Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-22

The six months struggle between the
Fall River unions and the manufac-
turers following the 12E per cent. re-
ductiOn in 1904 attracted widespread at
t"Etion and sympathy throughout the
country. Affiliated labor union bodies
throughout the country gave from their
own funds and levied assessments up
on their members to pay strike benefits
in aid of their Fall River brethren. In
the summer months of the strike priva-
ton was not so marked. but in winter
the suffering in the families of those
out CT work BEANIE acute. Several hu..-
dred left the city seeking work else
where. Thousands more renamed in
enforced idl aness. Attempts were made
by the mill owners to break the strike,
but with no pronounced success and
even with the few nOn-unionistS that
could be procured going to work there
We're no violent demonstrations of hos
tility among the strikers.
Finally in the latter part of December
an appeal was made to Gov. William l..
Douglas to interfere and try to effect
some agreement between the employers
and their men. He summoned represent
ativcS of the union and the manufacture
crS, studied the conditions Of the cotton
market for the raw and manufactured
product ana then, with the representa-
tives of the struggling parties present to-
gethcr at the State House he proposed Il
plan on Jan. - 1905, that proved accept
able to both sides.
According to his plan the operatives
were to begin 4 per cent. increase over
the scale which had been set by the man
uracturers in making their reduction.
The marginal minimum between tn"
price Of raw cotton and cloth was def
nitolv fixed at 80 cents. For every cent
that that margin increased up to - cents
the operatives were to receive dividend
of one cent and for every cent that the
margin Increased over 81 cents one-half
cent was TO be added to their dividends.
Under this system it was calculated that
the operatives would receive from l to
10 per cent. increase. Market conditions
have been such. however. that there have
been weeks when even l per cent. mas not
been realized and on only few occasions
has the percentage reached as high as 10.
The average rate of dividend has been
i and per cent. and between end per
cent has. been considered fairly large.
For the raSt few months there has been
a spirit Of unrest among the operatives
over this condition. Several hundred left
the city and business men gre wunolSy.
About three weeks ago matters came to
head. Several cotton mills in Connect
cut and western Massachusetts which
had reduced wages at the time Fall
River did then announced 10 per cent.
increase. The Fall River operatives.
viewing this action, became more rcstive
and t soon became evident from the tone
of their weekly meetings that another
labor struggle was at hand.
On June the first step was taken when
turers asking for 124 per cent. increase.
This the manufacturers refused stating
that the Connecticut and western Massa-
chusetts mills manufactured 4 higher
grade Of cloth and that their margin or
profit was greater. and accordingly on
June Is they made the offer of n guaran-
teed ) per cent dividend until Oct. !. TIL"
action of the unions last night in unani-
mousy rejecting this offer made n strike
seem imminent until the action of the
Manufacturers Association today.
While today's increase is practically
one of IA per cent. whereas tile reduc-
ton in July was 121a per cent. it is eX-
planned that an advance of II per cent
upon the present scale is necessary to
bring 4 complete restoration. The new
rate has the effect of establishing the
Gov. Douglas sliding scale which has
been in operation for q year and n half.