The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-01
MAY END LAWRENCE STRIKE
Two of the Mills of the American Co.
Are Located in Lawrence and Notices
Were Posted There to-day,
Telling of Advance.

New England and New York state TO
advance wages five per cent The or
der affects about 10000 operatives No
tices were posted in all the mills OF the
company that the new schedule of wages
will be put into effect on March 4,
involving increases in the rates now
raid by the hour and by the piece.
The wages will be readiusted according
to classes and occupations, but in every
case the increase will amount to at
least five per cent.
This action of the American Wooen
company. the largest manufacturers OF
woolen and worsted goods in the world,
is expected to have a far-reaching Ell
feet in the woolen industry Of the
country. There are large number
of independent mills, especially in New
England, which generally follow closely
the schedule paid by the American com
pany. 1t is expected by mill men here
that many of these independents will
also decide TO advance wages.
There is also a strong feeling in Bos-
ton textile circles that the action Of
the American Wooden company's Ar
lington mills and Uswoco mills in Law
renee in posting notice of an ad-
vance in wages will contribute material
ly to a speedy ending of the strike in
that city.
Lawrence, Mass, March 1.-The end
of the great textile strike, which began
January IL, is thought to be in sight.
The outlook to-day was more hopeful
than at any time since the beginning Of
the struggle. This optimistic sentiment
is due to the action Of many mills in
posting notices announcing an advance
in wages of at least five per cent, be-
ginning Monday.
While the Industrial Workers Of the
World. whose 10000 members are idle,
have not agreed to return under the
increase as posted, it is thought many of
the strikers will return next week. The
strikers committee of the Industrial
Workers held a meeting at | o'clock
this afternoon, while meeting of the
general committee of the Central Labor
union is called for tonight.
The mills of the Arlington corporation
were the first to post notices announe-
ing the increase, and this action was
quickly followed by the uswoco mills
OF the United States Worsted company
An advance of five per cent. Monday
was announced by the American Wooden
company, not only here, but in all the
other plants of the corporation. This
company employs 10000 operatives. The
cotton mills of the Pacific corporation
posted notices this afternoon, announc-
ing the advance in wages
Among the independent wooden mills
which announced their intention of join.
ing in the general advance were those of
M. I. Stevens & Sons company in North
Andover, Haverhill and Franklin, n Fl.
The amount of the increase was not
specified. 1t will affect 1000 employees.
Fifty weavers have been on strike in
Haverhill.
The strike was caused by the new
state law, making working hours 81
hours a week, instead of SO. The five
per cent advance will be added to the
wages paid for the 54 hours work, which
means 1873 per cent. increase over the
wages received by the operatives when
they were working Sc hours a week.
A statement given out by the Airing
ton mills was, in full, as follows
During the past two years our bust
ness has yielded no profit. Less than
one-half our machinery has been operat
ed. This was caused by conditions be-
yond our control. During this period
of depression, wages were not reduced.
The smaller earnings of our work people
were caused by lack of continuous and
full employment, which we were unable
to furnish, very much to our regret aud
greatly to our loss.
"The effect of the law prohibiting the
employment of women and children and
minors in Massachusetts, more than fifty
four hours weekly, was to change the
running time of our mills, where so
many women and minors find employ
ment, from fifty-six to fifty-four hours
per week This reduction in the hours
of labor increased the fixed charges of
our mills, consequently upon diminished
output at least $40 per cent. and also
reduced the earning power of our work
people in the same proportion.
Massachusetts mills are handicapped
by the fact that longer hours of labor
are permitted in other adjoining states.
In addition to this, according to the
report of the United States tariff board,
il is also a fact that higher wages are
now paid in the worsted mills in Law
renee than in those of any other manu-
featuring center in the United States.
The demand for our products has recent
" increased. but markets are still unset
tied. The selling values of our prod
ucts in proportion to their cost are alb
normally low and may be further affect
cd by adverse tariff legislation. We be-
lieve, therefore, that actual business con-
ditions do not warrant an increase in
wages at the present time.
Notwithstanding these facts, we rec
ognize that labor conditions in Lawrence
have not been normal and that the ulti-
mate welfare of the city, its citizens, its
mills and their operatives, and of the
whole coolmonwealth, are in great
measure dependent upon to- restorssson