Norwich bulletin., 1914-01-08
SCARCITY OF HELP
IN TEXTILE INDUSTRIES.
Trained Workers laokins-oPportuni
ties for Young Men Considered Ex.
ceilent.


The efforts Of manufacturers to Sc
cure greater production by means of
operating their plants on a double
time schedule Is often attended with
extreme difficulty because Of the great
scarcity of trained help, says the
American Wool and Cotton Reporter,
and this Is condition that at times
ccnfronts the textile mills of this sec
ton. In several of our manufacturing
centers the newspapers have a number
of advertisements for wooden and wor-
sted operatives for the various depart
ments Of the mills. and strange to say,
In spite OF the much discussed depres-
sion in the trade. 1t is harder than
ever before to secure q full compile
ment OF help. Another very serious
feature that confronts the manufac-
turer at present is the fact that. as
the years go by. 1t is more and more
difficult to secure ef1cient help.
The cause Is question Of more than
passing interest and threatens to be-
come very serious factor in our
manufacturing problem. 1t would
seem that in period when mills are
not operating their entire equipment
there would be a surplus of help anx-
ious to find work, but, on the contra
ry, 1t appears that there are compare
lively few who can be induced to &C
cept positions offered. In discussing
the ever present question of help with
manufacturer a short time since, he
bewailed the passing Of the native
born mill worker and gave several sug-
gestions as to why good help has be-
come so scarce.
One of the best reasons advanced
was probably the fact that in the re-
cent past there has been a marked
tendency toward concentration, with a
less personal and intimate relation be-
tween mill owner and employee. As
the mills have grown in size and be-
come the property Of corporations in
stead of being owned in large part by
the active resident managers, there is
more and more a tendency for the OPP
eratives to become simply a part of
the productive equipment and lose
their identity and personality.
A short time ago, when the mill
owners took IN active part in the man
agement of the plant. each of the OPP
eratives represented to him a person,
not merely a necessary part of the
equipment, and In most cases the OPP
erative felt an interest in the success
of the business beyond that induced by
wages alone. It was customary for
the father to take the children into
the mill when they had attained tile
working age. and it was not at all I'M
common to find the whole family
working for the same manufacturer.
OF late this has entirely changed.
Prejudice Exists.
There has arisen in the minds Of
many of our native born young people
q prejudice against being known as a
mill operative. and they are seeking
other means of gaining a livelihood.
1t is not entirely. and with the ma
jorfty not OF all a question of financial
return, as in most cases their earn
ings are far less than they could OBJ
tain in the mill and in instances innu-
numeral the hours are much longer.
But the fact remains that larger por-
ton of the younger generation are
seeking positions outside of the textile
industry, with the result that the
places they might fill are given to
aliens who. in many instances, are in
ferior in mental ability and will never
be able to take the positions of re-
sponsfbilty that offer great opportuni-
ties to the trained textile worker.
With many manufacturers it is be-
coming a serious problem to find men
of technical and executive ability to
fill the positions they have to offer.
Very few may Ee expected to develop
from among the ranks.
At no time in the history Of the
textile industry have there been great
er opportunities for the young men OF
good character and ability TO rise TO
positions of trust and responsibility
than at present. BY application to
business, and awaiting himself of the
numberiess opportunities to acquire O.
technical knowledge Of manufacturers,
advancement is sure. To men of this
stamp the textile industry offers as
many and az great opportunities as al
most any field Of endeayor.