Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-03-02
WOODEN MILLS RAISE WAGES
Combine Posts Notice of Advance Of
Five Per Cent.
COTTON MILLS GIVE INCREASE
Feeling In Lawrence that Action
VIII End Textile strike
Chiidren's Party starts
for Washington.

BOSTON. Mass, March 1.-The Ameri-
can Wooden company today notified Its
agents in all Of Its thirty-three mills in
New England and New York state to
advance wages per cent. The order af-
fects about 5000 operatives.
The notices, which were posted in all
the mills OF the company shortly before
noon, read:
In all mills Of this company, a new
schedule OF wages win be put into ef-
feet March 4, 1872 involving Increases in
the rates now paid by the hour and the
piece.
The wages will be readjusted accord
Ing TO classes and occupation. but In
every case the increase will amount to
at least 5 per cent"
The action of the American Wooden
company is expected to have far-reachlng
effect In the wooden industry Of the
country. II is expected by mill men here
that many OF the independent mills also
will decide to advance wages. There also
Is a strong feeling in Boston textile cir
Giles that tho action OF the American
Wooden company. Arlington mills and
uswoco mills in Lawrence In posting
notices Of a wage advance will contribute
materially to a speedy ending OF the
strike in that city. which has been In
progress fifty days.
Cotton Mills Also Act.
LAWRENCE. Mass. March I.-NotIces
OF an advance In wages March were
posted In all the cotton mlllsiof thee Pa
cific corporation this afternoon. The Pa
cifc mills In Lawrence employ more
than 5000 operatives and. with the plant
at Dover. N. H., Is one of the largest
cotton concerns IN tho country. The
amount Of the advance was not given.
The posting Of notices today in the Ar
lington cotton and worsted mills. which
employs 5.boo hands. announcing a wage
Increase OF at least per cent TO take ef-
feet next Monday. was regarded as an
important step toward the speedy set
Element OF the great textile strike. which
involves nearly N.oOo persons.
The feeling was general In Lawrence
that many Of the other mills here would
make similar concessions to the opera
tives. The Arlington mills are not con-
nected with tho American Wooden COM
pany.
May End the strike.
A scarcity Of strikers doing picket duty
was apparent during tho hours preceding
the time for beginning work. There APP
peared TO be a slight increase In the num-
Der OF people entering the various mills.
A party Of children who have worked
in the mills and who had been requested
to appear before a congressional COM
mlttee in Washington tomorrow left this
city at 7;ll a. m. today. The delegation
included only thirteen minors. four Of
whom were girls
Among the children. all Of whom have
been employed In the mills. was Car.
mella Peel. Is years old. who about a
year ago while at work lost a part Of
her scalp when her hair caught in the
machinery.
Workers Reject Proposition.
The executive committee OF the Indus
trial Workers OF the World. which was in
session for an hour this afternoon voted
TO recommend that the strikers refuse an
advance OF : per cent Mass meatings
probably will be called to consider today .
Developments.
The general strike committee Of the
Industrial Workers voted TO insist on
their original demands, namely. wage
increase OF Is per cent. double pay for
overtime work, the abolition OF the pre-
MUM system and no discrimination
against strikers. The committee voted
further TO insist that j. J. Ettor and
Giovannltti. strike leaders, now in Jail.
be released.
| A committee Of the strikers went TO
Boston TO meet the mill owners.