New-York tribune., 1912-03-18
WAGE INCREASES WILL
AGGREGATE S10,OOO,0OO.
Fully 275,000 Operatives to
Share in Advance in Mills
of New England.
ALL QUIET AT SOUTH BARRE
Trouble Expected To day, How
ever, When Wool Combing Co.
Tries to Transport It's Goods
Eviction Talked Of.

eating over SlO.UO,D0 VIII go INTO the pock-
cts of New England textile workers during
the next twelve months, according to au-
thorltative estimates of the result of the
present upward trend OF wages in cotton
and woolen mills. on the basis OF an
nual payroll OF s79.0o0000 in the woollen
mills the increase there will amount to
sj,CO0,O)0 while cotton mill operatives will
receive an advance of 100000.
Fully 2I5.OO0 operatives will share In the
advance by April I II all the mills which
have not yet Joined in the movement fol-
low the lead OF larger concerns. An
made already of contemplated
advances I'm the textile centres of Maine,
Massachusetts, and New Hampshire affect
upward Of 10000 mill workers. Rhode Isl
and. Eastern Connecticut and Western
Massachusetts cotton manufacturers. en-
ployiug many thousands. have also indi-
Gated an intention OF cqualling the wage
advances made elsewhere, but have given
no definite announcement They are un-
dcrstood to he awaiting the outcome OF the
situation I'm New Bedford. where similar
grade OF fine cloth is produced.
The New Bedford manufacturers offer OF
a ) per cent increase will be acted on early
I'm the present week by the Textile Coun-
ell. which recently presented demand for
an Increase OF 10 per cent. heavy cur
of production has been necessary
I'm these mills during the last eighteen
months. on account Of dull business, ana
This fact is pointed to by the manufactur-
crs' association as a reason for the REFUSAL
OF the 10 per cent request. Although there
tiyes, many are said to be I'm favor OF &C
ceptlng the manufacturers offer at present
and revIving their demand for 10 per cent
when business improves.
Union Strong in Now Bedford.
The Textile Council. made up Of delegates
from unions numbering thousands OF opera
tives. is affiliated with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, while the Industrial
Workers OF the World, the organization
which carried on the long labor struggle IN
Lawrence. claims great strength as well
among mill workers in New Bedford.
Fall River operatives are also giving eT-
dence OF a spirit OF unrest, induced partly
perhaps. by the approach OF spring and by
the substantial wage increase granted as
tile Council, representing ive unions, has
voted 10 reject the offer OF the manufactur-
ers OF an advance OF per cent, and de-
mend l5 per cent, arguing that the outlook
for business in print cloths is promising
enough TO warrant the greater increase
Negotiat tions between the labor representa-
tives and mill agents will be continued dur
ing the coming week. Close observers OF
the situation believe a compromise VIII be
on the result in Fall River will
depend, In part. probably. the final attitude
OF the New Bedford unions toward accept
ance or rejection OF the 5 per cent ofrer
there
Small bodies Of textile workers are on
strko also at several other points In New
England. including North Adams and
Holyoke.
General Return TO Work To-day.
Although q few OF the big Lawrence
mills are still nomInally under the ban OF
the strike leaders. indications tonight
pointed TO general return TO work to-
morrow morning I'm these plants. as we'll
as in the ten mills where the strike has
been declared by tho committee offcally
as settled. desire to get back 10 work,
after ten weeks Of ideness and fears that
some one else may secure their places,
has made most OF the strikers eager for
tho Monday opening Of the mill gates.
Statisticians figure tho injury by the
Lawrence strike to manufacturers at
ST. iOOdO on business I'm hand and advance
business lost; a forfeit by the strikers OF
about an equal amount In wages. and
cost TO tho state and city OF 10000 for
milltamen and extra police.
All save three of the militia companies
which have assisted the police in maintain
Ing order I'm Lawrence have been sent
home. and these probably win be dismissed
this week.
South Barre. Mass. March lI.--Guiet
prevailed in this village to-day In con-
trast with the riotous demonstrations yes
terday. when several persons were injured
In a clash between hundreds OF textile
strike sympa thizers and the authorities.
Fears were expressed tonight, however.
that there would be serious trouble to-
morrow, when the Barre Wool Combing
Company. one of the two firms involved
in the strike, attempts to send away car
loads of finished product. The strikers
are reported as determined to prevent the
transportation Of any goods from the mill
while the strike lasts.
Many spinning mills OF New England
get their supplies of combed wool from
the Barre Wool Combing Company, Ltd.'
which operates one OF the largest plants
of the kind in this country. The entire
plant IL now idle by reason of the strike.
Eviction OF strikers from the tenement
houses owned by the corporation Is re-
garded as a possibility within few days
unless the strike is ended r. G. Thomp-
son. general manager OF the Barre Wool
Company. said to-day that In case
II became necessary to secure persons from
other places to work in the mills the com
many would furnish the newcomers with the
houses now occupied by the strikers. as
there are no untenanted dwelling houses
here.
4 conference was held to-day between the
mill officials and the committee representing
the strikers who demand Increased wages
lut nothing was accomplished toward set
tlement.
Sanford. Me. March lI-Notlces will be
posted at the Sanford. GoodaH Worsted ana
Maine Alpaca mills tomorrow announcing
an increase Of per cent In wages Ihe
Increase will affect every department Oh the
three plants, which employ total OF 5000
hands.
RIJRNED OUT; KILLS HIMSELF
Tailor Who Lost Business in Equitable
Fire Ends Life.