Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-14
Strike Hearing Before State
Board Continued, Monday.
Big Demonstration Of Textile Opera
Y 1 lives in Streets Of City.
Thousands Participated in Parade and
Listened to Speakers.

lions which was continued in City hall
by the members of the state board of
Cancellation and arbitration. At one
time it was thought the hearing would
be adjourned after a short session as
many of the textile officials proposed
to take part in the demonstration, but
the members of the board were of the
opinion, this morning, that the progress
of the inquiry should not be interfered
with. 1t was expected that those at
tending the hearing would have an OPP
portunity to inspect the line of march
ers during the recess for lunch.
1t is announced that the work of in
speeding the treasurers books by ex-
perts at Boston will be taken up at
orce. 1t is thought some of the treas
urers will be kept in Boston when this
work is undertaken in order to explain
their methods of keeping accounts, etc.
When the hearing adjourned, Friday,
VIM. w. Southworth. agent of the Mas
sachusetts corporation and secretary of
the Lowell Agents Association, was on
the stand undergoing cross-examination
at the hands of Counsel McVey of the
Textile Council. The examination of
Mr. Southworth was not completed.
The attendance when the hearing was
called to order at IL o'clock was small,
not all the seats being filled. Agents
John Pead of the Merrimack, South
worth of the Massachusetts, Council of
the fremont and Suffolk, were in the
seats occupied by the mill interest, but
no treasurers were present, due to the
investigation of the books by experts
at the Boston offices.
At the start. President Conroy Of the
Textile Council, addressing Chairman
Reed. requested that in view of the OPP
eratives' parade. this afternoon, the
hearing be adjourned at noon for the
day.
Counsel Dunbar for the mill agents,
said his clients We're anxious for the
hearing to be carried as expeditiously
as possible. The manufacturers want
ed as thorough an investigation as pos
sible in order that it could be shown
that the mills could not afford to pay
10 per cent. advance.
Attorney McVey objected to "any
sermonizing' but Mr.. Dunbar was per-
United to continue. After a discussion
lasting half an hour, it was decided to
adjourn at 1890 until 8.
The cross-eXamination of Agent
Southworth was then resumed by Mr..
McVey.
Mr.. Southworth was questioned at
length, concerning the Dwight and
Chicopee mills in Chicopee. Messrs. Z.
jefferson Coolidge, George p. Gardiner,
Arthur 7. Lyman of Boston, and other
officials of Lowell mills are directors
of the mills in Chicopee. Mr.. McVey
endeavored to learn if identity in direc-
torship tended to harmonic conditions,
such as competition and nature of pro-
duction. Mr.. Southworth could not see
that this had anything to do with the
question of operating the mills. He
could trace no connection between
Identical dictatorship and the question
of wages. 1t did not alter in any way
the character of the product of the re-
spective mills. If all the directors OF
the Lowell and Chicopee Mills were tho
same, it would make no difference.
Mr.. McVey wanted to know what Mr.
Southworth's salary was.
1.-THE experts who are examining the
treasurers books will find it, was his
reply.
Mr.. Southworth in replying to an
other question said he had never heard
the selling agents had any connection
with the mill management. He was
not aware that the selling agents
books were to be examined by the
boards experts.
The wage scale of the Massachusetts,
Company was based on that in exist
nee in 1899. A percentage system In
hanging wages was employed at that
time, but the amount of receipts or how
the accounts of the mills in Boston
stood were not known by Mr.. South
worth who became agent at that time.
There were piece prices for weaving
and what weaver earned depended on
ability. Wages paid a weaver so to rs
per cent. and possibly 100 on the same
kind of goods.
Wages were last fixed on general
scale in December, 1899. New prices on
certain lines of goods had been made
from time to time. e
Mr.. McVey asked If cotton combine
fixed wages. did they not fix other
things?" Mr.. Southworth replied that
If the attorney referred to selling prices
the treasurer of mill arranged those.
Mr.. Southworth said it did not follow
that cheap cotton meant high wages or
increased profits as purchasers of cot
ton goods were sharp and quick to take
advantage of a drop in cotton while
higher cotton prices have to be called
to the good buyers attention. When
the raw material advanced goods did
not increase at the same ratio. |
Mr.. Southworth when asked what he |
thought the effect would be of the WHIP
ing out of the selling agents, jobbers |
and distributors and the adoption of a
plan whereby the mills sold direct to
the consumer. said 1T is not my bust |
ness to discuss that He thought the |
mills could pay more wages with cot
ton at five cents than they could with |
cotton at 10.
There was a very small attendance |
when the afternoon session was begun. |
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