The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-10-12
LOSING MONEY
Cotton Mills Of the World Must Reduce
Price Of Cotton or
RAISE PRICE OF CLOTH

AErSeuRcAS AoPO 15
Club Representing Fourteen Mil
lions of Seventeen Millions Spin--
dies In New England--The South
ern and English Mills in Line, Too.
A dispatch from Boston, Mass
says a gigantic movement born OF
unrest of long standing is in pro-
gress throughout the leading cot
ton textile districts of the world,
looking towards general curtai.-
ment of production during the re-
naming months of this year and IN
1910. The principal reasons adVanc-
ed for the movement are the gradual
increase in the cost of raw goods
markets to respond in a way which
would assure continued profit TO
manufacturers during the next II
months.
In Lancashire, England, the yarn
spinners have Been running their
mills on short time for two months,
and recently many other English
mill owners voted to shut down two
rays each week until November 8.
On September 13, the Arkwright
Club Of Boston, representing 49,
10000 out of 100000 spindles in
New England, sent out to all the
cotton mills in this district, which
is second in the industry to Lanca-
shire, forms Of an agreement Tor
signatures for curtaiiment. The in
vestigations Of the executive COM
mittee of the CLUB convinced 1t that
no difficulty would be experienced
in securing the signatures represent
ing seven million spindles.
The proposition calls for the sus-
pension of work for 224 working
hours between the date Of the agree
ment and August I, 1910, to become
effective when no les than seven
million spindles have been signed
I'D. Reports from different sections
of New England indicate that the
proposition of the Arkwright CLUB
Is. meeting with an encouraging res
pouse. Such a curtailment, however,
Is not likely to become effective IN
this State in the Immediate future,
as many of the mills that will sign
an agreement will be unable to NH
present orders without steady run
ming until we'll into January.
The Rhode Island and Fall River
manufacturers are, as a rule, willing
to: curtail production, providing that
they are not called upon to withhold
goods while outside centres continue
to run. in full.
The curtailment movement Is OF
great interest in New England, and
other places where the operatives
have been refused restoration OF
ten per cent cut in wages made IN
1908. 1t is suggested that II the
New Bedford manufacturers are IN
sympathy with the 30-day closing
movement the effect Of a strike IN
that city would be partially NULL
fed.
The curtailment has also been tax
en- up by the Southern cotton mili
Q owners. The board OF governors
of the American Cotton Manufactur-
ers' Association lat a injecting IN
charlotte, n. c., adopted resolutions
setting forth their claim that the
present day disparity between the
price of cotton and cotton goods
procludes the possibility or the sue
cessful operation of Southern mills
A committee was appointed to form
ulate curtailment agreement, when
every mill in the South will be urged
to sign.
In certain cotton producing ana
selling centers the claim is made that
the present curtailment movement Is
largely an attempt to hold down the
price of the staple. The officials OF
the operatives unions in several New
England cities profess to see in the
compaign an attempt to avoid an ad-
vance in wages, but the officials OF
the Arkwright Club deny that the
wage question has anything to do
with their existing plans.
The cotton mills of New England,
including yarn mills, employ upwards
of 100000 hands.