Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-28
GRANITE CUTTERS
Will Stop Work, Tonight,
Throughout the Country
10 Enforce Their Demand for SO
Minimum for 8-Hour Day.
Association Fe'uses DEM nd-Some Films
Will Yield-9thers Will Stand Out.

day, in the finishing sheds of the Hall
DWELL Granite Works. Two months
ago, there were from $50 to 200 men
a work and the reduction in the force
has been general from that time to the
present, no work being commenced
which obviously could not be finished
before the expiration Of the contract
bill of prices at midnight. Feb. 81.
Work has been rushed within the past
few days. extra time being secured BY
4 night crew.
The new bill Of prices calls for an
S-hour day and minimum wage rate
If 81. the bill for piece work being fig
urcd on the same per cent. increase.
To sum up the situation briefly the
New England Granite Manufacturers
Association, Of which the Hallowell
Granite Works is a member. voted t.
refuse the demands Of the Granite cut
ters' National Union.
1t is estimated that more than 1000
granite cutters throughout New Eng
land will suspend work on the first Of
March. and their action will probably
throw more than 1000 other Workmen
out of employment
According to members Of the New
England Granite Manufacturers AssO-
citation. the trade will not stand the in
creased prices for granite made neces-
sary if the demands of the union
should be acceded to.
1t is rumored that several large con-
Germs nave already notified the officers
of the union of their intention to pay
the bill Of prices and grant the N-hour
day. Color is lent to this rumor by the
knowledge possessed by some of the
workmen that the selling agents of
certain concerns have been instructed
TO increase their private prices to the
amount that it would require to adopt
the new bill of prices.
While the men are demanding an adj
vance of wages to So per day. this
amount. ii is understood. is on an aV-
erage of 30 cents per day less than the
wages in the South and West Of the
New England district
In the Southern and Western states
there will probably be no suspension Of
work as all Of the employers have sig
ntied their intention to sign the bill
as presented by the organization of
their employees
There are about 1900 members of tn"
organization employed in Barre. VT,
and in the event that the manufacture
ers agree to the bill of prices before
tonight. these men Will continue at
work Under the same conditions the
Quincy and Boston men Will remain
at their places. but unless an agree
ment is reached. which agreement in
cIudes 81 per day for s hours work.
tomorrow night. will witness the clos
ing down of the yards ard shutting up
IF sheds.
THE brightest outlook in the trade
says a Boston authority. lis that the
employees, of whom
there are considerable in the New
England states. will not abide by the
vote of the New England Granite
Manufacturers Association and Will
agree to the bill Of prices by t"mnr- |
row night or Thursday morning"
Secretary James Duncan. by order Of |
the National Union committee. says:
You referring to the n. f. Ass pci- |
atom aver our scale of prices will pre- |
vent the manufacture of granite. The |
statement is at variance with practical |
knowledge Of the trade. and we are sur |
prised that members of your association |
should say 50. Thousands Of our mem |
bers are now and have been employed |
south and west of the New England !
states at a higher rate than we offer !
Your association. and. instead Of hay |
ing stopped the manufacture of gran |
tie. there is more Of it beng cut than |
ever before in our history.
1T is wei known that our wages |
: loYo aN-
age at least $3.50 per day Of eight hours |
ana as our proposition to your asso-
citation is So and eight hours for COM
petent men it is evident the members
Of YOUR association are not satisfied |
with q monopoly Of the trade ana u
wage rate Of a half-dollar per day less
than prevails elsewhere. but desire %
force the journeymen under the iuris-
LECTION of your association to work for
1 still lesser rate.
Were we to arrange a $3.50 per day
rate for New York. Pennsylvania, New
Jersey. Delaware, Maryland and Nir-
rinia. after having declared for S3,
your association would be the first to
brand our action as unfair; So vice
Ioes not become n virtue because prac-
iced in New England
"A signed statement of the attitude
If some in your association shows that
he most of the employers who desire
10 resist our wage scale are either
firms union men will not at present
york for. or have little work on hand
ma are taking advantage Of their con-
racts being completed, to try to coerct
into accepting lower
wage rate than has been decided upon.
employers who have plenty Of work,
who foresee that plenty will come their
vay. and who do not desire to nave
Z diverted from its present channels,
awe informed us they do not propose
IN allow unsuccessful competitors to
interfere with their business and Will
,ccept the proposed rate. The situa-
ion therefore, prompts us to the con-
.lueion that unless you offer something
~ fair settlement we do not see
vbat advantage could be gained by
liking another vote simply on your
negative statement.
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