Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-08
TEXTILE LEADER
ANSWERS HURLBUT
Gustave Geigas Denies Skilled
knitters Average $4,000
to $4,000
WHAT OTHER SIDE SAYS

Gustav Geigas. leader of the Full
Fashioned Knitters' Association in this
city. this afternoon denied assertions
by G.. Stanley iHurlbut, president Of the
Men and Managements Textile Council,
that the average wages of skilled
stocking knitter here are from $1,000 to
$4,000 a year.
The knitters. with other workers in
til" full fashioned hosiery trade, are on
strike. Several meetings have been
held between the men and their en-
ploys.
In statement issued to the news
papers. Mr.. Hurlbut also declares that
the increases granted during the war
period. with an increase now offered.
will bring the knitters' earnings to
point above the increase i'll living cost.
This also is denied by Mr.. Geigas.
Mr.. Hurlbut's statement follows IN
full:
'"The Philadelphia Full Fashioned
Hosiery Manufacturers Association has
offered to its knitters Is per cent in
crease in wages.
"rhe present wages paid by the mills
in Philadelphia exceed by 10 or 10 per
cent the wages paid by the majority
of the mills outside Of the city.
This additional increase in wages,
will bring the Philadelphia full
: FASHIONED knitter to point where
he will be receiving about % per
cent in wages over what full fash
ioned knitter is making in the majority
of the mills outside Of Philadelphia, and
these mills outside Of the city are strong
competitors Of the industry here in the
city.
statistics show that the average
wages of skilled knitter in Phiadel-
phia range from $4,000 to $4,000 year.
There are some knitters who have made
over $4,000.
Statistics show that the cost OF
living has advanced from % per cent
to 60 per cent. This additional iu-
creased wage scale will make the total
increase for knitters in Philadelphia
from 55 per cent to 20 per cent. The
full fashioned hosiery knitter has al
ways d&ived higher wages than work
ers in any other line Of the textile in
dustry in the United States.
with reference to hours. the hosiery
association has decided. except where
the employees desire to work longer
hours. to establish n work week of
forty eight hours. with such additional
time as is necessary for cleaning of the
machines. at the end of each week. 1t
takes a competent knitter from half
hour to two hours to clean his ma
chimes.
Several conferences have been held
between representatives of each of the
mills on strike and representatives of
the manufacturers. in an honest effort
to give the employees every advantage OF
any fair proposition which has ever
been presented; to inquire into their
needs. working conditions and establish
loyal co operation.
'"Thc kniters. however. have shown
absolutely 10 willingness to co operate,
either in the matter of hours or in the
< Matteis of wages. and have refused to
consider the industry as an industry In
Philadelphia, but have permitted mills
outside of the city of Philadelphia to
opcrate at lower rates of wages. con e
ditional upon a promise of the manu-
facturers outside the city of Philadel
jphia to give to their knitters the same
amount of increase as the hosiery man
ufacturers in Philadelphia agree to give
"It would appcar, however. that for
Z. the same class of work. it is only fair
hotb to the mon and women working
IN tbe mills and TO the manufacturers
thomso,ves that q more or less uniform
n.;oo ho made and that to use the man
,,.o.rrors of pb;ladelnhio as means nj
.iartues VI a,t 80 nronortion 70
.orcins up ""s W.. 80. nthon n,a,,
iair aet''uhus anu pc, n'' ~. n:..o l'au .p,a,
facturers 10 run on 'he cohai'i'n 'na'
they Will meet the increase .he manu-