The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-13
WILL
BACK UP STRIKERS
Textile Workers Can Depend
on American Federation to
Stand Behind Them"
tsy The Associated Press,

PROVIDENCE, r. l., March a.
The American Federation Of Labor
will stand firmly behind the textile
strikers OF New England in their fight
against wage reductions and increased
wording hours, Samuel Gompers,
president of the federation, declared
here tonight, addressing q meeting Of
several thousand persons. Speaking
to an audience of 5000 in Pawtucket in
the afternoon, Mr.. Gompers, who is
touring the textile areas of New Eng
land where strikes are in progress,
gave a similar pledge on behalf of his
organization.
Come what may" said Mr.. Com
pers, THE United Textile Workers of
America can count on the American
Federation of Labor to stand behind
them to the fullest extent of it's power,
and the American federation has a
membership of 100000. These mem
bers, with their wives and children,
represent % per cent Of the popula
ton Of the United States. The Amer
lean Federation of Labor will exert
every effort ungrudgingly, cordially
and enthusiastically to help the textile
strikers to at least get bread during
their struggle"
The labor leader declared that tex
tile workers knew, If few other people
did, that about a year ago wages in
this industry were cut 1884 per cent.
They knew that the cost of loving had
not been reduced when that cut was
put into effect. Today a further re-
duction of 20 per cent was offered,
mill owners thinking that because the
first cut was accepted with little more
than a mdrnur, the second would be-
accepted 'in actual silence" In ad-
dition to the new wage reduction, mill
owners proposed to extend the 49,
hour week to "a hours.
Men and women of the 1aboring
class who accept every kick that is
given them are treated as yellow ours
are treated" declared Mr.. Gompers.
Il have read that the manager of one
of the mills in Rhode Island said the
state must protect it's industries" he
continued. Il was always under the
impression the paramount duty of the
state was to protect it's people.
Mill owners say that under existing
conditions it is impossible for them
to compete with the mills of the south.
Much already has been said in reply
to that statement The fact that the
textile industry in the south is largely
owned and controlled by northern cap
ital is incontrovertible. No attempt
yet has been made to dispute that
fact.
IF the textile workers accept this
20 per cent reduction, is it not rea-
sonable and natural to suppose that
the textile mills of the south will meet
this cut with a similar reduction in
wages there? If that cut is made will
not the same competition between the
north and the south again prevail? IT.
win and the mill owners of Rhode
Island will again demand 10 or 20 per
cent reduction. When each side will
go on competing and depressing down
ward, what then will become of the
textile industry in America? Let this
competition continue and there will be
no textile industry left in New Eng
land. Thank God, there are enough
industries in the United States TO al
low men and women now employed in
the textile business to find a liveli-
hood"
Nobody disputed, said Mr.. Gompers.
that Industrial depression existed.
Government agencies estimated the
number of unemployed in the country
at 5000, 900. These unemployed were
unable to consume because they were
unable to buy. Reduction of wages in
the textile industry would mean re-
duction by 20 per cent of the consum
ing power of thousands, and this
would affect thousands Of other indus
tries.
1T is the plain duty Of the mill
owners" Mr.. Gompers added. "to call
upon the representatives of the textile |
workers to meet in conference and tryl
around the table to find what is best
to be done in the present situation and
present the result to the whole indus |
try. They should not act like auto
Gratis. They should not, without con-
sultatfon, issue their proclamation that
wages are to be <educed and hours OF
labor heightened. That might have /,
gone in the good old times, but it don't |
so now. would like to impress on
the minds of the mill owners that they
are not monarchs of all they survey
Mr.. Gompers closed with an appeal
for financial. moral and spiritual as
sistance to the textile workers in their
justifiable contest