Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-13
TEXTILE WORKERS
WAGES TO Be CUT
Reduction of % IL Per Cent
for 10000 Believed Plan
at Lawrence.
BY the Associat ted Press.


LAWRENCE, Mass, December 49,
First announcement of actual reduc-
! tion of textile operatives wages by
large mill corporations was made to-
| day by the Pacific mills and the Ar
!, lington mills of this city. Their 16-
! 600 workers, constituting one-haIf OF
! the operatives of this textile center
were notified that a reimbursement had
been made. effective December 20. In
accordance with custom the amount
was not stated. but it was under
stood to approximate 22k per cent,
, as suggested by a manufacturers con-
ference last week.
| No word of it's attitude on the cues
| ton of wage reduction came from the
! American Wooden Company whose
| four local mills employ most of the
other operatives in the city. Presi-
dent William M. Wood announced sew
eral days ago that his directors had
not considered the question at that
time.
The Pacific and Arlington mills
make principally cotton cloths. but
nave Worsted specialties under pro-
auction The notice posted by the
racine mills management. which was
salo TO be similar to that formulate ed
by the Arlington mills. follows:
Due to lack of orders and on nc
count of stock conditions in the tex
tile industry it has become necessary
10 make a readjustment in wages to
TAKE effect Monday. December 20 We
nope this reduction will cause mer-
chants to feel secure in placing their
orders for merchandise"
There are several smaller mills in
the city which usually have followed
the larger interests and which We're
SAID to be contemplating similar ac-
ton today.
10000 More Affected
NEW BEDFORD. Mass, December
lS.-Wage reductions affecting an
proximately 10000 operatives. were
announced today by all cotton mills
afhliated with the New Bedford Cot
ton Manufacturers Association. The
reduction. amounting to 22k per cent.
Will become effective next Monday.
SALEM. Mass. December lathe
Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company
VIII be governed in it's action on wage
schedules for it's LOO operatives by
the policy in other centers. ]. Foster
Smith, the agent of the company, an
nounced today.
when, as and If competitors in
other manufacturing centers reduce
wages the Naumkeag mills will fol-
low he said. in simplifying the state
me.t of the mills policy last Saturday
that no immediate reduction in the
rate of wages was planned
LONSDALE. r. l., December 10
Employees Of the Lonsdale Company
and the Lincoln Bleachery were noti-
ned today that wage reduction
would become effective December 90.
Tn, amount was not stated. About
1000 employees are affected.
PAWTUCKET. r. J.. December Ia
three textile mills in this city and
Central Falls, employing a total of
about 2,7e0 operatives. announced
wage reductions today. The amount
was not stated. but it was generally
expected that it would be the same
as in other textile centers, 221h per
cent. The cut is effective December 20.
rs 900 Cotton Workers Hit.
BIDDEFORD. Me-. December H.
Nearly 5000 textile operatives In this
city and Saco are affected by wage
reductions of 22h per cent, announced
by the Pepperell and York Manufac-
turing companies today The pres
ent three-day-a-week schedule will
be continued at both plants. it was
stated
LOWELL. Mass. December 1a.-Cot-
ton manufacturers of this city, en-
ploying $4,000 persons. announced
wage reductions averaging 22h per
cent today. The cut is effective Jan
uary 3.
The readjustment will. in effect.
cancel two increases voluntarily made
by the mills in the past eighteen
months. 1t will make an average
wage for mill operatives Of $21 a
week. according to the manufacture
ers' figures, which they compare with
an average Of $3.50 in 1914
NEW YORK. December 13.-Reports
from mill centers give every indica-
ton that wage reductions announced
for December 20 by large cloth manu-
featuring plants will be resisted.
John Golden. president of the United
Textile Workers of America, de-
clared here today.
Although no official notification of
cuts announced throughout New Eng
land of approximately 221z per cent in
wages had been received to date, Mr..
Golden said that the unions executive
committee will consider the situation
at conference here next Friday and