Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-12
A GENERAL CUT
Continued from page ~

\SoheHucu lTOIu page L.
considering a further curtailment and
II Is possible that some of the mills
VIII have to stop their machinery, re-
CARELESS of the lowering of the cost of
production which would follow a cut
in the pay roll.
The mills of Fall River. New Bed
ford, Rhode Island and those at numer-
Gus points in central and western Mas
sachusetts, together with mills in east
ern Connecticut. made a general adj
vance in wages early in 1902. Their
action was met, however, by the cot
ton mills of northern New England,
and it is not considered probable that
the impending attack on the pay roll
in southern New England will have any
direct effect in the industry further
north. 1t was this extra advance in
wages that led to the great strike in
Lowell last spring. The Lowell oper-
atives demanded the Fall River sched-
ule, but the manufacturers there de-
clined to accede to the request.
In this city about so mills, employing
over $1,000 men, and owned by 40 corpora
tons, are represented in the notices post
ed on the mill gates. The Fall River
Iron Works Co.. operating four large mills
and which are owned by M. c. D. Borden
of New York. are net in the Fall River
Manufacturers Association and what ac-
ton Mr. Borden will take in the situation
is not known here.
Most of the local mills make print cloths
and coarser goods, although a few of
them are engaged in the manufacture of
fine goods. The market for regulars has
been stagnant for many weeks. with the
demand mainly of hand-to-mouth char
acter. The high price for cotton has p D
hibited mill men from carrying much re- "
material and purchases of late have not
been heavy.
The mills in other sections of southern
New England follow the Fall River
schedule as closely as possible and it is
understood that similar action will be
taken. The mills at New Bedford employ
about 10000 hands, those in Rhode Island
and eastern Connecticut about $4,000, and
those elsewhere which raised wages when
the manufacturers here did in 1902, en-
ploy from 10000 to $1,000.
1t was learned, this afternoon that the
reduction was decided upon at a confer
ence of Fall River men in Boston, Nov.
2. The whole affair was in the hands of
the executive committee of the Fall River
Manufacturers Association and the labor
secretaries of that body No general
meeting of the association was calico NJ.
c. d. Borden, not being a member of the
association. was not consulted. The no
tice given is shorter than is usually made,
but this, it is stated, is due to the ex-
icencies of the occasion.
John Golden, president of the United
Textile Workers of America, expressed
himself, today, as much surprised at
the announcement of the new schedule.
He said he had heard many rumors re-
Gently but had not believed that the
manufacturers would really cut the
wages of the operatives. He had
thought that the manufacturers had
long since learned that such a proceed
ure would be futile and the result far
from satisfactory.
He added: Il believe q reduction in
wages always reacts unfaVOrably upon
the manufacturers. 1t is hard to tell
what their help will do. The operatives
have struggled along after having
endured hardships and privatlons nee
essitated by the curtailment made in
different mills, and if a cutdoWn is
forced upon them now it may serve to
embitter them and call forth strenuous
action"
Mr.. Golden said he appreciated the
condition of the cotton market, but he
could not see how the cutting of wages
would help matters, as it would have a
tonIanpy 10 e l>tl,
not to strengthen the market. With
prices down and the market dull manu-
facturers, he said, would be in almost
identically the same position that they
now occupy and so might argue that a
further reduction would be the only re-
lief for the new situation. He said he
had not been formally notified of the
action of the mill agents, but that
meeting of the emergency committee
and also the Textile Council will be
held soon.
There will hardly be time for the
usual formalties on the part of the
operatives before the new wage scale
goes into effect. When matters of this
sort come up the Textile Council meets
and the members suggest that action be
taken by the individual unions. After
the unions have met and taken action
the Textile Council reconvenes and
carries out the wishes of the ma iority
as expressed by vote of the different
union. In this instance it is likely that
special meetings will be held and even
then it is doubtful if definite action by
the operatives can be reached before
November %, at which time the new
schedule will become operative.
1t is estimated that the reduction in
wages will cost the operatives in this
city something over $4,000 weekly This
amount covers the loss to operatives
in all the cloth mills, including the Iron
Works. but does not include the Globe
yarn. Kerr thread and Sanford Spin
ming mills.