Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-17
r.xt;le Council Makes
Formal Demand for
Is Per Cent Increase
Fix April 2 as Date
for Increase to Begin
- Ask for Confer
ence - No Progress
in Arbitration Eff
forts

o,s.on March 1.-THE move
~, for a wage advance to textile
...-stives in New England. of
Hson there are 100000. gathered
.,.nrth today with formal demand
" the Fall River textile council for
:, increase of Is per cent. That
enter Of 5000 workers. employed
IA III cotton mills, now stands
,,ubly committed to a wage raise
demand, the United Textile Work
A., Of America having asked a %
,sr cent increase there some weeks
go
Although indications have been
,hat other mill centers would allow
me- issue of more pay to be fought
ant through a strike in Fall River.
ior which both textile council and
United Textile Workers leaders have
authority. word came from Law
rnce that the United Textile Work.
~ membership there was ready to
line up with Fall River for an ul-
tmatum Of a wage advance or
trike. Lawrence employs some 81
OOO persons on woOlens. worsteds
and cottons. Demands for higher
wages will also be made in Fitch
burg, a wooden and worsted center,
4 was announced. Lowell and Man.
chester, N. H.. were among the CEN
ters which indicated that they
oEuld hold their hands until events
had shaped themselves in Fall
River.
The textile council of the latter
city, in making its demand on the
El River Manufacturers Associa-
ton today, set April = as the date
when the increase should be effect
I've, but asked for a conference on
the matter at an earl ydate. The
executive committee of the mill
owners who have previously de-
cared they would close the mill
gates and suspend operations rather
than grant an advance that they
say the mills cannot afford. consid-
cred the demand, but made no re-
ply.
The United Textile Workers have
authorized President Thomas +. Nc
Aahon to call q strike at any time,
but he announced from New York
today that he would try to arrange
conference between min workers
and manufacturers at FAN River
Sunday before taking strike action.
The New England conference board
81 the U. T. w. is scheduled to meet
In Boston that day. but it was eX-
pected the scene of this meeting
would be changed to Fall River and
the situation in this section consid-
cred and a general policy decided
upon.
Efforts OF the state board of con-
culatlon and arbitration. through
agent Fred M. Knight, to bring the
eontending parties at Fall River to-
selner. have developed no indication
OF an agreement on arbitration. The
contest between the textile council
ana the U. T. w. for control Of the
sHuation there. which will now be
Sased with the varying demands for
Ie ADVANCE as the issue Of the juris-
Slctional struggle, has complicated
@e situation. Agent Knight said the
oOard stood ready to lend it's aid in
any form that the parties to the dis
pute might decide.
Along with the demands for ad-
'ahce in pay today came announce
ment from the Germania Mills al
nSoyoke, and the Hadley Mills at
Soulh Hadley Falls, both textile
pants Of wage increases Of 10 per
cent
inc Ludlow Manufacturing Asso-
.a,es. employing about 5000 persons
s,a inc Plymouth Cordage company
nalcn has about 1900 operatives. en-
saseo IN work somewhat resembling
Mat IN the textile centers now con-
s,aering wage demands. have granted
. increases OF about 10 per cent. in re-
cent weeks.