Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-24
IT IS CRITICAL.
Fall River Mills Refuse the
Requested Advance.
Textile Council Will Consider
the Question, Tonight.
Thought That Negotiations May Result
in a Compromise Scale.

Fall River, Mass, Oct 23.-The textile
situation, here, was more critical, to-
night, than it has been at any time
time since the close of the great strike
last January. The Manufacturers
Association, representing all the print
cloth mills in the city, with the excep-
ton of those controlled by NJ c. D.
Borden of New York, held Il special
meeting, this afternoon, and voted tC
refuse the request of the Textile Coun-
Gil that Il direct advance in wages to
the scale made previous to July %, 1901
be made. The refusal of the associa-
ton will be acted upon at IL special
meeting of the Textile Council, tomor-
row night, when it is probable that the
entire matter Will be referred to q SUec-
ial meeting Of all the unions repre-
scented in the council on the following
evening. Many of the best men fear
that another strike will be decided
upon by the union, but at this time it
is impossible to tell what action the
operatives will take.
The association, today, considered a
letter sent by the Textile Council, in
which the manufacturers proposition
was rejected and the request was made
that the full restoration be granted.
The plan of the Manufacturers Asso-
citation provided for q direct increase Of
per cent. and a profit-sharing plan.
The profits due the employees, to be
figured monthly Oh the market price of
cloth, which. however, must show at
least a margin over the cost of cotton
of 20 cents per cut. The present condi-
,NTt lN
plOyees about per cent, which, in adj
diti0n to the per cent, would make
total increase in wages of about IL
per cent. Opinions differ as to whether
this percentage would bring the wages
up to those paid prior to July, 1904,
when a 121a per cent reduction was
made.
The new plan of the manufacturers
went into effect, today, and no strike
occurred except at the Barnard mills.
where the ring-spinners remained
away. The ring-spinning room was
shut down.
At the six large mills of the Fall
River Iron Works, owned by Mr.. Bor-
den, the wage scale of 1904 was restored
i'll full.
The association was in session less
than an hour, today. The situation was
discussed thoroughly and the decision
was reached to adhere to the original
proposition. Secretary Clarence NJ.
Hathaway was instructed to send a
letter notifying the Textile Council of
the manufacturers attitude. No
statement was made concerning the
time the latter would be mailed, but
the council had requested that reply
to its letter be forwarded by tomorrow
night, when the council will hold a
meeting.
President James Tarsey of the Tex
tile Council, when notified, tonight, of
the manufacturers decision said he re
GREETED very much the action of the
mill owners. but would not enter into a
discussion Of the situation.
1t is considered probable that before
final action is taken by the union. fur
Their negotiations will be held between
the two sides and should a strike be
determined upon it is thought that the
operatives would not leave the mills
until the close of the week.