New-York tribune., 1922-02-12
Cotton Mills See
Wage Cut Only as
Emergency Action
Progressivcs Believe Solu-
ton Other Than Lower
Working Standard Must
Be Sought for Problems
Special Dispatch 10 Tive Tribune
NEW HEDEORD Macs L,oh


NEW BEDFORD, Mass, Feb. Ii
" hatcvcr may prove the ultimate out
come Of the existing wage reduction
controversy in the cotton manufacture
ing industry there is a distinct lack
Of conviction, taking the trade in all
its branches, that cut presents a
permanent solution for such actual
difliculties as the New England mills
confront
at best a reduction is seen only as
an eNpcdiency Tho manufacturers
base tho necessity Of reduction en-
tiTcly upon adverse trade conditions
and make no attempt to show the
operatives arc too highly paid, as COM
pared with other Industries or with
llvlng costs. If the industry is TO be
maintained i'll healthy condition 10
combat cncroachments Of Southern
competition and other obstacles that
impede New England's cotton textile
prestige, this cannot be done by keep
ing the industry depressed below
sound working conditions. The pro-
ETessive element among the mill in
tcrcsts fnvors recognizing this fact and
want the big issues of the industry
faced and settled
While there is the big question Of
comprchcnsivo reorganization Of the
industry itself, this amounts to an
extensive program that can be worked
out only over long period There is
as compared with other industries. is
not centrally controlled. The manu-
facturcrs do act in concert in some
matters through their associations.
But in control and operation there is
not the unity that exists in oil, steol
or cotton industries.
Marketing a Problem
The biggest specific problem await
ing permanent solution is that of mar
keting and distribution. Manufacturers
and labor groups insist this cost is
out of all proportion to it's Importance.
Somewhere it presents the oppor-
tunity for what the trade looks upon
as major operation.
Not that complete elimination of
wholesalers can be entertained. But
more direct methods of selling that
will dispense with some Of the useless
handling of goods, all of which take
their toll, is regarded as inevitable.
scmi-dircct selling methods and their
success has attracted others to con-
slider a similar course.
The week past has been a period of
hesitancy in the wage question, al
though 4 definite turn was expected.
There has been no further wage re-
duction of consequence. The workers
meantime have extended the strike in
the mills affected by the cut
Trade conditions Jagged the early
part Of the week, but interest began
to revive toward the end. Prices in
gray goods strengthened toward the
last, due to the advance in the price of
raw cotton. The same was true also
of print cloth in Fall River. There
the sales Of print cloth picked up
little, the total for the week being
estimated at 100000 pieces. Fine
goods did not improve in price, be-
cause extra staples raw cotton did not
pick up like short cotton did.
With the exception Of the passing of
the dividend by the Nonquitt Mill, the
dividend period of the New Bedford
mills shows them maintaining about
the same rate as for the four quarters
of 1921. Several mills, however, have
dropped their rate from 2 per cent to
| u per cent for the quarter The Fall
River mills in the period just closed
paid an average dividend of 2.S3 per
cent The total of 81 1,O92075 was paid
on the capitalization of S3S, $3.50, 900.
The total was swcllcd. however, by the
35 per cent cash dividend paid by the
Union Mills. The distribution of this
35 per cent dividend amounted to $780,
600, or about 40 per cent of the entire
distribution by all Fall River mills.