Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-11-30
TEN PER CENT.
Increase Given Iron Works
Employees at Fall River.
Millionaire Borden Upsets the Mills
Scheme for 5 Per Cent. Advance.
All New England Mills Will Probably Fol.
low His Example.

Fail River, Mass, Nov. 29.-Thc
action Of Matthew &. ID. Borden. the
New York millionaire owner Of the
great iron Works plant in this city. IN
his 5000 employees 10 per cent. begin
ming Monday, Dec. 4 next. a week in
advance of the proposed increase of )
per cent. offered by the Manufac cturers
Association to the operatives If the
mills affiliated with their organization
has caused d sensation in industrial
circles here.
Manufacturers Were literally taken
off their feet when the news of the an
nouncement reached them. They IN
derstood when the agitation for an in
crease was begun some weeks ago by
the operatives that Mr.. Borden was
opposed ~ any advance. but t0day's
increase proves that their understand
ing was Incorrect
This action on the part Of the owner
Of the Iron Works plant entirely
changes the wage situation here ana
throughout New England. Yesterday.
the operatives II Fan River were re-
ported as being unanimously in favor
If accepting a per cent. increase. To-
night. to a man, they are against ac-
cepting the offer. The manufacturers
in the association will be forced to
raise the wages of their employees 10
the standard Of manufacturer out
side the association.
This Is the stand of the labor eic-
nent. this evening. ana this. members
If tn Textile Council claim. WIFI br
The attitude of the operatives lii the
mass meetings Friday night ii thu
mill men do not agree. In the meantime.
upon an advance similar to that Jf-
fered by Matthew Borden. Mil men
are playing a waiting game and pro
pose To let the operatives take the neXt
step.
The Iron Works plant Is Ii. largest
concern in the city and consists Of four
large mills with total Of 226ul spin
dies. II gives employment to nearly
5000 hands.
The members Of the Textile Council
have asked the manufacturers for a
conference upon this new phase of tho
prior to the mass meetings Of
Friday night. They hesitate to ~ be-
f"re the operatives at that time with
the recommendation previously adopt
ga at the last meeting Of the council.
They say that at that same meeting it
was voted that, should the owner Of
the Iron Works mill give an increase
of 10 per cent. demand for that
amount be made on the members of
the Manufacturers ASS )cialion This
was d3re because the operatives had
aske d for a IL per cent. raise and 70"
the reason that President Borden had
previously been very generous to his
employees and seemed willing that they
should share in the earnings Of the
plant.
Leaving The mill, tonigkl the senti-
ment Of the operatives might bc *
pressed in the remark Of 4 well-knoWn
weaver: we 10 not propose to nc
rept the increase now that tnr Iron
Works employees will get 10 per cent
No man will dare to rise in the mass
meeting. Friday night. and declare
himself in favor of working on lower
bases of wages than 5000 men and wo-
men in another section of the city. We
Will strike first
This leaves the situation in such a
''itS tIil Il ~ per cent. INNdDCt must
BE- given to all mill employees here or a
general strike may follow.
Manufacturers refuse to talk con
,erning the new phase which the wage
question has taken. They say that
hey viii await the action Of the opera
ives. The 70 per cent. advance offered |
~ Matthew Borden will cause renewed |
agitation for the full increase asked |
or throughout New England. If Fail |
River employees get the larger increase !
)r fight until they get it. the mill help |
n ether cities will also get it cr fight |.
The belief prevails here, this evening, |
hat there will be no necessity of a !
strike, and that the manufacturers will |
)e compelled to yield to the inevitable |
md acknowledge the leadership Of Mr.. |
Borden. who has on two previous oc-
'aSiOns compelled the Manufacturers |
Association to step in his tracks
Print cloths are stated on reliable |
authority to be as high as 81 cents
or regular makes and 4 rs cents for
vide goods. Had prints been quoted at
heSe figures, last week before the
conference. it is no secret that the
Textile Council should have r. fused to
ign the agreement recommending a ;
'er cent raise and the final adoption
# sliding scale.