Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-03
Textile Workers
Insist on 8 Hours
Continued from Page one

the shortness OF time has permitted.
owing 10 the absence from the city
OF some members Of the committee
the undersigned have been compelled
to act without consultation with their
associates.
Tho demand Of the United Textile
Workers for reduction Of working
hours to forty-clght per week is stated
BY tho union not 20 involve any claim
for increase OF wages. They contend
that in tho long run production wiz
not he affected by the change. They
assert that more free time will be
accepted by the workers as an ade-
quate compensation for any inciden-
tai diminution of wages. They point
to tho fact that n basic working dav
Of eight hours is being generally ac-
copted in other lines OF work and in
the textile industry elsewhere than in
Philade lphia. They think there is no
good reason why local exception
should be made here,
Employers Fear Demand
on tho other hand. the manufac-
turcrs with wnOm the committee con-
ferred are of opinion that reduction
in hours will necessarily beget a de-
maud for an increased rate of com
trade conditions are such as to make
an increase of wages impossible. They
doplore the fact that they should bc
compelled to face problems of this
sort at time when employers and
employees should he standing by one
another in an effort to carry the in
dustry through an exceptionally try
ing period.
The difficulty Of reconciling these
honest differences OF opinion is in
creased by the fact that there is no
comprehensive organization Of textile
manufacturers and no person or group
OF persons authorized to speak for the
rest. The committee has conferred
with many individuals. but has been
unable to arrive at n conclusion bind
ing upon all.
Two things however. are entirely
clear. One is that Philadelphia must
not he the scene of an open industrial
rupture at a time when stability in
business Is a matter of national and
even international Importance. The
other is that under present conditions
In Philadelphia those textile mills
which are not compelled to shut down
can reduce the working hours to for
ty-eight hours per week without ap-
preciable loss. This being so, the citi-
zens committee makes the following
earnest request OF each textile manu-
facturer whose mill is to continue run
ming. The request is that, beginning
with February 8, each manufacturer
Will solely at the request of this COM
mittee. adopt for the time being the
forty-eight hour week, with no in
crease of rate Of compensation. the
merits Of such a working basis to be
referred to the war labor board at
Washington and the decision of that
body to be accepted as final both by
the manufacturers and by the union.
The proposal Is that the manufac-
turers will make this concession at the
request OF tho community as repre-
sented by the committee. BY doing
this they will be mourning no appre-
cisble financial loss and they will be
bringing the working hours in Phila-
delphia into line with the standards
that are being adopted elsewhere.
The committee has outlined this-
proposal to the officers of the union
and is assured that the verdict of the
war labor board will be accepted by
this organiza ton.
The textile manufacturers of Phil
adelphia are thus given an opportu
nifty to render a patriotic service
which will insure the continuance of
the respect in which they are held in
this community.
'At a largely attended meeting O
textile workers, held in Kensington o
sunday evening. the officers of tn
eight working hours on Monday tn
employees should walk out and report 70
work again at the regular hour o
Tuesday. II this course We're followed
the mill owners would have no alter
native but to refuse admittance o
Tuesday 10 the workers in question an
the usual consequences of such a situa
tion would ensue. In order td d
h gV,a. ~ 10.
such a result, the following Telegram
was sent this (Monday) morning TO TN
officers of each Of the several manufac
turers' associations:
The citizens committee requests
your serious consideration OF its
statement appearing in this morning 5
papers In case some or all OF
the manufacturers In your line are
disposed 10 put their mills on a forty
eight-hour basis in compliance with
the request of the committee 1t is
hoped that you will ask them to give
notice to their employees as early as
possible today In order 10 prevent al
possibility of misunderstanding and
consequent danger OF disorder
. AT the time of submitting this repoi
10 you, IL is not possible 10 determir
what percentage OF manufacturers,
any. will comply with the request of yol
committee. II the manufacturer go,
upon the -eight-hour basis n
workers will of course be satisfied an
will have no question to refer to the wa
labor board. IT, after going on the fort.
eight hour basis the manufacture fiRC
that il is working WELL there will be u
disposition on his part to refer to n
board. In case a manufacturer who hi
gone upon the forty eight-hour bas
finds that the change is working TO h
disadvantage and he desires to go bac
TO his former status, his proper couri
would be 10. refer the matter TO the Wa
la Dor board for hearing and detemin;
tion.
THE committee advised a chang
of basis pending a reference to the WI
labor board rather than a continuatio
OF the existing basis for the reason thu
tho manufacturers, even up to the la
minute, failed to take any concerto
action to have the merits of the cat
publicly considered and adjusted.
available representatives of the unio
had no authority TO suspend the da'
when their national order went Into e
feet. IL became necessary to advise q
manufacturers TO make at least ten
porary acceptance of the forty-eigh
hour basis and subsequently take up II
merits of the question with the war labt
board in case the change was found
work disadvantageously.
"A further and final report will
sibn,tted TO you II and when there ha,
b.en further developments In the situi
t,cn- .Rsepectfuiiy submitted.
ryA W. PEPPER. chsirman."
v ~ 49,. n