The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-02-18
MILL TOWNS
ARE HARD HIT
Fourth Week Of Big Strike
Has Left People in
Doubt
.PAWTUXET VALLEY
INDUSTRY HALTS
Trouble Is Over 20 Per
Cent Wage Cut and
Longer Hours

ciated Press).- "A sign that greets all
Corners as the trolley car hies down
| into the little village of Natick says;
"You are now in the Pawtuxet valley
Tax exemptions for new industries
Pawtuxet valley board of trade" But
the cluster Of mill villages that eN-
tends some eleven miles along the riv-
err valley isn't thinking about new in
dustries now. 1t is wondering what
| is going to happen to the old ones. To-
| day marks the end Of the fourth week
, OF the strike that has closed the tex
| tile mills in the valley because the
operatives refused to accept a twenty
per cent wage cut and an increase in
working hours.
There are other signs in these vii
lagos now. One in the window OF a
barbershop reads: strikers, shave, ten
cents. Haircut, 90 cents Another on
tie front of clothing store says that
ION account of the strike" the mark
down sale which was to have ended
Feb. Ii has been extended to March
Il. And on doorway in Arctic Center
yesterday was a sign reading. Mass
meeting tonight
The doorway opens on a stair case
at the top Of which another door leads
into big hall, bare save for two long
board tables and few chairs. This is
strike headquarters for the Pawtuxet
valley. There are no guards on the
doors. Men, women and children enter
and leave at will. Smoking is per-
mitted. Yesterday afternoon a goodly
group of men sat or stood about the
hall chatting quietly and appearing to
be in good spirits. Inquiry for the
strike leader, William H Derrick, de-
veloped that he had stepped out ito
buy some collars" Presently he re-
turned, collars in hand.
Derrick is an organizer for the
Amalgamated Textile Workers Tie Is
affable but earnest. He declared the
strikers had nothing to a'bitrate, but
he hopes the mill owners can be per
suaded to the view that the operatives
cannot afford to accept the. new condi-
tons.
He explained that the Amalgamated
wanted to bring about here the sys-
tenn already in operation in certain in
dustries in other places. The system
provides for Joint committees of en-
ployers and workers to talk over dis |
puted points as to wages and working
with an impartial chair
man to have the deciding vote. This !
chairman is on salary which is paid |
jointly by the employer and the union,
and IL empowered to examine into
costs OF manufacturing and living
costs.
Derrick said the Amalgamated was
well provided with funds and was
making the strike as comfortable as
possible A restaurant has been opened /
here where food is provided free to un.
married men. They are given tickets
for fourteen meals week Eve fig |
lre," said Derrick, that able bodied /
men can get along on that" Prepare
lions are being made for the open
ng of additional restaurants in other
parts of the valley. In addition, credit
slips are given the strikers which they
an eAthduEe iol Httutu huppileS dl
he stores and the merchants cash
.hcse slips at strike headquarters
laily.
Aside from the occasional sign and
he eloquent silence OF the machinery
n the mills there is little outward
appearance Of strike. Pickets visit
he mills daily in small numbers, as
Derrick explained, to keep them in
Practice should he consider more ac-
i've picketing necessary later. He as
erted that many of the merchants
we're giving concessions to the strikers
md that one doctor had offered to
reat free any cases of illness in strik-
RS families.
One storekeeper admitted yesterday
hat there had been a considerable
of trade, but he expressed
iimself as optimistic of an early set
cement. The trolley cars between the
alley and Providence are well pat
onized.
To-day Derrick was ready to go TO
'rovidence 10 outline the case for the
trikers before a special state board
( mediation and Cancellation.