Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-11
HEARING ON.
State Arbitrator Continue In
quiry at Lowell.
Textile Workers Represented by
President Robert F. Conroy.
Agent SouthWorth of Massachusetts
Mills Principal Witness.

the textile industry in Lowell now be-
ing conducted by the members of the
state board of Cancellation and arbitra-
ton appeared at the City hall hearing
room, Friday forenoon, neither side
seemed to be any more enthusiastic
concerning the practical effect of the
inquiry, than they were at Thursday s
brief proceedings. Before the assembly
was called to order the members of the
Textile Council executive committee
conferred and went over the situation
at some length. While they are will
ing to assist the members of the state
board in getting at any facts not in
their possession already, the operatives
admit that they expect no good to come
of the investigation.
The manufacturers attitude on the
surface appears to be much the same
as that of the union leaders.
Before the hearing, there was some
informal talk in the City hall corridors
regarding report that the mills might
be opened, Monday, thus in a measure
tending to shut off part of the inquiry
1t is thought, however, that notwith-
standing the many rumors, the treas
urers will not decide to open the cloth
mills at this time.
Just before the hearing was called to
order at II o'clock, the mill representa-
tives stated that no meeting of lne
treasurers had been held as reported
Thursday night, and that there was no
intention of attempting to start the
mills on Monday.
The hearing was largely attended
Friday, by operatives and their friends
it having been understood that the
Textile Council would participate in the
proceedings. Pres. Robert F. Conroy OF
the council informed the board that
the council had authorized the execu-
tive committee to appear and he re-
quested that a stenographic report OF
the proceedings be furnished. 1t was
arranged that the state stenographel
would furnish copies to each side.
The mills were more fully represented
than Thursday, all of them having
treasurers or agents present. Among
those in attendance who were not here
Thursday, were Treasurer Cumnock OF
the Appleton mills, and w. S. South
worth, agent of the Massachusetts mills
and head of the agents association.
The operatives We're represented by
counsel, Edward d. McVey and Atty
Osgood.
After Pres. Conroy had stated thai
the attitude of the operatives was pure
ly pacific, Mr.. McVey said he thought
there was no reason why the operatives
should go ahead with the hearing for
the reason that prima facie case was
admitted by them first. Counsel con-
tended that as Fall River and New
Bedford paid higher wages than Lo-
well, the operatives here were justified
in striking for. more pay. 1t seemed tC
remain for the manufacturers to eX-
plain why they had not granted the de-
mand, added Mr.. McVey, and convince
the board that the operatives were
wrong.
Counsel Dunbar arose at this point
and stated that wages in Lowell were
rs high as in Fall River and New Bed
ford, while the product was not the
same. What some one else does, he
says, however, did not have a bearing
here, for wages We're as high as the
mills can afford.
Mr.. McVey for the operatives here
scored the first point in the hearing.
He quoted from a statement made by
Agent Southworth at a conference be-
tween the agents and the Textile Coun.
ell, wherein Mr.. Southworth in reply
ing to the assertion that the mills OF
Fall River and New Bedford paid
higher wages than the Lowell mills,
was quoted as saying: I'VE acknowl-
edge they do and what is the use of
discussing it."
Chairman Reed requested the parties
concerned to explain the history of the
trouble and Mr.. Southworth read from
previous statement of the agents in
which they said they could not afford
an advance.
Mr.. Southworth denied that there was
any combination of mill owners to control
the prices of goods or to keep down wages.
In Lowell there was an Understanding
among the agents regarding changes in
the wage lists such as was made apparent
at the conference with Textile Council
delegates
Attorney Mcyey questioned Mr.. South
worth at length concerning the selling
agency for the Massachusetts Company
and its methods.
He knew of no pooling arrangement
among the mills in their management. He
had never read the roster of the manage
ments of the Lowell mills. He had heard
mat Mr.. Lyman was president of the
Bigelow carpet mills, Boot, Massa chu-
sets mills, Massachusetts mills in Geor-
gia, fremont and Suffolk, and of the Pa
cihc Corporation, the latter being located
in Lawrence.
If Mr. Lyman was president of those
corporations. Mr.. Southworth thought it
would not mean controlling influence
lie did not think it tended to the pooling
OF issues. He did not know of any con-
nection between the MassachusettS-M er-
rick management and that of the Cocheco
mills of Dover, n. II. He did not know
who held the preponderance of stock in
the Massachusetts Company. The selling
agents had nothing to do with wages. He
had no authority to speak for the treas
urers of Lowell mills.
Regarding the future Of cotton manu-
featuring in Lowell Mr.. Southworth
thought it depended largely on the cotton
market. In word, the future was in the
hands Of the spectators. There was
nothing to justify promises regarding the
future.
He said there was nothing the Massa-
clusetts mills made but what met COM
petition.
Mr. Mcvey wanted to know how wages
were controlled.
by the condition of the market" was
the reply. 1.-The goods market in one case
and the labor market in another.
Later, Mr. Southworth said that mod
CONTINUED on page A.