Evening star., 1939-12-15
Labor Board
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the union involved planned to ap-
peal to large customers of the mill
After the letter was first brought
to the attention of the committee
late yesterday, Mr. Smith denied
any implication that his letter was
intended to persuade the Boston
establishment to boycott the mill
Reports Placed in Evidence.
Edmund M. .Toland and Roger
Robb of counsel for the committee
placed in evidence this morning a
series of informal weekly reports
made to the Labor Board in October,
1896, by its Philadelphia regional
office on developments at the Berk-
shire plant, on the outskirts of
Reading, Pa. Representative Rout-
zohn, Republican, of Ohio criticized
the board for concerning itself with
a case that had not been brought
formally before it.
These informal reports gave Mr..
Smith a summary of efforts State
officials and others were making to
adjust labor questions at the Berk-
shire mill Representative Smith,
OF Virginia, committee chairman,
repeatedly brought out that at that
time there was no formal case pend
Ing before the Labor Board con-
cerning this mill.
Representative Routzohn asked
Mr.. Toland what authority the
board had for taking this course.
and answered his own question by
suggesting it was assuming the
authority before any complaint had
been filed.
Mr.. Toland said he would rather
present the correspondence found
IN the boards files without COM
ment.
Text of Mr.. Smiths Letter.
The text of Board Member
Smiths letter to the Boston de-
partment store executive was
placed in the record today, as fol-
lows:
October 26, 1886.
Dear Mr.. KRISTEN:
Our Philadelphia Office has been
interesting itself in an attempt to
settle the strike at the Berkshire
Knitting Mills, but without success.
I understood from the Office that
an attempt was to be made to ap-
peal to some of the larger Gus
toners of the Berkshire Knitting
Mills to take up with the company
the question of its wage scales, for
the reason that its low-wage policy
was tending to break down not only
the wage structure but the price
structure throughout the industry.
Berkshires commanding size in this
field makes this, I understand. en-
tlrely possible. Furthermore, there
Is clause, I believe, in the unions
contract with other manufacturers
which provides that wages may be
lowered unless the wage scale over
certain proportion of the industry
Is maintained at certain level.
Il was told that you were one of
the persons whom the union was 90
Ing to address on this matter and
volunteered to write you a letter
myself. You are certainly much
more familiar than I am with the
conditions in the hosiery industry
and would, know, be anxious to
avoid the disruption which would
occur in the retail as well as the
manufacturing field if a general
wage and price cutting program
were launched in this industry. 1
do not know whether you will care
to make any approaches on this
matter to the Berkshire manage
ment, nor do know what volume
Of business Filene's does with Berk-
shire. do most certainly feel that
any stand which you adopt would
be listened to with the greatest re-
spect by the Berkshire company.
Il am inclosing letter from John
Edelman, research director of the
Hosiery Workers Federation, which
gives some interesting facts regard
ing the company.
Il hope you and your family are
well and that the store is enjoying
. prosperous fall season.
Sincerely yours,
EDWIN S. SMITH"
KRISTEN Asked Supporting Facts.
Committee counsel also introduced