New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1919-06-11

STATEMENT ISSUED BY H. L.
BEECHER ON BEHALF OF
EAGLE MILL.
r.
There seem to be some diff, rences
LOT opinion regarding wages paid at the
local mills as far as the working men and
their employers are concerned. The
following statement was issued by the
department Of Labor at Washington,
June 4th, according to Washington
dispatch under this date:
Complaint has been received at the
department of labor from employees
of the Eagle Roller Mill company and
the New Ulm Roller company of New
Ulm, Mimi, that present wages are
inadequate to meet living costs. A
committee of the employees has waited
on representatives Ct the companies
but no satisfaction was obtained.
Commissioner W. C. Liller of the
adjustment and concihation service has
been assigned to offer mediation in an
effort to adjust the differences"
II Cemmissiore r In City.
Last Tuesday, Mr.. Liller arrived in
New Ulm and took the matter up with
the two parties concerned. He met with
representatives of the organized en-
|ployees and made an investigation of
the local wage situation and other labor
conditions at the local mills. Before
leaving the city, on Sunday, the govern
ment representative told offce1s CT the
Eagle Roller Mill company that he had
no suggestions to make to them in regard
to raising the present wage scale and it
is said that he told the employees that
they have nothing to complain about
and that they should look at the sltua-
ton in manner of fairness. 1t wa
impossible to verify this statement be-
cause of the aversion en- the part Ct the
men to state their side of the case to
the public. They we're asked repeatedly
to make their grievances known to the
public generally so as to give Everybody
an opportunity to hear both sides and
form an unbiased opinion in the matter
They await an answer to letter sent
to Washington before doing his, how
ever, it is said.
Can Do No More.
Chas. Vogtel, manager of the Eagle
Roller Mill company, is in St. Louis,
Mo-, attending the millers' convention
and in his absence H. L. Beecher,
treasurer of the, company stated that the
company did everything to give Mr..
Liller clear understanding Of the case.
The present wage scale was shown to
him together with all the other arrange
ments made at the mill for the better
ment of the workingmen's position
Mr.. Beecher stated further that the
wages paid by the mill at the present
time are higher than any other wages
paid anywhere in the northwest out
side of Minneapolis and that they are
only sig h;ly lower than those in the
Mill City. This difference is easily
Explained by the fact that the locs
workers are at an advantage compared
with the men in the city as they have
Ito pay no street car fares and are allie
| to secure cheaper living quarters, Mr..
Beecher said. Besides, the .mills at
Minneapolis have the adv antage Of
getting their wheat sur plies from much
mole extensive area and Of buying their
coal at a lower rate, he stated. 1t is
| this competition which makes it in
possible for the local concern to raise
the wages.
There is no feeling of enmity on the
| part os the mill owners, Mr.. Beecher
said, and there never has been. They
| did everything in their power to satisfy
1.-THE men and told Mr.. Liller that they
would appreciate any suggestions re-
|garding the bette7ment Of conditions,
but as stated above the government
representative declared that he had no
suggestion to make. The Workingmen
lido not complain about anything, it is
seated, only they want a little raise in
1.-THE wage scale. But if they keep on
insisting on this point, Mr. Beecher
Ifeels that trouble is unavoidable and this
1.-The company would regret exceedingly,
me said, especially in consideration OF
1.-The families of the men concerned.
Mr.. Beecher's Statement.
II. =. Beecher as representative Of
II = ~ I.