The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-10-27
THE GREAT DEAL
OF A GREAT MAN.
How n. C. r. Borden, the "Calico
Hing" Bought 1900 Yards
OF Cotton and Saved a CITY.

Matthew c. D. Borden, the head o
the largest cotton manufacturing bust
ness in the world, has again proved
himself the friend Of labor.
By purchasing 500, 900 pieces of cottor
goods at 2 IS cents he has foiled a con.
spiracy to reduce wages. averted {
strike and saved an entire community
from undeserved disaster.
This is not the first time thai "the
Calico King" has appeared as the
champion Of the toilers against his
Observation-Disclosures.
In 1891 he cleared out a glutted mar
ket and saved 1000 mill hands from
idleness and famine by buying $50, 900
pieces of cotton goods.
In February, 1897. he repeated the op-
Grafton. This time he took the entire
stock held by the Fall River mills
1901 900 pieces-and paid 81. 900, 900 for it.
The effect on the market was an active
demand at advanced prices. What ap-
pealed most to Mr.. Borden was the eff
feet on labor-3,5 500. goo spindles working
full time instead of half time.
In November. 1899. Mr.. Borden again
startled New England by compelling
his fellow-manufacturers to advance
wages 10 per cent. He had tried his
usual remedy Of buying a large block
Of goods. but his rivals had baked him
by delaying the completion of the deal.
Determined that the army of wage
earners should suffer no longer, and
that all talk of a strike should cease.
he voluntarily granted the advance Of
10 per cent. to the 1000 hands employed
In his own enterprises-the Fall River
Iron Works and Cotton Mills. and the
American Print Company's works.
Only a month passed before the other
manufacturers of cotton goods. much
to their disgust, were compelled to fol-
low suit.
Fall River alone gained s25, 1000 a week
in wages by Mr.. Borden's action. and
throughout New England not less than
100. 900 operatives were made prosperous
and happy.
AvERTED A STRIKE.
And now. in 1900. the Calico King
has won another victory for labor.
Again the cotton goods market was in
a perilous condition. Again the mill
owners were threatening to cut wages.
and the hands were preparing to strike.
New England seemed on the eve of an
industrial cataclysm.
Mr.. BOruen's purcnase OF oSv,y y
pieces Of cotton goods at a total price
of 500. 900 relieves the mills of over
produced goods and stimulates the mo-
market into activity.
Whal questioned by a reporter Of
this newspaper in reference TO his re-
cent big purchase. Nj. Borden replied:
Il want to keep my people employed.
My whole record is evidence OF that,
and it is gratifying indeed if the tran
saCtion will have that result. But IT'S
n business venture. 1 may nht max. a
dollar, and 1 may have to ACCEPT a
loss,
"Of course 20 1000 pieces per week are
not sufficient to prevent o.erproduc-
ton permanently. l must market these
goods sooner or later. Fall River pro-
duces about $50. 900 pieces of cotton
goods of all kinds weekly. so you see l
am only taking w weeks output. In
distributing 1t over twenty-five weeks.
however, 1 have hoped to take up most
of the overplus.
Our mills are going at present, and /
hope We shall be able to continue"
With which modest words the Cal
leo King" dismissed the subject of his
Immense boon to labor.