(SpeciaD. One
hundred and forty thousand sons and
daughters Of toll, in answer to the call
Ito work from whistle or hell ON the
cotton mills in the various New Eng
land cities and towns, tomorrow MORN
ing will start for the scenes OF their
labors with lighter heart. brighter eve
and firmer step, than in many months.
The long awaited restoration of wages
goes into effect at that time, and each
and every one of the operatives knows
that from that day on, their pittance
Will be increased. be that increase ever
so little.
j The wages of the cotton mill opera
tive in recent years has furnished but
a scant living at the best and when, in
January, 1898, the announcement that a
cut-doWn averaging 10 per cent. in
| every department was to be made lit
tie wonder can be expressed that every
effort was made through the various
unions Of the textile workers to per-
suade the manufacturer against such a
step.
The mill men, however, were sincere
| in their declaration that market con-
ditions would not permit them to con-
| tinue paying the scale of wages in eff
feet at that time, and, finally, after
| holding out on strike until their scanty
savings had vanished in providing
themselves and their families with the
| necessities of life, the mill-workers
We're forced to return to the work they
had left, broken in spirit and obliged to
| acknowledge defeat
| a q M rrfa tn
| formed their employees that. as soon as
circumstances would permit, the cut
| down would be restored, at least, in
part. Conditions. however, failed for
long time to show any indication of
| improvement and, in fact, became even
more serious. There seemed to be no
market for cotton goods. and ware
houses rapidly We're, becoming filled to
the extent of their capacity. Finally
il seemed only a question of.t4me. and
a short time at that, when the manu-
facture would have tor be- temporarily
Everything looked dark. indeed. for
the mill-workers in New England
| when at last. the manufacturers in one
| OF the principal centers. who had been
driven almost to desperation by the
many unsuccessful attempts made by
them 10 set things at rights. evolved a
plan which, when contaminated proved
far more beneficial than was antici-
pated. even by the most sanguine.
In Fall River are more than a score
of great corporations engaged in the
manufacture of cotton material. and 4.
was there that the first step. leading to
tomorrow's result. was taken. 1t was
evident TO the manufacturers that the
greater part of the trouble was due to
the fact that the output Of cotton
goods greatly exceeded the demand.
They had on hand nearly all the finish
ed goods they could carry. and this
stock was steadily increasing. In their
effort TO rid themselves OF the
finished article, prices had been forced
down until, even with the cut-down in
the wages of the operatives, the man.
ufacture was carried on at a loss.
Something had to be done and that at
once. As none of the manufacturers
cared to work independently, confer
ence of all Fall River mill men was
called and ways and means for over
coming the obstacles were freely dis
cussed. 1t finally was decided that a
curtailment plan be adopted. the man
ager of each corporation signing an
agreement to run his factory only
three weeks in a month for a specified
number of months. Thus the supply
would fall below the demand and it
was hoped to clear the glut in the mar
ket and, eventually. to revive prices so
that operations could be carried on at
a profit.
Just at about this time the present
wave of prosperity began to make it
self felt in earnest and. thus aided. the
plan worked like a charm.
The market was soon cleared and the
began TO demand more goods,
but there We're none to be had. al least.
not at the prices which prevailed at
that time. The goods were necessary.
and a substantial increase in
prices. nearly 30 per cent. resulted.
Only a few short months after the
agreement was made between the man.
ufacturers. the cotton manufacturing
in New England was in
more prosperous condition than 1t had
been for many years. The operatives
this fact almost as soon as
lid their employers and at once de-
handed that the latter make good their
promise of some IL months previous.
The initial step in this movement also
vas made at Fall River. and after a
conference between the labor unions
md the manufacturers it was decided
hat the time was ripe for a restora-
ion. Almost at once nearly every
in New England posted
notices in their factories to the effect
hat an increase in wages was to be
made and thus convinced their EN-,
,loyes that the promise of year be-
ore was made in good faith. April 3.
Ionday, was set as the date on which
he raise would take effect, and all
through the Lawrence, Mass, and Ex-
ter. N. H., manufacturers announced
hat beginning last Monday, the new
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