The New York herald., 1922-03-13
GOMPERS is BACKING
TEXTILE STRIKERS
Pledges Aid Of American Fed
Grafton of Labor to New
England Workers.
SPEAKS TO THOUSANDS
Condemns Mill Owners for Eff
forts to Reduce Pay and
Extend Work Hours.

PROVIDENCE. March 12-The Arncri-
can Federation OF Labor will stand
firmly behind the textile strikers of New
England in their fight against wage re-
ductons and increased working hours.
Samuel Gompers. president OF the fed
GRAFTON, declared here tonight. address
ing a meeting oe several thousand per-
sons at n theater.
Speaking to 5000 in Pawtueket in the
afternoon, Mr.. Gonpers, who Is touring
the textile areas of New England where
strikes are in progress, gave a similar
pledge on behalf of this organization.
Come what may" said Mr.. Gompers,
"the United Textile Workers OF America
can count on the american Federation
OF Labor to stand behind them to the
fullest extent of its power, and the
American Federation has a membership
of 5000, 600. These members, with their
wives and children, represent 25 per
cent. of the population Of the United
States The American Federation OF
Labor will exert every effort ungrudg-
ingly, cordially and enthusiastically to
help the textile strikers to at least get
bread during their struggle"
The labor leader declared that textile
workers knew. IL few others did. that
about year ago wages in this industry
were cut % per cent. They knew that
the cost of living had not been reduced
when that cut was put into effect To-
day further reduction of 20 per cent.
1cr nj .Lek
because tho first cut was accepted with
little more than inurmur. the second
would be accepted ''in actual silence"
In addition to the new wage reduction,
min owners proposed to extend the
forty-eight hour week to fifty-four
hours
Men and women OF the laboring class
who accept every kick that is given
them are treated as yellow ours are
treated" declared Mr. Gompers.
IT have read that the manager of one
of the mills in Rhode Island said the
State must protect its industries he
continued. Il was always under the inn
preston the paramount duty of the
State was to protect It's people. The
womanhood and childhood of the coun-
try demand protection.
"Mill owners say that under existing
conulVloHS IL IL lnpOSSiple Tor them TO
compete with the mills OF the South.
Much already has been said in reply to
that. The fact that the textile industry
in the South is largely owned and con-
trolled by Northern capital is incontro-
vortible.
''If the textilo workers accept this 90
per cent. reduction. Is 1t not reasonable
and natural to suppose that the textile
mills of tho South will meet this cut with
q similar reduction In wages there? III
that cut is made, will not the same conf
petition between the North and the
South again prevail? 1t will. and the
min owners of Rhode Island viii again
demand 10 or 20 per cent. reduction.
Then each side will 90 on competing and
depressing downward. What then will
become of the textile industry in Amer
lea? Let this competition continue and
there will be no textile industry left in
New England. Thank God there are
enough industries in the United States
to allow men and women now employed
in the textile business to find liveli-
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