New-York tribune., 1901-08-16


prove of the methods employed by the asso-
citation mill owners.
STOP MAKING GOODS
ct think il there are too many goods the way
10 adjust the situation is to stop making goods
for a while. 1 don't think reducing the wages
of the operatives is going to reduce the quantity
Of goods. provided the men continue to work
What the mill owners Of Fall River should
do. if they have an overabundance of goods. Is
to look the situation squarely in the face ana
make fewer goods for while.
The operatives. I know. are perfectly willing
10 be laid off temporarily. They recognize the
truth of the situation just thoroughly as the
agents themselves It is unfortunate state
of affairs. but things must be taken as they
come.
with a surplus Of goods, the owners must
adopt the only means know of-to wait until
the demand equals the production. and then
manufacture only what is needed
aThe market is overstocked with that par
ttcuIar kind of material-print goods. There
is more than the people who use these goods
want for the time being
THE mill owners have proceeded in some
what unusual manner. by announcing far in ad-
vance a proposed cut in wages. The object, il
seems to me- is to produce strike among the
operatives and IN that manner accomplish a
eurtaiIment Of goods
DOESN'T APPROVE 1T.
Personally 1 don't approve OF this way OF
doing business It would be far better. more
businesslike and manly. to meet the issue
souareIv. Law the case before the men and ex-
plain the necessity for temporary lay-or-
The men are honest and have. believe. the
best interests of their employers at heart and
would be willing to accept such a condition
philosophicaIly and in manner behtting SEN
sible men.
My part Of the business is small and I don't
imagine it makes any material difference to
anybody how I run it, But I am not willing TO
admit that such a condition could prevail in my
mills. If our goods become burdensome wa
unload them mighty quick
I'VE have a great advantage in this respect.
however. In connection with our manufacture
ing plant we have print works. We manu-
facture the gray goods and print them our
selves, after which they ready for the con-
sTmer- The other mills have print works.
They depend on the printers 70 buy their goods.
and it is not always possible to find printer
ready and willing 10 relieve them OF their sur
plus stock.
Mr. Borden has on more than one occasion
adjusted differences which have arisen between
the mill owners and their employees In 1898
when the labor leaders advised the accentance
OF a per cent decrease, he posted in his mills
a notice Of 10 per cent Increase thus obliginS
all other manufacturers to follow his example.
BIG PURCHASE TO KEEP MEN WORKING.
In September 1900. Mr.. Borden made sensa-
tional purchase OF five hundred thousand pieces.
Of print CLOTH at a total outlay OF $75OOOO. at a
time when the cotton market was in an unset
tied condition 1t was the general belief at tho
time that the purchase was made to prevent a
threatened reduction OF wages in the cotton
mills.
On February s. 1897. there was talk Of a re-
duction of wages throughout New England cot
ton manufacturing cities. II was agreed that
3. 500 900 spindles in Fail River alone should re-
main idle several days In each week for thirteen
weeks. so as TO ease the Overcrowded market.
Mr.. Borden stepped in and bought 100000 pieces
Of print cloth at GIG cents. This cleared FAN
River. and the tension was broken.
In 1887 Mr.. Borden became the sole owner OF
the American Printing Company's works. which
are among the largest OF their kind In the world
These printing works required so much imprinted
cotton cloth TO keep them running that in 1889
Mr.. Borden proceeded 70 buiad cloth mills OF his
own in FAN River
He erected and equipped three large mills for
spinning yarns and weaving them into cloth
and thus. in large measure, became indepeRd-
ent OF the open market The plant so estab-
shed called the FAN River Iron Works