Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-15
Queries to Official
Continued from Page One)

textile workers and the textile in
dustry, or do you believe that the in
terests of the textile workers may
justly be left entirely to the decis-
ions of those in financial control of
textile millsc
IS. AS treasurer Of Pacific Mills
do you believe that contribution of
profits several times over sufficient
to have bought control of your conf
psny. as set forth heretofore. entities
the mill workers and the public. WHO
contributed the profits. to the right
to have anything to say about what
is justice in the conduct of the COM
pany'S affairs Or do YOU believe
the stock holdcrs and directors, who
receive these profits. are the only
ones to have a right to determine
what conduct by the company con-
stitutcs justice"
80. On January Il, before the
National Dry Goods Association, YOU
made one Of the first statements
from authoritative sources that there
would have to be a cut iE the wages
or northern cotton mill workers. You
gave as a principal reason that
southern wages We're lower. and that
southern competition forced the
reduction in the north. Pacific mills.
which you direct. has part Of It's fac
tory property in Columbus. s. 6. Arc
you'll any way using your influence
to bring about an increase of wages
of the southern cotton mill workers.
or do YOU believe that the present
competition between the north and
the south is the best way 10 deter
mine what wages shall be in north
| crn and southern mills?
IS. Do you believe in the principle
of arbitration? II so do you believe
that arbitration would be the best
way TO settle the present contro-
yersy? If not, why not"
"9-In a recent public statement
YOU gave figures for the cost of pro-
duction of certain goods made by
Pacific mills Indicating that the mar
ket price of such goods is now lower
than the cost of producing them in
your mill and that. therefor there
must be a cut in wages. Is this not
equivalent to an assertion that the
workers in. Pacific milIS should bear
4 large share OF the burden OF de-
preston:
'10-Do you believe that the work
ers in Pacific mills arc likewise en-
titled TO q large share OF the benefit
of prosperity? If so, what share?
"11-Your recent public statement
included assertion that Pacific mills
believes i'm the fullest publicity. VIII
you. therefor. make public the Gle
the goods YOU mentioned. specifying:
(a) the cost of material: (bJ the cost
Of wages: (c) the cost OF supervision
and administration: I'D the cost of
overhead, with explanation of what it
includes; fe) the cost OF other Gle
ments. including in your figure for the
cost Of production of the goods you
mentioned?
1e-What percentage would the
cost of production of goods mention
cd be reduced by 10 per cent. or a
20 per cent. cut in wages?
'13-WilI you state whether New
! England mill owners recognized that
! the action which they took was al
most certainly cause a strike?
"14-Since the effect of this strike
is TO restrict the consumption of raw
cotton and wool and to restrict the
production OF cloth, does 1t not act
to lower the price of what the mills
buy. and to increase the price of what
| the mills sell? 7
u5-Did the mill owners desire the
strike?
"16-Did a number of mill officials
agree together in advance to take the
action which they knew would cause
strike.
"17-Do you think that full public
| ity on these points, such as you stat
ed that you believe in, would furnish
basis for prosecution of these mill Of
ficials under the Sherman Anti Trust
law which prohibits combinations In
restraint Of trade?