Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-14
Mill Workers Seek
Wage Arbitration

Continued from PaEe One
committee of twenty five Of the Phila-
aclphia Central Labor Union. a COM
mittce appointed as a measure of de-
fcnsc against the so-called "open shop"
compagn being wagcd throughout the
country.
have talked to the leading labor
.n;on officials of the city and have found
them very outspoken; quite willing to
"nut their cards on the table" and meet
the situation halfway on wage reduc-
t;ons. if-and here is the stumbling
block-reduction are necessary to get
tbc mill wheels turning. These leaders
.mphatically state that a survey con
Jucted by the Labor Bureau, Inc. of
New York, specifically proves that wage
reductions are unnecessary to meet com
petition.
There is no question that the textile
workers are fully convinced that the
mill owners have made exorbitant profits
during the last few years. The labor
leaders arc emphatic in their dcclara-
tion that textile labor did not share
in these large profits to the degree that
il should. They specifically point out
that throughout the entire industry in
1910 wages could have been doubled
without affecting just return on the
capital invested. In fact, the Labor
Bureau report definitely shows that each
worker in Philadelphia could have re-
ceived an average increase in wages for
that year Of about S2400 and yet left
enough to pay the owners per cent on
their investment.
They point out that the textile work.
ers in 1918 could have received an aver
arc wage of S3949. The labor leaders
do not believe prices have dropped ito
HIch a degree as to wipe out this great
proft and compel sweeping reduction
In wages.
The textile manufacturers of the en-
tire country are proposing ID per
cent reduction in wages, which the tex
tile workers, in their present mood, are
unwilling to accept. The labor officials
state that they will be perfectly willing
20 have an impartial board make a sur
ycy Of conditions in Philadelphia and
II this board finds that a wage cut is
necessary they will abide by the de-
Tbov NOT only are willing to do this
h,,t arc extremely desirous of such ac
tion beipp taken. and assuredsme posi-
tivclv and definitely that should this
imnar,ioI commission declare that IL was
n"aosSarv ,"p IN take n marked reduction In
u.,soe 70 enable thc manufacturers to
tot rho mill wheels going tbcv would
ho nc,fectIv willing to moot tb,t crt
nror;ded that ne values incrco osoJ vgyos
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