Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-20
Who Is to Run Mill Business?

| Who is to run the mill business
| is the pertinent query of Fibre and
Fabric, in dealing with the present
industrial situation. 1t calls to mind
| the fact that already 100000 mill
operatives are suffering as result OF
| the proposed tariff 1t declares that
| the men who know how to run the
mill business are the manufacturers,
| mot the so-called government ex-
perts who do not know a spindle
from a LOOM" The following is OF
striking interest to textile men, if not
to the average reader who is watch
ing the trend of events:
In view of the talk made by Mr.
Underwood and Secretary Redfieid.
the manufacturers are naturally Won
dering who is going to manage theiI
business in the future. With tariff
that will make ii impossible TO sue
cessfully operate in competition with
foreign manufacturers, some ADJUST
ments are necessary and wages, con-
stituting a major part of the cost OF
manufacturing, must be lowered TO
reduce costs to a basis where Ameri-
can mills can operate and sell in COM
petition with the world. America
pays the highest wage at present and
wages are not lowered just for the
fun of it. When we have reached a
period where, first, an American in
dustry is to be forced into depression
ttx.t. nj
law makers, and then. the bluff IS
made of Investigations, etc, il the
American manufacturers protect their
business by reducing costs in a lower
wage scale, it is pretty near time to
call halt If the threats of Messrs.
Underwood and Redfield are not bluff,
then, it looks as if in addition to
opening our country to ruinous for
eign competition, the entire "insides"
of domestic corporations will be made
public to assist the foreigners in max
ing a complete killing.
In this matter of tariff. wherein the
welfare of several million textile peo-
pie is at stake, the views of manu-
facturers have been entirely ignored
by the congressional leaders and a
measure is before the Senate. that is
neither scientific, sensible nor fair to
American capital and labor.
The one hopeful feature is con
tanned in the statement that, if in
vestigation discloses the fact that the
reduced tariff rates make it impossi-
BILE for a manufacturer to do business
without cutting wages of his en-
ployees, it is not unlikely that the
President will ask Congress to change
that particular rate.
But why all the delay and loss TO
managers and operatives? The men
who know are the mill men and not
a gang of so-called Government ex-
perts, who do not know spindle
from loom. In the textile schedules
| 1t is already definitely settled that
over 11,000 hands have been or soon
Will be thrown out of employment in
New England alone, as a result of the
tariff for-revenue bill now in the
Senate. In addition to the shut
downs, fully $4,000 hands are on short
time, and before the month closes
fully 100000 textile operatives will be
drawing reduced wages as direct
result of the proposed tariff Two
days curtailment i'll the year makes a
loss equal to the highest admitted
gain the work people will secure un-
der the new tariff, in reduced cost of
clothing.
Our fondest wish for the represen-
tatlves in Congress who voted for the
| Underwood bill is that they be forced
to personally see the effects of their
work in mill towns this winter, when
hunger and cold will cause untold
suffering, crime and disorder