The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-14
NOTICES OF
REDUCTION
OF WAGES
AlVa Bean Posted In tho Mills
at Lonsda|s, WoonsOCkst,
MaIViIIs Ill J.llr Places.

OF the Lonsdale Cotton company this
morning
The letter Is directed TO E. A. Mongeon,
superintendent OF the Lonsdale company.
'In notifying the operatives OF our
mills OF a reduction TO take place on the
3Oth inst, we think Il best TO aequaint
them with the causes which have led US
to a decision naturally distasteful to
them. In reaching this agreement with
the cotton manufacturers in Fall River,
New Bedford and In our own state we
have endeavored to act with a just re-
gard to our obligations to our own oper-
atives.
No wanton exercises OF power and no
Ill considered opinion are the causes
which make a reduction I'm wages a condi-
tion OF the continuous employment of la
Dor In our mills have influenced our opin-
ION In April, 1902, we followed the move
ment for an advance In wages which be-
ginning in Fall River extended 10 New
Bedford and many Rhode Island mills
This advance OF wages was not, however
made ny the great corporation in Lowell
and other parts of Massachusetts, and
northern New England, and its effect was
therefore to secure to our operatives an
advantage for year and q half or or
10 per cent over those employed In mills
which refused to join US in raising wages
and also to place every mill that did ad-
vance at a corresponding disadvantage
with respect TO the cost OF production.
IL the margin between the cost OF max.
ing a yard of cotton cloth and the price
at which IT can be converted into money
Is sufficient to yield moderate profit.
manufacturers are usually slow to resort
to reduction In wages in order TO se-
cure for the employees uninterrupted oc-
cupations and for themselves at moderate
profit in place OF probable loss.
The condition which today faces US is
the price of cotton which has so increased
the cost OF manufactured goods that II is
difficult TO see how we can continue 20
give full employment to our operatives
without reducing wages to the standard
of those mills that for over a year ard
half have paid lower wages than those
paid by us.
Even with the contemplated reduction
and equalization of wages II is believed
by us that the earnings of the operatives
In the employ of the Lonsdale comp my
will favorably compare with those paid
by other mills throughout New Eng
land.
The second condition is the refusal of
the market to responded to even sug-
gestion in the increased price IN the cotton
goods. We cannot forecast the future
with accuracy, but II seems clear TO us
that it's destiny is an alarming cost OF
the raw material and totally inadequate
response for the price OF cotton fabrics
Among obvious causes which contri-
butte TO an apathy i'm the market for cot
e goods which has prevented us from
marketing more than quarter OF our
VN4IN fn tla frsp.. a tNsaN
number OF unemployed wage workers In
the United States.
GODDARD BROTHERS.
A CUT AT wooNsoCKET.
The Social Nourse and Globe mills of
Woonsocket and the Manville mill in
Manvlle all owned by the Manvile COM
nouncing reduction on an average basis
Of ten per cent beginning November 30
this morning, affecting 1900 hands.
A similar announcement was made at
the Clinton company mill in Woonsocket
About GOO operatives are effected.
At the Eagle mill, which employs about
450 persons. and at the Forestdale mill
employing about $50. no announcement
has yet been made but reduction was
expected I'm each place next week
The Blackstone mill In Blackstone
Mass. employing about 700 operatives,
also made an announcement Of 10 per
cent. decrease.
Nearly all the mills in the state will
be affected by the cut.
REDUCTION AT NEW BEDFORD.
New Bedford. Mass, Nov. 14-Notices
cloth mills of the city. giving notice that
beginning Dec. Z. 1903, there would be
return TO the schedule OF wages which
prevailed prior to April 1902.
10 fc gffr nf fn
cent in wages on the present schedule.
The yarn mills are not affected by the
change. and the schedule OF wages whicn
will be I'm force Dec. places the cloth
mills on the same footing with the yarn
vance Of 1903
Robert knight. who controls mills In
two tates, Joined with the other manu-
facturers in making the change at his
mills In Providence. Woonsocket. Fiske-
Vile. Arctic Natick River Point, Pontiac,
Hebronville. Dodgevllle, Readville and
Manchaug i'm Massachusetts. Mr. knight
employs COCO hands.
Most individual mills at various points
throughout Rhode Island will follow the
lead of the larger manufacturers.
NOTICES AT BLACKSTONE.
Blackstone, Mass. Nov. n-Notlces
were posted today at the cotton mills OF
the Blackstone Manufacturing company,
odering 10 per cent cut down on Nov.
% These mills employ 700 hands.
Similar action Is expected at Whitns-
Vile. Saundersville Fiehervllle. Hnwood.
North Uxhridge and other points
throughout the Blackstone Valley
CUT AT WARREN
Notices were posted in the Parker mill
OF the Warren Manufacturing company
this morning announcing that a similar
reduction TO that made by other mills
In Rhode Island would be made in the
wage scale on the 90th inst.
The NanQuit cotton min. which has
been closed since the first OF last July
Is not expected TO reopen az the new wage
basis on account of the high price OF
cotton The Nanquit mill manufactured
print cloth.
SLATER CoMPANY's REDUCTION.
The Slater Cotton company Of Paw
tucket this noon posted announcement
OF a 10 per cent reduction In wages 90
commence November 20. The company