New-York tribune., 1922-01-22
Cotton Mill Interest !
Centered on Wage
Reduction Move
Buying Last Week III Cen
tcrs of New England
Shows a Falling Off;
Inquiries Are at Low Ebb
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


NEW BEDFORD, Mass, Jan. 21.-
The rapid development Of the wage re-
ductlon movement in Connecticut and
Rhode Island, with the free predictions
that it would extend to Massachusetts,
has absorbed the attention of the in
dustry on the surface and obscured the
extension Of inactivity in the trading
IN al branches Of the industry. Buy
ing has been restricted much below last
week, while inquiry, which persisted in
past weeks even when trading WAS
Slight, was at low ebb,
so far New Bedford and Fall River
or other principal cotton manufacture
ing centers in Massachusetts, have
made no reduction. The industry takes
1T Tor granted that the movement
started in Connecticut. followed by the
general reductions in Rhode Island
wlll extend to this state. Just when
and how it will be ACCOMPLISHED in
Massachusetts are the principal points
under discussion. The mill men would
llke TO see it accomplished with one
mill leading the way and the others fol-
lowing IN the wake. But those who
are Watching developments insist that
the risk is too great for one mill in
centers like New Bedford or Fall River
to act independently.
Labor Organizing
This is attributed to the attitude as
sumed by labor. Officials of the Amer
lean Federation of Textile Operatives,
the leading labor group in New Eng
land textile cities, weeks ago declared
any additional cut in wages would
make general strike inevitable. The
officials of this group are keeping their
counsels to themselves now that the
course of events may make decision
necessary, but that this signifies any
change in front cannot be determined.
AS matter of fact, all labor groups
are active. Three American Fede ration
of Textile Operatives officials left Fri
day for Connecticut to direct an organ
izing campaign.
The centering of the organizing
forces there at such time is regarded
as most significant. Abraham Binns,
second vice-president of the American
Federation of Textile Operatives, who
heads the organizers, said the plan to
enter that territory was not new, but
action had been precipitated by the
wage question. The Connecticut mills
that their organizing schedule calls for
have not as yet reduced wages. This
has led to belief that they will throw
their whole resources into an effort to
check the cut at that point. Mr.. Blnns
declared that the reduction has been
started in the unorganized and isolat ted
mills and that the fight lies in organiz-
ing those mills.
Rhode Island Leads
This is the first time in the history
of the cotton industry in this section
of the country that Rhode Island has
taken the initiative in wage rev1slons
either upward or downward. hereto
fore, the mills in that state have fol-
lowed the lead taken either IN the large
mills of New Bedford or Fall River.
Paw cuts previously announced in some
Connecticut mills originated from
Providence, where the mills are con-
trolled. Thomas McMahon, president
Of the United Textile Workers, the
American Federation OF Labor affilla.
tion. and Russell Palmer, secretary OF
tha Amalgamated Textile Workers,
arreed with Mr. Binns in declaring
this was conclusive that the unorgan,
;zed mills had been selected to lead
the way. -.
the mill men in MASSACHUSETTS, tnat
will force a wage cut. This factor is
admitted by labor groups. There IS
difference, however, as to It's extent
and also as to the effect wage re,
duction would have. Lower wages and
longer hours give the South an ad.
vantage against which the New England
cannot compete.
Much of the dullness of the weeks
trading is declared to be closely con,
nected with the wage question. All
markets were quiet. The cotton mar.
ket felt the slump toward the end of
last week and fun force of it struck
this week. Prices on extra staples
remained the same, though somewhat
easier and some underselling was re-
ported. The shorter lengths of cot
ton continued to decline, though Fall
River and Providence were reported to
have been as listless as the New Bed
ford extra staples.
Cloth and yarn prices held The
finer goods in New Bedford produced
sales and provoked little inquiry. The
print cloth sales in Fall River, esti-
mated at $4,000 for the week, were
n ut unsatisfactory. The finer goods
nave held prices moro firmly than the
Z wer grader.