Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-19
IN SESSION.
Continued from page -


experienced: while many reasons have
been advanced as to the cause of the
depression. my opinion is that the prin-
cipal cause may be traced to two
sources. one being the short crop of
raw material and the other. the one
that should engage the attention of all
who are in any way dependent on in
dustry for "a livelihood, viz: The wild
speculation and obnoxious gambling
that is continually practiced by those
who seem to have no regard for the
terrible suffering that is brought about
and the hunger and want that thou
sands of innocent people have to en-
dure, through such nefarious and in
my opinion criminal operations If
some of these who devote so much time
and labor in trying to stop other forms
of gambling would bend their efforts
in this direction they would be accom-
plishng Il more useful and human
work.
"In order to meet this depression in
our industry the manufacturers have
tried many remedies: millions Of spin
dies have been idle from time to time
and iii consequence those whose wages
are not very large at the best of times
have been sorely tried during the pc
riod of curtailment. Nevertheless we
are at all times willing to share part
Of the burden, providing the plans
adopted will tend in the course of
time to bring about some relief.
Our contention is that in order to
bring about a demand for goods. that
there is already an over abundance of,
yon must curtail its production. I'm
fortunately some of those who are in
the position of manager of the indus
try are SO short sighted and have such
poor conception as to the right rem
edy that they can never see any other
course to pursue than to lower the
wages of the poorly paid help. We
have never known o: single instance
as yet where such a foolish remedy has
ever been successful.
THE work of thoroughly organizing
the textile workers of the country
should demand our serious considera-
ton and discussion
There is no industry in the countr,
where the field is 50 large or where or
San!zltion is 50 much needed as our own
Another matter must engage our serious
attention either now or in the near future
and that is to find the best methods of
reaching our foreign born brothers and
sisters who work with us in the mills
and. not being able to speak the English
language, understand very little in re-
gard to the benefits to be derived from
being members of their respective unions
believe that from time to time We should
adopt the same rlai. that has been sue
cessfuily carried out by many of our sis
ter unions and place men in the field VIII.
can expound the prir ciples of trade unious
In their own language.
Thc South is often pointed out to us
in regard to its long hours and low stan
dard of wages. While many believe that
the Southern operatives cannot be
brought in line. | firmly believe that in
course of time. with that spirit Of indie
lendenCc and courage that he has dis
played on many former occasions he will
see way of organizing.
Our Northern manufacturers whenever
they desire to reduce warges or increase
the hours of labor, raise the tine-Worn
cry Of Southern competition. The great
trouble with our textile manufacturers III
They have never tried to get away from
each other as 1t were. They have not
diversified their product as they ought
menced her mill building a few years ago.
the Northern mill man made no prepara-
ton for branching out. In many IN
StdUCeS WHetl ne ulQ DtSln TO renew MS
old machinery he looked around for the
chearest machinery that could be oper-
ated by the cheapest kind of help. with
the result that millions of yards of fine
fabrics are imported into this country
to supply the demand. The craze for
cheap machinery adm cheap help must be
abandoned.
The greatest struggle that the United
Textile Workers of America have ever
heen involved In is now taking place in
the city of Fall River. Mass. Ali honor
able means We're tried to avert a con-
f'ict, even to submitting to a proposition
made by the state board of arbitration
to postpone action for two weeks pending
a settlement. the mill agents refusing to
accede to the proposition. The rail Riv-
er people have put up {, splendid fight
earning the respect of all classcst of the
community for the peaceable and law
abiding manner in which they have CON
Quoted themselves under the most trying
circumstances. not ore single incident
having occurred that would reflect dis
credit either on the unions or their mem
hers