The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-05-13
HAT SHOPS WILL
CLOSE IF WOMEN
REFUSE TERMS
Orange Manufacturers Ready to
Shut Down to Force
Ultimatum.
ABOUTf6,OOO WORKERS
MAY BE AFFECTED
Not Question of Pay, but of Shop
, Rules, Regarding Female
Trimmers.

The hat manufacturers of Orange
last night took action that means the
closing of the factories in that section
either late today or tomorrow, as pre-
dieted in yesterdays EVENING STAR.
A resolution was passed at a meeting
in Library Hall, Orange, that no work
is to be handed out to the women hat
trimmers until such time as the ques-
tions at issue are satisfactorily ad-
justed.
This decision will result in closing
the factories in Orange, probably late
today. The women will finish the work
in hand before nightfall, and as no
more work will be weighed OUT TO
them, in the language of the trade, they
must cease work. While there are no
differences with the men the latter
must suffer, too, as the factories will
not continue their output when the
hats cannot be finished.
The closing of the factories will be a
keen blow to the Valley and other sec
tons where the factories are located.
There are 1000 girls employed as trim
mers and about 5000 men. The fac
tories have been running on part time,
and there was some slight evidence of
Improvement in the trade 1t was
hoped the factories would be busy Tor
the fall trade and the optimists are
sanguine the present troubles will be
speedily settled. No question of wages
enters into the controversy and no cut
is mentioned. If trouble threatens fur
ther in the present affair the fight Will
be bitter n to the finish.
The troubles with the women are of
long duration. A year ago the follow
ing notice was sent the m
ITO the Orange Hat Trimmers' Asso-
citation:
'"The Orange Manufacturers Associa-
ton makes the following demands on
the Orange Hat Trimmers' Association:
81. That any manufactures may be
allowed to use any machine he may de-
sire. No p%rohibitory price shall be put
on work done by any machine.
"2. That a forelady ma be permitted
to trim hats or do n other work that
a manufactures nay wish her to do
pertaining to the trimming department.
80. When a factory is working full
time there shall be no division of the
work.
"a. In the event of n shortage of trim
mers in any factory the Trimmers' AS
ISOLATION is requested to register a
sufficient number of trimmers to supply
the shortage in said factory.
SO. A trimmer registered in a factory
shall be obliged to remain in the fac
tory in which she is registered for at
least six months unless a clearance
from the firm or factory with which
she is registered is granted her.
"6. That all bills of prices made with
the different manufacturers expire on
May Is of each year. and all bills of
prices that expire in the fan of 1908
remain in force until May 10, 1909"
There was no reply from the women
and finally the bosses set May IL as the
date for a final reply. The only word
received was by Robert Gist. who got
word last Saturday hat the women
would consider the terms offered them
Mt a meeting on May 81. This COM
munication was read last night and the
bosses decided not to notice il. but to go
ahead and pass the resolution. which
meant the closing of the factories.