New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-04
Textile Operatives
Prosper on Higher
Scale Of Wages
Increase in Bank Deposits
Shown in Large Mill
Centres
by Editor Of American Wool and
Cotton Reporter.)

COTTON HepFteF./
While in some industries wage IN
creases during recent years have been
greater than those Of textile workers,
there seem to be few in which the net
Improvement of the employe has been
more substantial. or will continue TO
be so as compared TO what it pre-
viously was. than 10 those occupied in
the industry mentioned. Many new
, ones pay wages which are exception
ally high, but in the majority Of cases
these industries are largely Of tenn
porary character. Those employed in
them will be forced TO seek other
means of livelihood as soon as pres
sure for war materials ceases. Actual
/ improvement in the textile trade is
greater than wages show-thar IS. the
workers are not forced to do as much
as they were previously. They operate
fewer machines in many departments
and the percentages OF production are
undoubtedly less than before. The OPP
erative il. therefore, receiving higher
wages for a smaller amount of actual
production.
Increase About 40 Per Cent.
The average increase in wages has
probably been about 40 per cent.
Weavers, who previously secured an
average of only SO per week, are now
receiving Sl4 or more per week. Upon
fancy fabrics the wages of weavers are
: higher than SIS per week, and upon
! specislties quite little higher than
the figures mentioned Relatively SINH
lar conditions are noted in the other
departments, and. in fact. in some
cases the increase has been much more
/ than noted above.
! This increase in wages only partly
compensates for the advance in com
modify prices. 1t must be realized,
however, that the latter are only rela-
tive. and that, due to large stocks on
| hand, tho consumer can buy many arti-
| cles at prices much lower than would
be the case IL new merchandise had
been purchased. There are many in
/ stances where cotton goods can be
/ purchased at retail at prices lower than
| those in the manufacturing trade.
/ Many statements have been made TO
/ the effect that the worker was not get
/ ting anything out of the present pros
perity-that is, that he cost OF living
| had advanced much faster than wages.
! According TO figures this probably IS
I true, but practically it is not true. 1t
! may not be true for some time to come.
or possibly never IL the war should
end soon.
Opportunities for Gardening
Another reason why the textile
worker is in favorable position IS the
! fact that many concerns have ofered
their employees the opportunity Tor
gardening, either through free rent OF
! ground or in some similar way. ms
! has aided in keeping the prices OF veg
! etables at relatively low levels. Every
year a comparatively large percentage
CT textile employees have gardens.
Manufacturers have doubtless OBJ
tanned large profits, but they have in
creased wages relatively fast to tho
employees. In many industries radical
reductions are likely to be- made
through lack OF employment when the
war is over, but the increases in the
textile trade will probably be more or
less permanent. Many feel that II will
never again be possible 20 secure OPP
eratives at the wages paid previous to
the war. and therefore the outlook from
/ the workers standpoint is not what IL
has been. In addition 20 the benefits OF
( higher wages and lighter task 'hich
/ textile workers are enjoying is the
greater interest manufacturers have
| taken in their welfare. Many improve
! ments, both of a mechanical and social
4 nature, have been made in the last
I three years.
Workers Save Money
1 Increases il bank deposits and IN the
number Of depositors in textile centres
/ show that there has been larger mar
/ gin Of profit among workers than previ-
( ously. From 10 possibly 10 per cent
+ increase in the number Of depositors
in the banks located in textile manu-
4 featuring districts is noted. II living
costs have advanced faster than wages,
or if the textile employe were not for
other reasons also situated favorably,
there would not have been an increase
during the last year in the number of
dcpositors or in the individual account.
To sum up, higher wages, less work,
living costs reduced by opportunities
for gardening more benefits from well
fare work for employees and, as at least
one result of the above, more and
larger bank accounts are all factors
which make for the present prosperity
of textile workers.