Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-23
THE LOWELL STRIKE.
CONTINUED from page -


setting forth the contentious of botI
the operatives and the, manufacturers
the report goes on into the ecirc,iu-
stances" of the trouble. 1t saws the
present strike or lockout WIS the re-
suit Of movement which began i'm
March, 1902. On the 18TH of that montl:
the Lowell Textile Council demanded
an increase of 10 per cent. in the pres
ent wage scale. The agents answered
that {, 10 per cent. increase would
necessitata the closing of thermills. and
afte" an all night session held by the
citizens committee on March %, the
strike was declared eff, the impression
prevailing among the working people
that n promise had been made that in
course of time wages would be in
creased voluntarily under certain con-
Gitions. a.
The report continues: 'Thc claim for
an increase of 10 per cent. again took
form on the 25th of February, 1903, in
- letter from the Textile Council to
the agents, which stated that the fact
that the great industrial corporations
Ct the country had advanced the wages
Of their employees lin many cases vol
enjoying unbounded prosperity; and
that the cotton industry was no ex-
ception to the rule, was shown by the
Increased earnings of the Fall River
and. New. Bedford mills, the average
dividends in New Bedford being greater
by 800 per, cent. in 1902 than in 1901.
notwithstanding the fact that they had
increased the wages of their employees
in those cities 10 per cent. in the spring
of 1902.
i; Furthermore. that the. cotton mills
of this city had all declared dividends
during the year and that the cost of
living had increased DIT least 25 per
cent. =, .r.. III,
A joint reply to this letter was sent
to the Textile Council by the agents on
March IA, 1908, in which the agents
said; I'VE much regret the necessity
of again refusing XQur REQUEST for an
advance in wages, having hoped that
the conditions would Justify US in an
ticipating it. But the mills cannot af-
ford to grant it. r...3....t
We think the fact that the mills have
paid moderate dividends is not rea-
son, why they should take action likely
TO prevent their doing so hereafter.
A review of the conference, between
the mill agents and the committee of
the Textile Council is gwen in the re-
port. .. .. r.,
The substance of the conferences is
that the repre- sentatiNeS of the council
made reference to the conditions of the
agita ton a year ago, made. state
ment as to the dividends paid, touched
upon the increased &C IT of living and
stated the earnings of some of the
work people in New 3thfbi'd. They all
SO quoted the price Of goods With a
view, of showing the advance which
had been made. The agHhts1 cited the
between Lowell conditions
and those prevailing in cases cited by
the Council and repeated their refusal
to grant the advance chiefly on the
ground that the mills could not afford
To grant the increase which would
amount to 6 per. cent on. the capital
stock. ~ -at
The report then reviews the circum-
stances Of its connection with the
strike. At the solicitation Of the mayor
OF Lowell; tells of the, conference ar
ranged between the national officers Of
the Textile, Union and the agents of the
cotton mills, which was without result
and incorporates letters from both par
ties declining to, act upon the boards
suggestion that the differences be sub
ntitted to the arbitration of some i'm
partial tribunal which should decide
the matter in accordance with the evil
dence submitted.
The report then comes to the details
Of the investigation made under. the
order introduced in the Legislature
authorizing the state board to do the
work
The report says it is evident that the
demand of the operatives for a 10 per
cent, advance in wages and the refu-
sal of the corporations to grant this
demand are the immediate causes of
the Strike in Lowell. The point at is
sue is as to whether the mills can af-
ford the desired increase The oper-
atives assert that they can The
agents reply that they have no profits
from which to pay larger wage In
proof the corporation consented to an
Xaniina ton of their books BY the
board. This examination has been
made by expert accountants of un-
questioned ability and integrity, sworn
to the service of the board
@ AS q result of this examination and
other Investigations made by the
board, the report says the board has
been unable to find any definite found
alton for the belief held by the oper-
atives that they were promised last
year a future increase in wages under
certain conditions; and that the claim
of the mills that they cannot afford to
increase wages is sustained, except in
the case OF the Lawrence Manufac-
turing Co. whose books show that this
company is able to pay the advance
demanded. 5lE
The claim of the operators that the
cost of living has been increased % per
cent is disposed of by a reference to
the report of the Massachusetts, bu-
reau of statistics and labor, which
shows that the cost of living, from 1897
I'd 1892 was increased 1887 per cent,
while during the same period the wages
of cotton mill employees were increased
an average of is per cent
The books. of the Massachusetts
mills shows the following increase in
wages since 1898: Picker men, strip
pers. etc, Is per cent; grinders. 20 per
cent; ring spinning fixers. 1862 per
cent .nula sninning fixerS LEA per