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Show 300,000 ILL REift CUTS ' IN THEIR ICES Manufacturers Announce Policy Pol-icy to Restore Normal Conditions Con-ditions !s by Industry l EOSTON", Dec 9. A wnge reduction of 22-2 per rent In textile mills in New England and New York state was (forecast today in a statement Issued after .1 Conference of textile manufacturers manufac-turers The Industry employes 300.- 000 persons. I Such a reduction, according to statements, state-ments, would Prlng the wage scalo schedules back approximately to the '.figures that existed a year ago and !, would leave the wage standards gen erally more than double th8se of 1916 The present stagnant condition of the textile industry made consideration; I of wngo reduction necessary, it was ! stated. j "It is evident." said the statement, '"from whut has transpired in tho paat I few months that there has been an I Insistent and compelling demand on 1 tho part of the public that the cost' of living should be lessened by a re-1 I adjustment ( the pric-- oi commodl- j ties entering Into the expense of dairy 1 I life 1 Mvl ACTION "Now that tho process of readjust-' j n.ent has operated In the wnge earn er's favor and living costs are still fur-thet fur-thet to be lessened as the present low J prices of raw materials are reflected 1 in retail costs the manufacturer can properly lake some action to lessen tire labor coat Involved In production. "The refusal of buyers to purchase goods for the past four or five months on a high basis of cost has led to a stagnation of the markets upon which jibe manufacturera depend so that at the present time many of tho textile mills in New England have been obliged oblig-ed to shut down, many more are working on short lime and unless Something is done to remedy these conditions, unemployment Will be increased in-creased and continue. In order to stabilize conditions so that goods can be purchased and busl-heaa busl-heaa be done, 11 la indispensably neces-isary. neces-isary. unfortunate though It may be, mill uiers houiu uc wmt wbku induction. in-duction. "Accordingly it has been suggested that a reduction of twentj -two and one-half per ccn( will aid materially lr. stabilizing tho market. ' If Ihis reduction Is made It Is hoped hop-ed that merchants will feci that thoi factor of labor as well as raw mater-1 lal costs have been ao adjusted thati they will feel secure In placing their! order for merchandise. "If this turns out to be the result. I employment can be provided, and it is hoped and expected that business can proceed on this basis. It is also hoped that the public WU1 respond to this tug-1 gestlon and that manufacturers will be able lo go on with the manufacturing manufactur-ing processes with no further reduction reduc-tion in the wages of employes." |