Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-06
HEADS TO
ASK CONGRESS TO
PROBE WAGE CUTS
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
e23 Riggs Building.
BY THEODORE TILLER

| WASHINGTON. Jan. 4.-Textile
mills in Georgia and other states
| that have attempted reduction IN
wages Or shutdowns in the present
| trend of price and labor readjust-
| ments will find interest in state
| ment issued here by the American
Federation of Labor. which an
nounces that a congressional in
vestigation will be demanded of al
| legged practices in the textile manu-
| featuring industry. President Sam
| uel Gompers and other officials Of
| the federation say that organized
labor has decided to fight against
any reduction of wages in the tex
| tile field.
This statement is made in the
face of wage reductions in other in
| dustries, some of which have been
| accepted voluntarily by the work.
ers.
The virtual ultimatum Of the fed
Grafton is announced after confer
ence here OF various labor leaders
at federation headquarters. While
the statement Of the federation COW
ers only the textile manufacturing
industry, the temper of the an
nouncement indicates opposition to
wage cuts in general. Speaking for
Mr.. Gompers at recent labor meet
ing in Washington, Secretary Nor
rison took the broad position that
labor must not consent to a wage
reduction so long as the cost of liv-
ing remains as it is.
In it's statement. the federation
says it has pledged itself to join
fully with the United Textile work
ers in demanding a congressional
investigation of the proposed wage
cuts in the textile field. Prear-
Management among employers is al
legged.
''President Gompers. Secretary
Morrison and members of the execu-
tive council of the federation" says
the statement from Mr.. Gompers' of
flee, conferred here today with
President John Golden and other
representatives of the textile work
ers Reviewing conditions. these rep
resentatives declared there is
throughout the industry a general
policy of reducing wages and clos
ing plants for both short and long
periods.
1.-THE bulk of wage reduction an
Eouncements call for cut of % 1-2
per cent. FACTORIES are being closed
for periods ranging from three and
four days week shutdowns to sixty
days continuous shutdowns.
TT was agreed in the conference
held at federation headquarters that
because of the general character of
the unwarranted and unjustifiable
treatment of the workers in reduc-
ing wages and closing plants, there
is every evidence that the employ
ers are acting in concert and by pre-
arrangement. The promise was Civ
en- to the textile union representa-
tlves that the American Federation
of Labor will join with them in
their demand for a congressional in
vestlgation in an effort to find out
what is back of the movement Of the
employers. and if the situation is
not remediable. The labor repre-
sentatives have in. mind also the
enormous profits made by the textile
industry during the war, and they
are in possession of evidence that
many of the firms that are now
abandoning all consideration for the
workers have in their treasures huge
reserves piled up during the period
OF huge profits
The federation statement adds
that the situation is being laid be-
fore members of congress- by Mr..
Gompers and others and it is the
intention of organized labor to pur-
sue the campaign for a congressional
inquiry because it is believed that
the wage reductions and shutdowns
are due to an arbitrary and concert
cd design of employers in pursuit Of
added profits