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MILL WHISTLE
Issued every Two Weeks by and for the Em
ployees of Fieldcrest Mills, Division of Marshall
Field & Company, Inc., Spray, North Carolina.
VOLUME SIX
NUMBER TWENTY-TWO
MONDAY, MAY 12, 1947
HODGES’ RADIO TALK TO EMPLOYEES
(Editor’s note; Due to numerous requests we are printing be
low the radio talk to employees made by our General Man
ager, Luther H. Hodges, on the Fieldcrest Program Sunday
evening, May 4.)
The message follows:
1. The turning point in the boom has come. We do not fear
a deep depression but rather a return to normal which in the
long pull is healthy. In the meantime some readjustments will
be necessary.
2. Fieldcrest Mills has been operating on an allotment
basis for 5 or 6 years. Up until this quarter the allotments have
been taken up fully. The allotments for April, May, and June
were mailed to. customers about March 15 and as of April 24,
customers had confirmed the goods offered them as follows:
a. Hosiery, rayon, and sheets are the only
goods taken fully 100 .%
b. Wool blankets and woolen piece goods __ 28 %
c. Other blankets 78 %
d. Woven bedspreads 49Vs%
e. Towels 67 %
f. Lace cloths 26 %
g. Lace curtains 61 %
h. Rugs about 80 %
3. Retail stores generally throughout the country have
stopped buying because:
a. The consumer is resisting low-quality, high-priced
goods.
b. There is tremendous pressure from President
Truman on down for flat general price reductions.
4. What we need more than a flat price reduction Is an
analysis to see what lines can be reduced. There is an out-of-
balance picture within industries. For example, a 10% reduc
tion on our lines would wipe out all the profit expectation and
cause us to operate in the red and the same is true of many
organizations.
a. However, there are some organizations, among
(Continued on Page Six)
Fieldcrest Cafeteria
To Serve Evening Meals
The management of the Fieldcrest
cafeteria has announced that com
mencing Monday, May 12, the cafe
teria will be open from 5:30 to 7:30
p. m. to serve meals to workers on
the second shift.
A special invitation is extended
to employees from Ihe other shifts
at all mills to use the cafeteria for
their evening meal.
(See pictures on pages four and five)
The Fieldcrest cafeteria which was es
tablished for the purpose of providing
employees with well-prepared hot meals
at reasonable cost, opened Monday
morning. May 5 in the Eggleston build
ing in Spray opposite the General office.
The cafeteria served approximately
300 persons in an hour on the first two
opening days. There was much favor
able comment on the excellency of the
food, the efficiency of the service and the
attractiveness of the surroundings.
Athough the cafeteria is primarily for
the benefit of Fieldcrest employees in
the Spray area, the public is invited to
use it. Already several local citizens not
employed by the company are eating
there regularly and use by the public is
expected to increase.
Edward Mallicoat, a supervisor for the
Slater System which operates the cafe
teria for Central Y. M. C. A., is the resi
dent manager. He will remain at Spray
permanently and plans to move his wife
and small son here from New York
whenever living quarters are available.
Mallicoat is a native of Knoxville,
Tenn., and was connected with a nation
ally known chain of restaurants in New
York before he entered the navy. He
served three years and upon his return
joined the Slater System. He did such
an outstanding job in the cafeterias at
American Can Company in Brooklyn
that he was made Slater’s supervisor for
the New Jersey area. He had charge of
the successful opening of the cafeteria at
Eagle Pencil Company in New York and
at many other divisions.
Henry Lulsdorf, supervising chef for
the Slater System, and Miss Mildred
(Continued on Page Six)