New-York tribune., 1921-12-04
Wage Problem
Again Stirs
Textile Trade
New Bedford Mill Men
Hesitate to Take the
Lead i'm Reductions. Al
though Action Is Near
Old Agreement Expires
Maintain Scale of Last
Six Months With o ut
Any Written Contract
spseso. Dispatch to The 7ribu~s

Special Dispatch to The Tribu.e
NEW BEDFORD, Mass, Dec. 3.-The
wage question in the textile industry,
which found renewed talk within the
trade during the week, after being Ap+
parently dormant several weeks, was
brought sharply to focus by the Fall
River conference between the manu-
facturers and union representatives
Thursday. when it was decided to con-
tinue the present wage scale without
making a six months agreement.
Mill men are non-con,mital as to
what influences this action will have on
the question, but that they regard it as
significant cannot be denied. FAH
center of great Importance where the
on the wage issue. That city has slso
been the least inclined of sll to cut
wages within the last year. For a time
the mills there threatened to stand out
last December against the 221s per- cent
reduction started in other cities,
though finally yielding. In June of this
year their early declaration against
further wage cut forced in line with
them the sentiment for z cut which ex-
listed elsewhere.
When the proposal to cut wages was
broached, in October, there was pro-
nounced outburst against it from the
public generally. business men as we'll
as workers. This protest was based on
the contention that the cotton industry
| had already been Debated 20 a greater
extent than other industries. Now re-
spOnsible sources indicate that cut is
simply matter of the progress OF
adus tment in other lines. While opin-
ion generally objects to the contention
that this point has about been reached,
there are undeniably influential forces
which feel it has and that additional
delay implies loss to the industry.
New Bedford mill men have ex-
pressed themselves as not willing te
| take the lead IN cut, but that they
would have to be governed by action
taken in other cities. Rhode Island
mills are known to want wage cut.
but except for individual mills have
not believed themselves in a position
to precipitate the issue.
Trading during the week has been
quiet. There is growing tendency TO
believe that no particular change WILL
develop before the first OF the year.
Throughout the wholesale and retail
trade of finished goods there appears
to be determination to enter the yesr
with inventories reduced to mini
mum. Another factor in the unccr-
tainty has been added by the wage dis
cussion. Buyers, foreseeing even the
! possibility of wage cut, will withhold
from the market in the hope OF hene-
fitting by it.
The demand in the Fall River print
cloth market has been moderate this
week. Estimated sales are 10000 pieces.
The continued dull market has led
consideration on the part of some mills
to curtail. but no general movement of
this nature is expected. Prices con-
tinue without much change. The finer
goods of New Bedford have been quiet.
with no feature developing in either
yarns or cloth. Inquiry has been some
what dampened by the approach of the
new year. Prices are about the same
4 though the desultorv trading has given
no adequate test of the ability to main
tain them.
There has been only feeble interest
| shown in the raw cotton market. The
! mills, while satisfied of trade await
! ing the turn of the year, are not in
clined to go ahead on any extensive
buying without having some bona-fioe
sales in hand. Buying is chiefly for
immediate needs. Spots are the prin-
cipal saleable cotton.
So phenomenal has been the success
OF the Wamsutta mills in marketing
direct their entire output of Wam-
sutta sheetings that the direct selling
plan is to be extended to the lingeries,
lustersheers and other fabrics manu-
factured by the mill. This decision
has attracted increased from 100000
yards in 1914 to the rate of 100000
wards at present. The sales are in ex-
cess Of. the demand.