Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-10
MILL WAGES
CONTINUED from PAGE one)

by the manufacturers who took part
in the conference, the statement said:
1T is evident from what has trans
pired in the past few months that
there has been an insistent and COM
Polling demand on the part of the
public that the cost of living should
be lessened by readjustment of the
prices of commodities entering into
the expense of daily life. This de-
mand has been and is. country wide.
and it becomes the duty of all those
interested in industries which affect
Immediately the cost of living to give
serious consideration to this subject.
manufacturers have been reluctant
to make any radical changes in wages
because of it's effect at a time when
there has seemed to be so little will
ingness on the part of the retailer to
do business on lower basis of price,
but conditions have recently come
about whereby this situation has been
materially affected and prices of ar
ticles entering into the cost Of living
have been reduced to a considerable
extent. = Now that the process of re-
adjustment had operated in the wage
still further to be lessened as the
present low prices OF raw materials
are reflected in retail costs, the manu-
facturere can property take some ac-
ton to lessen the labor cost involved
in production.
The refusal of buyers to purchase
goods for the past four or five months
on a high basis of cost has led to
stagnation of the markets upon which
the manufacturers depend. so that at
the present time many of the textile
mills in New England have been oblig-
! ed to shut down; many more are work
| ing on short time. and unless some
, thing is done to remedy these condi-
lions, unemployment will be increased
! and continue.
Therefore it becomes the duty of
manufacturers to consider some means
| of providing for stabilization of
| prices so that merchants may be put
| in a position to order goods without
fear of further declines.
1T is obvious that no one will buy
the product of the mills until the va
| rious factors. including labor. enter
| ing into the cost, have been reduced
to a point which represents to the
purchasers of the mills product safe
basis for doing business.
In order to stabilize conditions so
that goods can be purchased and BUSH
| ness be done. it is indispensably neces-
sary, unfortunate though it may be.
that there should be some wage reduce
| ton. The textile manufacturers haYe
given careful consideration to every
phase OF this situation and have taken
into account all possible methods of
bringing about conditions whereby
| their plants may be operated without
any change in the wage scale, but they
find that this is impossible.
Accordingly it has been suggested
| that a reduction of 22s per cent. will
aid materially in stabilizing the mar
ket. This will approximately reestab-
| lish tine wage schedule of November.
1919, and will leave wages in the tex
tile industries more than double the
wages of 1915.
IF this reduction is made. it is
hoped that merchants will feel that
the factor of labor, as well as raw ma
terial costs. have been so adjusted that
they will feel Secure in placing their
orders for mercandise.
IF this turns out to be the result.
employment can be provided and it is
hoped and expected that business can
proceed on this basis. 1t is also hoped
that the public will respond to this
suggestion and that manufacturers
will be able to go on with their manu-
featuring processes with no further
reduction in the wages of employees"