Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-23
FOLLOWS SUIT.
Borden Cuts Wages in
Fall River Mills.
There Will Be No Dissemination
in Operatives.
Plants All Ready to Resume Full
Operations, Today.

Fall River, Jan. 2o-Notices were
posted, Saturday morning, in the Iron
Works mills, II which NJ. c. D. Borden
is the owner, announcing 12h per
cent. reduction in wages to go into eff
feet on Monday.
This has been anticipated ever since
the settlement Of the strike in the 9TH
er mills here, as Mr.. Borden long ago
made known his position on the wage
question, which was substantially that
while his policy was to pay the highest
rate that the conditions warranted, he
would be obliged to regulate 1t by the
standard established by his competi-
tors and accepted by the local unions
and operatives in the other mills mere.
The Fall River Iron Works Is the
third largest cotton manufacturing
plant in the United States. 1t consists
Of the big mills engaged on print cloths
and wide goods. Usually about 3oo,ooo
spjndles are in opera ton and the out
put is about 100000 600 yards OF cloth
annually, when there is no curtallment
Of product.
The mills have been running steadily
throughout the strike in the other print
cloth mills, and the operatives have
earned during that time 100000 which
they would have lost had wages been
reduced on July rs, 1904. the day of
the strike.
The payroll before the cutdown yes
terday, amounted to 100000 weekly.
The reduction will go into effect, Mon
day, Since the settlement of the strike
I'm the other mills the Iron Works en-
ployes have been expecting some
change in their schedule, although
many of them did not think the cut
would be as heavy as 1919 per cent.
The wage reduction in Fall River to
date affects factories employing $4,000
hands when the mills are running in
full. No changes have been made by
the Stevens quilt mills. Barnaby glng-
ham mills nor the thread and yarn es-
Establishments.
Outside of Fall River and Tiverton
r. l., the United States cotton mills at
Central Falls, Corr mills of East Taun-
ton and several other small mills have
adopted the 12h per cent. reduction.
The reply received from the manu-
facturers declining a conference is per-
fectly satisfactory to the labor leaders.
The only reason one was asked was be-
cause many Of the operativesd have be-
come alarmed and it was desired to re-
assure them. 1t is considered that the
statement made by the manufacturers
ought to have this effect, as 1t shows
Conclusively that no discrimination Will
be used.
Pres. John Golden Of the U. T. w,
saws that anyone who knows anything
about a mill must understand that the
.lnpartmentS must be balanced when II
IL stopped only for a few weeks, and
that it will take some time now for the
factories to get running properly. He is
satisfied that both sides intend to do
what is right and that everything will
be soon Strengthened out. The other
union officials hold the same views.
Several Of the mills have already in
formed their help that they will be ready
for all on Monday morning. The Weavers
will all return to work that day
Sec. Whitehead Is not confident that all
will secure work. and he was non-com-
initial when asked as to what action the
weavers will take on the extra loom ques-
ton. 1t is probable. however. that there
will be no eruption In the weavers' ranks
until it is learned what the coming con
ference between the manufacturers and
representatives of the weavers will de-
eide. The former has agreed to remedy
these grievances. and threatened trouble
from this quarter Is gradually subsiding-
The executive committee of the Textile
Council. after considering. Saturday, the
letter of the Manufacturers Association
declining to confer with the council over
the friction attending the return of the
ION l..
be taken at present