The Washington herald., 1922-02-27
new ENGLAND
+ BUSINESS HIT BY
TEXTILE STRIKE
Market Unsettled Be-
cause of Continuation
Of Labor Strife.
DEADLOCK LASTING
Refusal of Mill Owners to Ar.
bitrate Presents Seri-
Gus Outlook.
DEADLOCK LASTING
PROVIDENCE

PROVIDENCE. Feb. 2S.-There
has been little IL any improvement
in conditions in the cotton mills OF
New England and in Rhode Island,
where practically every plant is at-
fected by the strike inaugurated
hVe weeks ago against a 20 per
cent reduction in wages and longer
hours. Everything Is at a stand
still. 1t is apparent that there Is
less optimism than has been the
case heretofore in spite Of the zen.
eral expressions that good business
is within sight. With buyers firm
in the opinion that there is no ad-
vantage to them in placing orders
for future delivery, there is little
actual business being done. II
prices are not to advance buyers
cannot see the advantage in pur-
chasing goods before they are ac-
tually needed, especially IL they
can obtain goods for immediate or
nearby shipment.
Injury to Markets.
While there are many things thai
are tending to unsettle the market
for goods, it is acknowledged thar
labor is one of the big factors.
Even though it has been shown
that goods have been sold at a
loss or at cost and that lower
wages will not be of great weight
in forcing down goods prices, buy
rrs nevertheless hold the idea that
so long as the demand remains
small whatever wage decrease
there may be will be reflected in
goods prices. 1t is what the buy
ers believe rather than actual facts
that affects the market.
Rhode Island textile mill owners
whose plants are affected by the
strike formally refused wednesday
to accept the proposal OF the State
Board of Mediation and Cancellation
that the issues involved be settled
by arbitration. They also refused
to lay before the board publicly
figures on their costs of operation
and declared, through counsel. that
il the board insisted upon the orC-
duction of such figures they would
take the matter to the courts.
Both the Blackstone Valley and
Pawtucket Valley strikers accepted
the boards arbitration plan in so
far as it concerned the cut in
wages. Neither, however. was will
ing to arbitrate the matter OF hours
or of discrimination against strik-
ers. President Thomas F. Nc
Mahon Of the United Textile Work
ers told the court that his organ
ization would cooperate in the cot
ton industry in the State. william
Fl. Derrick, for the Amalgamated
Textile Workers, promised the
same cooperation.
Effects of Riot.
With the killing OF one man and
probably fatally wounding of two
others and many others injured in
the riot at the Jenckes Spinning
Compa any's plant at Pawtuckct on
Tuesday morning the disturbances
at the mills throughout the state,
which had been spasmodic since the
strike started, came to sudde n
end. In the .PawtuCket Valley there
was serious outbreak Monday
morning, and Gov. San Souci sent
National Guardsmen to the scene.
That ended the trouble for the
week At Pawtucket the riot on
Tuesday morning resulted in the
sending of half a dozen troops Of
Guardsmen. and the streets have
been kept clear of gatherings
must keep moving, and cannot form
groups in the streets. Apparently
the National Guard have the stu
alton well in hand. and it is pre-
dicted that the strike will now set
tie down to a long drawn out
struggle.