Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-05
STRIKE IS BLAMED
ON TOO MUCH WORK
South Carolina Legislative
Committee Hits Min
| Officials.
~ tte Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
CHARLOTTE, N. c., April 5.--4Wi!h a
South Carolina Legislative committee
placing blame for strikes in that state
on the mill officials for putting more
work on the employees than they can
do" the situation in the two Carolinas,
where over 5000 textile workers are on
strike, was unchanged this morning.
The South Carolina committee APP
pointed to investigate textile conditions
and headed by Dowell E. Patterson,
member of the State House of Repre-
sentatives and president of the State
Federation of Labor, had net made its
formal report early today but issued a
statement last night setting forth It's
position.
Blame Is Fixed.
1--WE find that the whole trouble in
the textile areas where strikes have
occurred has been brought about by
putting more work on the employees
than they can do. The stretch out"
system is not brought into play by the
introduction of any improved type OF
machinery--the strike, we find, Is in no
sense a rebellion against improved tex
tile machinery" the statement said.
The statement, referring to the
stretch out" system which has been
given by the workers in the South Caro-
lima mills as the reason of their walk
out. saws in the stretch out system 1t
is the employee who docs the stretch
ing" It cites several instances where a
force doing a certain amount OF WORK
was reduced by a third or more with
no increase in pay in some instances,
decreases in several or slight raises not
proportionate with the increased WORK.
One instance given was weaver who
operated "a looms at 1891 week ana
was given ia to care for at a salary OF
$23 a week. :.
The statement said that the commit
tee found labor unions non-eXiStent
among the workers.
Gastonia Reported Quiet.
In North Carolina, where the strike
assumed serious proportions Wednesday
when five National Guard units were
called out to protect life and property
as trouble was threatened at the Loray
Mills of the Manville-Jenckes Co.. at
Gastonia, all was reported quiet TO-DAY
Several hundred workers OF the Loray
plant are still on strike.
In South Carolina the strikes were
still spreading yesterday, when the An
derson mills closed down and forces
were reported idle at Woodruff, Green
vile. Union and Anderson.
Gov. John C. Richards sent his pri-
vate secretary, j. A. Latimer, into the
strike region to make a personal IN
vestigation for him and also appointed
a committee of three to act as State
conciliatory group.
Conferences Are Set.
The Commissioners of the Depart
ment of Labor Cancellation Service were
expected to be in separated sectors by
tonight to help arrange peace confer
encs and to treat with employees and
officials of the affected mills in the two
States.
Charles G.. Wood, who has been ac-
tive in both States this week. said last
night he was to be joined today by two
other Cancellation commissioners from
Washington. They We're to hold con-
ference here before leaving for towns
in which strikes are in progress.
Between $50 and 200 employees of the
Anderson mills at Anderson, S. C.,
struck yesterday, following the lead OF
textile workers in Greenville, Union and
Spartanburg, III that State, In protest
against the introduction OF efficiency
systems. Conferences were held at the
other points, and Gov. John q. Rich
ards began gubernatorial lnvestlga-
ton.
This was followed last night by the
report of a legislative committee which
condemned working conditions in South
Carolina textile mills.