Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-31
And Danger Of Mill Strike
Is Now Averted.
Straight 5 Per Cent. and Min
imum Margin Lowered.
Probable That Unions viii
Vote to Accept Offer.

Fall River Mass, Oct 30-Amica BILE
relations were re-establshed between
the cotton manufacturers and their
operatives at a protracted conference
today, between the organization of the
mill owners and the Textile Council
A compromise agreement on the wage
issue, which for several years has fire.
Quently disturbed Industrial conditions
here, was reached, and in consequence
of the understanding it was the general
opinion, tonight. that not only will a
strike be averted but the troublesome
wage question has been adjusted for
at least a year.
Before the new agreement goes into
actual effect, the compromise will have
to be passed upon by the individual
unions on Wednesday evening, but
there is every reason to believe that
the various organiZa tons will endorse
the action of the Textile Council which
at meeting, tonight, voted to recon-
memo that the compromise stand be
accepted. The Manufacturers Associa-
ton has already Endorsed the proposed
agreement
Inc manufacturers, with the eycep-
ton of NJ. c. D. Borden of New York
owner of the Fall River Iron Works.
declined on Oct. 26 to restore the wage
scale which prevailed before the reduc-
ton of 1212 per cent. on July %, 1904,
directly. but offered a straight advance
Of per cent. and introduced a profit
sharing plan based on the margin be-
tween the price of eight pounds of mid
ding uplands cotton in New York and
the GQllinpr Ua1,1a M Az nd nF 81,
6ix6+ standard print cloth The ar
rangement provided that when the
margin between the price of the two
commodities reached IS cents the man.
ufacturers would pay a dividend of l
per cent and a similar dividend for
every cent above the minimum margin
until the margin reached IS cents. For
each cent above So the dividend was to
be one-half of 1 per cent
The operatives We're much dissatis-
fed with this arrangement, claiming
that they would seldom receive wages
as high as those paid prior to the cut
Of 1904 A general strike was threat
ened. the Textile Council maintaining
that the mill owners should restore the
1904 reduction and then take up the
pIOlll-olitIHlS pIOpOSlllOIi Inc posi-
ton of the council was strengthened by
the action of Mr.. Borden, who volun-
tarily restored the old wage scale
without the dividend plan.
To avert a strike il possible, Mayor
Coughiin and others induced both sides
to again consider the wage issue before
taking final action. At 230 O'Clock, this
afternoon, the Manufacturers Associa-
ton and the Textile Council met and
for four hours and half went over
the whole situation. Tonight, both sides
announced that 4 compromise had been
agreed upon, the manufacturers con-
senting to lower the minimum margin
upon which dividends shall be declared
to the operatives from Is cents to 721a
cents. The previous plan of making a
direct advance in wages of per cent
was also changed, the Textile Council
rcceding and agreeing to an increase
which will bring the price for weaving
up to Is cents per cut of a. yards. I'm
der the new plan. the direct advance
will amount to about per cent.
The Textile Council held a session,
later in the evening, and voted to
recommend to the various unions that
the agreement be accepted. Secretary
Thomas Taylor of the council, stated
that he thought the operatives would
ACCEPT the Few arrangement.
1t is thought that the compromise
agreement, if ratified by the various
unions, will be adopted by mills else
where which follow the Fall River
schedule