Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-17

mills in the country running from 90 L
80 hours. selling their merchandise in the
same market. one can see how Impossible
il is for Massachusetts manufacturers tC
compete against such odds or hope t.
secure orders or hold their own. Natu
rally the mills running the greatest num-
Der of hours and producing at the leas
cost will get the business away from
mills of Massachusetts.
.'To pay for 81 hours of work the wages
of Sc hours would he equivalent to AZ
increase in wages While manufacturer
under normal conditions would be gia(
to see their employees earn more money
the Massachusetts mills are paying al
that they can afford to pay in the pres
ent situation. The mills are still suffer
ing from a long period of extreme de-
preston due to the tariff agitation al
Washington.
The Strikers Answer.
To the statement that the mills cannot
afford TO continue to pay the old wages
under the reduced hours. the strikers
have cited the fact that $500 persons
were pair off at the Wood mills. last Sat
urday This, according to the statement
of the mill officials is the largest num-
Der in the history of the mill, which is
the largest in the world under one roof
The strikers declare also that up to the
beginning of the strike the mills Were
working double shifts, night and day,
and that these facts indicate nothing but
remarkable prosperity for the mill own
ers. The operatives want to share this
prosperity, and after considering their
original demands, regarded them as be-
ing insufficient to give them a proper
share in what they declare to be the eX-
listing good times, and then formulated
the present demands for a Is per cent. in
crease and other concessions.
1t is impossible to secure accurate fig
ures as to the number of persons on
strike, and the number which have re-
ported for work The mill agents will
make no statements and the strikers
have been unable to arrange a system for
securing such reports. An estimate that
1900 persons, nearly all of whom are
foreigners, are on strike, and that from
5000 to 10000 We're at work, today, is be
lieved to be as close as possible to the
conditions.
The services of the out-of-town police,
numbering about 100, which were called
upon during the rioting, yesterday, Were
dispensed with, today, and all We're al
lowed to return to their own cities. Co
incident with their departure the zone of
militia activity and control was extend
ed to include the Arlington mills in
Methuen. just over the line from Law
renee, and the Uswoco mills in South
Lawrence, both of which had been pa
trolled during the day and night by po-
lice officers. The military officers now are
In supreme command of every mill dis
triet in the city. Mayor Scanlon and the
city officers having relinqnished all rights
of government to them.
At the insistence of the military au.
thorites. Mayor Scanlon, today, put into
effect a measure which had been consid-
cred for several days. the closing of all
saloons This was made binding to the
greatest possible degree by ordering ev-
cry bar in the city to suspend the sale
of intoxicating liquors, Even the hotels
We're warned not to sell to their guests or
other persons, the penalty for doing so,
Mayor Scanlon told the proprietors, be-
Ing the revocation of the license of any
offender.