Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-26
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Boston, Jan Ex-Governor Foss sent
special message to the Legislature,
today. urging an immediate invest
cation Of the strike in the textile mills
at Lawrence. The Governor points out
that the strike was not wholly due to
the 5i-hour law. but that unrest pre-
vailed before that measure was pass
ed He refers TO the failure of the
manufacturers to join in the compro-
mise meeting, last night. and TO the
fact that the mills are benefciaries of
the protective system which the Pres
ident Of the United States declares to
be excessive and indefensible" He
saws that the state should determine
how FAR these beneficiaries have COM
Piled with the terms under which those
fi,vors We're granted.
Il call your attention to the serious
condition existing in the city of Law
renee, where an extensive strike of
factory operatives has occurred. Dis
turbanees of the peace having arisen
I. have been compelled To order T.
companies of militia 10 that city to
safeguard public and private property
and the public dncluding the unem-
plCyed operatives themselyes) from
OUIEGedkS QI tlSOfutE ana ldN1cSSieEE.
Not the slightest approach to an
archy can be tolerated in this COM
mofwealth and | shall not hesitate to
employ every means at my command
to maintain law and order; but the
duty of the state does not end here.
and / Should perform but the smaller
part Of my duty ii | failed. at this
iuneture 10 recommend a searching
Investigation Of all the facts relating
10 this strike. including the condition
of the striking operatives.
The immediate cause of the strike
is reported to be q reduction in wages
consequent upon the operation of a
law enacted. last year. by which the
hours of labor of certain classes of
factory employees We're reduced from
Sc to 81 hours per week. Investigation
may show that some reduction of
wage was necessary: when the law
in question was under consideration,
it was fully understood that such a
reduction might occur, at least, tenn
porarily.
But it further appears that the
striking employees believe that they
have other grievances than the recent
reduction of wages. 1t is alleged that
for years the enployers have pursued
the policy 81 I.nging into their mills
the cheapest stade of labor obtain
able in this ~ in foreign countries,
and by fines ami other methods have
reduced wages Tar below that decent
standard which American citizens
should enjoy. Ii these things are true,
their Truth should be established by
public investigation and the facts
should be given the widest publicity.
If not true their effective denial is
equally important.
"In view of the character of the ques
tions in dispute it seems plain that the
manufacturers should at least be willing
to discuss the matter in a spirit of com.
promise The Importance of some imme-
date action on the part of the Legisla-
ture is manifest by the failure of the res
ports of the manufactures to join. last
night. III a conference after an UNDER
standing to do so had been reached
"a further pertinent and important
consideration is that the industry in
which the strike originates is one that
has been especially favored by tariff laws
designs, and only justified, ON the ground
that they protect and elevate American
labor. One purpose of the investigation
should be to determine how far the adj
vantages conferred by national law upon
the immediate benefeiaries of the protec-
tive system have been, and are today,
shared with the laborers who are sup
posed to be the ultimate benefciaries. 1t
is fact that the protection now afforded
by the schedule of the tariff appltcabia
to the industry concerned has been de-
clared by the President of the United
States to be excessive and indefensibie.
It, therefore. seems to be especially APP
propflate for the state. which has been
called upon to intervene. TO determine
how far the beneflciaries of government
favors have complied with the terms IN
der which those favors We're granted
Il therefore recommend that Immediate
action be taken by the general court to
provide for fun investigation by a