Evening star., 1934-08-30

NSOIlJlIu6Q fTOU1 fISJ HdSe.J
takes violence to win, I believe WI
can produce the goods
Where directed toward securing
Government action, a strike threa
such as we are now experiencing il
direct action against Government
Under the N. r. A. there are some
682 codes of fair competition. They
all have provisions for hours anc
wages, which, like those of the cottor
textile code, have had the careful
consideration of labor. consumers ano
industry before approval by the Presi-
dent.
Questions Facing Public.
1.-The Government, the public and
the 682 industries are now faced with
these questions:
'1. Is a strike of this nature a
proper part of the machinery of law
making?
20. Is it in the interest of the public
that consideration be given to amend
ing a law under threat Of force?
"I think I know what the public's
answer Will De.
Following Sloan's refusal to confer
with union leaders, German, in charge
of strike arrangements, said the strike
would be called before noon today
effective at midnight Friday.
The union claims that 425,000 COT
ton textile workers will answer the
strike call. The Cotton Textile In
stitute, the manufacturers organiZa-
ton, refuses to admit that many
would be affected by the strike.
kilograms to the institute from
factories throughout the country yes
terday indicated that less than Is
per cent of the employes-approxi-
mately 60,000-are members of the
union.
There are 1921 cotton mills
throughout the country that could be
affected by the strike In these mills
there are 31,0O0,0O0 spindles, only
26,000,0o of which are now in opera
ton.
In order of Importance, based on
spindles in active operation, the
States affected would be South Caro-
lima, North Carolina, Georgia, Massa-
chuSettS, Alabama, Rhode Island, New
Hampshire, Virginia, Tennessee, Con-
necticut, Maine, Texas, Mississippi
and New York.
The largest cotton manufacturing
centers are Fall River, Mass: New
Bedford, Mass; Greenville, S. c.;
Spartanburg, S. c.; Gastonia, N. c.;
Greensboro, N. c., and Pawtucket,
r. I.
Other important centers are 10
Gated at Lewiston, Me-; Macon, Ga;
La Grange, Ga; Huntsville, Ala. {;
Augusta, Ga; Union, S. c.; Belmont,
N. c.; Lowell, Mass, and Dover,
N. H.
Big Unit at Manchester, N. III.
At Manchester, N. H., is located the
largest single unit in the United
States in the Amoskeag Manufactur-
ing Co. The next largest is that of
the Riverside and Dan River Man
ufacturing Co., at Danville, Va.
Unlike many industries, cotton
stocks and cotton in process of manu-
facture is not subject to rapid de-
terioration. Most mills have sufficient
COOlAD VA A4d44h AAA pOtAAN ~ DNSbAOAAo VA
the industry to last three to eight
weeks before the effect of strike
would be felt.
1t has been estimated by union
leaders that strike of the magnitude
of a general strike in the cotton in
dustry would cost in excess of 81 ,000,-
600 a week to maintain. The United
Textile Workers of America at the
present time have less than 81 100000
in their general treasury.
Union leaders are faced with a
problem, primarily, of finance, if they
are to make a long-term strike effec-
tive. While they have the power to
call out some 100000 additional work.
ers in silk. wool, rayon and worsted
plants, it is generally understood that
their strategy will be to keep these
workers at their jobs to obtain money
for the strikers on the cotton front.
Union leaders see hope for addi-
tional aid through the Relief Admin
istration They base this on Relief
Administrator Harry Hopkins recent
ruling that strikers are entitled to
Federal relief unless the strike is ruled
unjustif1ed.