St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-11-15
COTTON INDUSTRY.

Fail River, Mass, Nov. IA labor
eader says that ii strike Is ordered
tvery mill in the city will be affected by
t, and this will mean the loss of about
1900 600 weekly to the city. He said that
Fall River has employed in her mills
'S,3O0 operatives. There are 80 mills,
29Ol,O56 spindles and 7O,S7S looms in the
city, representing an invested capital of
over s25,0OO.OOO, and weekly production
averaging 100000 pieces of print cloths.
Fall River has one-half of the spindles
In Massachusetts, about threefifths of
the spindles in New England and about
half of the aggregate number in the
United States. Referring to the south
ern mills he said that Fall River has
more than double the number of spindles
In all the southern states combined and
almost as many as all the states in the
Union, outside of New England.
This will show the effect a strike will
have upon the cotton industry Of the
United States. With about 2S,3OO en-
ployes and union membership Of one
third that number, Fall River is the
most strongly organized mill city in the
world. The weekly payroll of the Fall
River mills reaches $lSS, 900, or an aver.
age of over $3.50 per week to each en-
ploye, from the agent and treasurer, who
received as high salary as $4,000 per
year, to the lowly paid back boy, who
gets $3.50 per week for his labor. If the
III percent Increase is given to the in
dustrial workers of the city the weekly
average will be about $7.25 for each en-
ploye, from the back boy up to the agent.
AT the time the last restoration was
made, M. c. d. Borden, managing owner
Of the Fall River iron works mills, fore
stalled the members OF the Manufacture
ers' association by giving his employees
the IL 1-9 percent increase without a
strike. AT this time such an act on his
part Is not looked for by many of the
iaboring element. Should he voun-
tarily restore wages to the original
basis of two years ago, the whole wage
situation will be settled amicably for it
is realized by both manufacturers and
operatives that If Mr.. Borden followed
his precedent of year ago the employ
ers of this city would be forced to follow
special meeting of the Textile coun-
ell was held Sunday lasting nearly
four hours. Reports from delegates from
all the unions resting upon the final de-
cision of the Textile council were ac-
cepted. Considerable discussion led to
the adoption of the following unanimous
resolution:
I'VE demand Of the manufacturers an
increase of 10 percent in wages on the
present schedule for all operatives. the
same to go into effect on Dec. H. and
reply is requested on or before Nov "a.
In the event Of refusal, we recommend
all operatives not to return to work
Dec. H."
Secretary Whitehead said: This is
practically recommendation to strike
Dec. IL, If our demand is refused"
The Textile council feels that it's posi-
ton is justifiable, so much so that it Is
willing to submit the question to an ar
bitration committee of five members,
two to be selected by the council, two
by the manufacturers, and the four to
select the fifth member. The committee
must report by Nov. "a. This sugges-
ton Is sent 10 the manufacturers, to-
gether with the demand.