New-York tribune., 1920-07-29
Laying Off of Workmen
and Cut in Wages Will
Be Resisted Eat All
Hazards,'' He Declares
Earnings of Wool
Mills Are Assailed
Asks if Policy Is to Drive
Men by Fright Into
olitical C. am %

From The Ttibune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 2S.-Warning
that organized labor will resist "at all
hazards" any reduction of wages and
the laying off of workmen, President
Samuel Gompers of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor to-day demanded con-
tinuous operation of industry as the
only means to insure increased pro-
duction
"For months we have heard the cry,
dinned and dinned and dinned into our
ears-increase production, increase pro-
duction," said Mr. Gompers.
"How can increased production be
accomplished under a policy of laying
off thousands of workers?
"The American Woolen Mills in
Massachusetts close their doors. 1t
may be of interest to note the record
of profits for this company and to re-
call recent statements of President
William w Wood
"The American Woolen Company in
creased its net income 316 per cent
for 1918 over 1914. The net increase
in common stock earnings was 531 per
cent. Since the American Woolen
Company controls so large portion of
the business of making wool cloth,
being commonly known as the Wool
Trust it may be we'll to go into more
details regarding it's operations
"There were for the year ended
hor
taxes and charges, net earnings of
$40, ,s04, equal to s39s9 per share
on the $20,000000 of common stock
This is after allowance has been made
for preferred dividends.
Points to Action of P. r. r.
ain 1918 the earnings per share on
common stock were $13086, total of
$5,572,527. President Wood told his
stockh olders that the close of the year
left the company with untitled orders
sufficient to keep the machinery fully
employed we'll into 1920 and with good
prospects for full production for the
entire year. Foreign deliveries in
creased approximately 100 per cent
during 1919
"ln addition to this case, there is
the action of the Pennsylvania Rail
road in laying off approximately $4,000,
If reports are accurate. viii this help
move freight, will it help give the ma
tion that increased production of which
it stands in real need?
COR is the laying off of workers
revival Of that old and crude policy of
laying off men during a political cam
palgn for the purpose of driving them
IN fright and necessity into a political
camp?
"In addition to the laying off of men,
there have been reports of efforts to
decrease wages. 1t will be recalled
that in 1907 and 1908 employers sought
to reduce wages, the result of which at
that time would have been to produce
a panic.
"The American Federation Of Labor
sent forth the warning that we would
resist and resist and resist, and we
paraphrased a saying and declared it
better to resist and lose than not to
resist at ALL
Will Resist Reduction
"The policy of reducing wages was
abandoned as a result of that warming
We repeat that warning to-day. At all
hazards we will resist wage reductions
There is no excuse, and much less
reason, for reduction of wages. We
will tolerate no reduction of wages
Even yet We have ground to cover be-
fore we restore to all the purchasing
power Of 1918.
"The nation needs production. En-
ployers have called for production too
frequently as a means of driving the
workers to unpaid efforts and in order
to cast reflection upon their efforts
and their honesty and integrity There
is no trouble with the efficiency of the
workers. There is growing efficiency
of workers. There is too infrequently
an equal efficiency and integrity and
intelligence in the management of in
dustry. The action of corporations that
to-day lay off thousands of men is moth
ing less than tremendous Indictment
against people in need of every pos
sible ounce of production.
"What is needed above everything
else to-day is continuous operation Of
industry, with a fairness and honesty
and intelligence upon the part of en-
ployers that will make continuous op-
Grafton possible. Two employment pol
icies will hinder production. These
are either reduction of working forces
or brutal efforts to drive the workers
without consultation and without
agreement with the workers.
"The mills and the factories should
run. Management should consult with
workers through the chosen repre-
sentatives of the workers. The CO.
operation to be achieved by such q
policy will give the nation the produc-
tion that it needs and that is needed by
the whole world. Arrogance, bigotry
and autocratic conduct Of employers is
a waste that society can i'll afford
LOST? FOUND!