The Portland daily press., 1900-09-01
Will Probably Go Into
Effect Sept. II.
The Opposition Comes From
Makers of Fine Goods.

Fan River, Mass, August 8l.-Ihe
movement for the reduction of wages OF
Fall River operatives gains ground from
lay to day, and it is thought will go into
sfect September II, If a sufficient num-
Der of mill treasurers sign the agreement
which is being quietly passed around
binding them to the terms of the cut
down plan. Although it is certain that
bhe reduction plan has been agreed to by
the selling committee of the manufactur-
ers association, the report still lacks con-
Rrmation from that committee.
Wage reduction is being given the pref
Brence, in consideration over plan for
the curtailment. 1t is thought the latter
plan viii be followed, as matter of fact,
however, if business does not improve.
1t is also considered probable that If the
reduction is put into effect as stated,
September II, according to present
Indications shut down OF all mills en-
tering the agreetment VIII be made neces-
sary through the action of labor organ1-
cations, The labor leaders of the city,
who repre- sent the prevailing sentiment
among the 25,O 900 operatives who will be
affected by the decrease In wages, do not
hesitate to say that they Will favor resist
ing the manufacturers plan.
Manufacturers admit freely that what
ever they expected to derive from their
plan, has been lost through the wide
spread publicity given the contemplated
reduction scheme They hoped to carry
~ +t,,o,,rb -ooro+I,7 q nd mt IL into oDopa-
tion without opposition The report Of
the plan has had bad effect upon buyers
who are keeping out of the market now
in the hope of even lower prices and in
consequence the print cloth market is
very quiet and dull.
The opposition to the plan to cut wages
comes from the manufacturers of fine
goods. They are, at present, engaged
upon contracts which were made at
figures yielding good profits. They fear
that these contracts would be cancelled in
event of lower wage scale and stock
holders would lose money. Members of
the selling committee claim that manu-
facturers in surrounding cities, New
Bedford, Taunton, Lowell, Lawrence and
Rhode Is land towns, are able to outsell
them because they are not paying wages
equal to the Fall River standard. In or
der to do business on a paying basis they
must get down to the 18 per cent basis
for weaving regular 64x64's. There is but
one reason for the underselling dons by
outside points and that is their labor
costs them less.
The decision of the selling to
attack the wage scale is the result of ma
ture deliberation. They have decided up
on the plan because they feel that it must
come sooner or later, and their business
judgment tells that conditions demand
the re-adJustment of wages now. If the
selling committees recommendation is
not accepted by the manufacturers for
whom they act, it may result in the with
drawing from ths committee of many Of
Its powers. This would bring about a
rupture in the present arrangements for
selling the production of Fall River
mills. If the movement which has gained
SO much headway looking towards the
postponement of the cut down and the re-
newal of the curtailment plan prevails
the %, 900 operatives affected by any
change in the wage scale here may be In
duced to accept without conflict reduc-
tion later in the fall, when it has finally
become apparent that market conditions
necesitate such radical action.