The New York herald., 1921-01-09

between employers and employees.
This city possesses nothing if not
civic pride That civic pride has
been hurt by the endurance test
staged between the shoe workers and
their employers to the disadvantage
of both, and. it is feared, to the dis
tinct advantage of such other shoe
manufacturing cities as Rochester,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia Cincinnati and
ST. Louis, this city's chief competitors
In the manufacture of women's fine
footwear.
Power of Local Unions.
The situation is this: Seventy-five per
cent. of Lynn's 10000 shoe workers
have been idle for four months or more.
They, with their families, comprise forty
per cent. or more of the city's popula-
ton. Since the beginning OF the war
these workers have been enjoying wages
on an unprecedented high scale. These
reached their peak in July last, when
the bonus system was instituted by
which employees received what amount
ed to about a twenty per cent. additional
Increase. Some of the more skilled work
ers on special machines made as hlgh as
$125 a week The average wage for all
classes of the industry was about $40
week. Many of the employees came 70
work in their own motor cars, which
were by no means restricted TO the
cheaper makes. Those who did not buy
cars and otherwise alter their mode OF
living during the era of wartime pros
perity purchased Liberty bonds and VIC
tory notes. cA
Workers of America control the enl-
ployees of the industry in Lynn. These
locals are bossed entirely by their pusl-
ness agents, who comprise what Is
known as the Joint Council and VINO so
far have declined to permit relereh-
dunn among the actual members on any
roint at issue. The United Shoe Work
ers OF America is not recognized by the
American Federation of Labor. IL Is
an outlaw organization in which the
principle of arbitration, as recognized py
the A. F. of L., has no place. nc mas
been only within the last few weeks tnat
the business agents and bosses OF the
Lynn locals have consented even 10 con-
fer with representatives of the manu-
facturers concerning the deadlock. That
they have done so is one Of the meagre
but hopeful signs of a compromise To
date they have refused to consider any
suggestion of a referendum among the
workers on the question Of eliminating
the bonus system, but there are mdlca-
tions that the workers themselves may
soon force the leaders to permit this
free expression of their own opinion.
Civic Pride Touched.
Stories OF the industrial deadlock here
have not made particularly pleasant
reading for the Lynn manufacturers.
a ITS the worst kind of advertising for
LINN. and why should we say anything
that would only tend to divert business
elsewhere2" one large manufacturer told
the representative of THE NEW YORK
HERALD. Another said: Wen accept
what orders come in. We're not solicit
ing any, but we don't want the idea to
get abroad that Lynn cannot make de-
Iiveries of orders already in"
That's where the city's civic pride Is
touched. The local manufacturers have
seen a shoe industry that approXimated
a s55. .oO00 turnover in 1916 increase
this to S70,000,000 in 1918. with an
output Of nearly 100000 pairs They
have seen Lynn far In the lead in the
output OF women's high class footwear
They have seen the finest work done in
Lynn and the highest wages paid here
for that work. Consequently they don
propose to let Haverhill, Salem, Cincin-
natl or st. Louis usurp leadership in the
industry If they can prevent il.
Just to what extent the present dead
lock results from a peace pact entered
into by most of the manufacturers and
the workers last September is matter
of interesting conjecture. 1t Is a phase
of the subject on which the employers
are extremely reticent. A not inconsid-
cradle number feel they were duped and
are regretting now that they are par
ties to an agreement the existence OF
which is proving an obstacle rather tIan
a help in the resulting situation.
when the Market sIumped.
The peace pact was signed Sept ]
last by all but eight or ten Of the 145
shoe manufacturers in the city. II
pledred them to continue the then eX-
listing scale of wages with the bonus
system, instituted the previous July
until the spring ofS1922. Any change in
the wage scale or working conditions
before that time could only be made
with the consent of both parties. the
manufacturers and the workers, which
meant the business agents OF the fiji
teen different locals.
Practically concident with the sign
ing of the peace pact conditions IN the
industry changed. The evil OF over
production was aggravated by sudden
suspension of buying. The market
dropped and the manufacturer found
themselves with no demand for goods
already made and no new business
coming In. Prices had TO be cut to
meet competition. and the continuation
Of the bonus system appeared an impos-
sibility. The manufacturer submitted
their case, asked for conference with
the heads Of the locals, but that was
as far as negotiations progressed. The
headers flatly refused 60 discuss the
matter, and took the position that II
there was to be no bonus there would
be no work They called out the workers
RI all the factories whose owners signed
the so-called peace pact. That virtually
meant closing down the industry en-
tirely. as only two OF the seven or eight
manufacturers who declined 20 sign the
pact were attempting to run open shops.
One Of these. the Tuttle-Jones Com
pany. attempted last month In the face
OF conditions to do business on the open
ahop basis. The usual methods were
employed against the company. The
Massachusetts law provides that in labor
disputes picleets may be employed by
labor organizations, with certain restric-