Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-23
WOODEN STRIKE.
Treas.Wood of American Wool
en- Co. Makes Statement.
Claims Weayers Have Not the Slight
est Grounds for Striking.
Better Paid, With Better Work Than
at Any Other Mills.

Andover, Mass. April 22.-Treasurer
| William NJ. Wood OF the American
| Wooden CO.. upon arrival at his home
here, tonight, after visiting several OF
! the mills Of the company during the
day, upon being pressed for a reply by
! The Associated Press, said that ne
| kneW nothing whatever regarding the
rumored offer Of Senator Marcus a.
Hanna's services as arbitrator to the
strike leaders at Providence.
! He said: Il feel very well satisfied
with the gain the company has made
lin OIncyvillc and I am debating
whether or not to publish periodically
! the compauy's gain in looms. There -
gain every time the gates open and
! the management is satisfied, 50 far g"
| Omcyville ana the tW0-loom issue is
concerned. that the strike is practically
broken. The Washington mills issue is
not a tWo-loom issue at all, although
il runs all its looms, two looms to a
weaver. The weavers 10 not object to
two looms at the Washington mills, on
| The contrary they prefer it. They de-
~ md the abolition of the premium,
which is Il bonus in addition to the
tl'ti - ilt'iNii' tA'I-l " III H. A''NN'N.
cd rs an inc cutiyc for greater produc-
/ ton.
apparently the wcaVers wish to Sc
cure the extra allowance without tn"
effort Of earning it, and in it's place
they demand 70 per cent. increase to
the present schedule"
| Mr.. Wood further said that as far as
he could learn through public opinion
| in Lawrence and from his own knoWl-
edge, the Washington mills weavers
! nave not the first leg to stand on, or
any reasonable excuse for precipitating
strike. He said they have been ex-
| ceptionaily favored both as to steady
work and good wages, and the greater
portion Of them win admit it.
| Continuing. he said: "Thcre is absO-
| lutely nothing for them to gain by be
| ing out on this strike. We are paying
the highest wages of any textile mills
| in the Merrimack valley, particularly
| in this region. The company will, as
! it always has done, try to maintain the
| highest wages compatible with the con-
| ditions Of the business. The position. it
! has taken will be firmly adhered to.
| The company has stated it viii not
change it's rate and method Of payment
ofewages at this time. If the help are
wise they win return to work and save
| themselves and the community at large
much distress and idlcness.
TT would be Interesting if the opera
tives in the mills outside of the Ameri-
can Wooden co. on similar work would
compare their wages earned with those
Of the American Wooden Co. 1t would
! Han, ~, Il
them the most generously. The Ameri-
can Wooden Go. unsolicited, has raised
their wages, and this action has not
been followed by the outside mills.
Weavcrs in Olneyvile formerly in our
employ and now presumably on strike,
have obtained work at the outside
mills at reduced wages, running two
looms, showing very distinctly that if
there were any principles involved
they have been abandoned.
Intelligent inquiry among the best
weavers in Olneyville will show that
they not only do not object to two
loom work, but prefer it, and strange
as it may seem, many Of those who
have returned to US have entreated us
to excuse them from single loom work
and give them two looms, because they
can make more money thereby
There is no change in the Washing
ton mills strike, tonight. The weavers
who left their looms were in session.
this afternoon, for some time and ar
ranged various matters in connection
with the strike. No steps were taken
TO have another conference with the
mill mana cement. The strikers are de-
termined to hold out until the corpora
: ton is brought to terms.
Operations in the weaving depart
lment of the mills were practically sus-
pended this afternoon, and spinners
doffers and loom fixers were compelled
to quit work. The strikers claim thai
the few who remained at theiy loom:
were induced to do so for the reason
that the premiums soon fall due.