San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01
Wage Farmers Are Alrea1
DESIGNATING Recent :
Pay Increases.
RAISES ARE A FAcTf1
Activity in Competition fef|
Labor Noticed in Tex
tile Industry.
BY J. c. ROYLE.

Copyright, by Inc gan antonio tf<4--t
New York, March 31.-Nage eaf6<
ems already are discounting the ~.
crease in wages. thhtt they have ut<|
ceived or expect to receive. TE.<
fact in "a large measure accounts 1-
the tremendous business doEe by t|><
retail stores in the last two weeks
Most of the wage advances do 4
become effective until April 80. n "a
the buying on the basis of the
crease have swelled sales of ret.
stores to figures hitherto unpreceter1
ed in many Of the clothing and d.
goods lines. ~
That tendency, however,, has M
been an economic detriment, for ~
increase in the total amount of s1[<<
ings throughout the twelve fedeft
reserve districts has shown so stri<
ing an increase as to dissipate am
doubt about the ability of the gre1t
body of wage earners to settle their
bills. -.. -s
Wage Increases a Factor. }
Wage increases have been the dom
inant factor in the business Situations
of the present week and the f1ldncx
toward higher schedules of pay las
not yet run its course. The advances
have been most prominent in the tex
tile trades. -
Mills making both woolen and cot.
ton cloths have voluntarily announced
raises in wages. both IN the CLOSELY
organized New England districts an14
in the South. whore unionism is lest
of a dominant factor. Further sta-7
bilization is forecast as a result Of th4|
meeting of members of the Cott01
Manufacturers Association and th43
Textile Council at Fall River nex<
Monday.
This meeting was not scheduled un-.
til April 20, but the advancement 81
the date was made on suggestion o.
the employers and can mean only
one thing. willingness to negotiate 4
scale commensurate with the I'M
creases named by some of the larger
mills on their own initiative.
Activity in competition for labor
now is in progress between the North
aud Southern textile manufacturers.
Nearly every manufacturer could en-
ploy more workers than now are on
the rolls The danger of the situa-.
ton lies in the extent TO which wage
earners have discounted their pos;
s!ble increases.
The saving factor in the situation'
Is the fact that higher prices. I'M
cvitabe under increases Of labor and
material costs, have stimulated buy
ing rather than retarded il.
Demand in the steel industry has
raised expectations TO the pitch of cx-,
pectancy of higher dividends. ANY,
dividend increase cannot fail to be-
followed by demand for further
increase in wages. This might be
dangerous situation but for the fact
that while wages have increased in
the industry. individual efficiency in.
the mills and furnaces has risen at
an even greater rate and barring I'M
fOrseen contingencies may be counted
on 10 maintain profits, even with .
minimum Of price increases.
Manufactures Take Wool.
Wool is stronger than it has been
for months. Carpet mills are crying
for their special grades and the formal
openings of floor covering lines are
expected to show a decided increase in
in prices next week.
The weakness evident fortnight
ago has been eliminated and il is evil
dent that manufacturers will take
clothing woods on any recessions from
current quotations.
silk has slumped. This has been
due in some measure TO the banks
ruptcy proceedings involving one
prominent firm, but it is to be noted
that .his firm handled only staple
linag. .
In cotton it is the opinion Of ex-
perts thta the last spell of severe
weather Killed many weevils aud
may be of lastin. benefit to the 1875
cron.
Potatoes face a decided drop in
prices unless the present stocks have
deteriorated TO such an extent that
thy are not marketable.
Experts are expecting decided
advance in the price Of automobiles
over next Sunday. but manufactur-
ers are holding their Price lists in
strictest secrecy.