Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-05
ARMY OF INVESTIGATORS
Rush Into Lawrence to Study the
Strike Conditions.

ing the past fortnight small army of
investigators
Visiting the crowded homes in some
of which two and three families oc-
cupy a single tenement in some cases
two and three men occupying a single
bed in two shifts and questioning the
strikers at their meeting places. the
investigators have been given oppor-
tunity to observe things that the mill
workers employ as arguments for their
demands. which center around Is per
cent Increase in wages. The investi-
gators have compared the wages which
the mill workers receive which runs as
low as 81 in some cases and averages
probably between 81 and SIS a week
with the expenditures necessary to OK
istance. In this connection investiga-
tors. including Samuel A. Stodell of
New York who is connected with the
public Forum of the Church of the
Ascension found that clothing and food
cost as much in Lawrence as in New
York City 1t is asserted that the
minimum wage in Lawrence mills
should be set at not less than Sf5 a
week.
IT has been found that families of four
and five persons have been supported on
a single wage, sometimes not exceeding
s. to s. 4 week. One case in point was
mentioned Il few days ago TO Rev. + NJ
Crouch of New York and Prot. Daniel
Evans Of -tndover Theological Seminary.
Cambridge. 1t was that of family oil
five persons, father. mother and three
children, one OF whom died a few months
ago. Malnutrition was given as tho
cause of death. The father. an English
man, has not received more than Sc. 50 .
week in two years during which he has
worked at local mill. At the present
time he is out OF work because of the
strike, the two remaining children are
said 10 he i'll and the mother is worn
out. The inquiry has developed the fact
that public charities in Lawrence are
much resorted to, and private charities
also are very active Mill operatives and
their families constitute about 50 per
cent. Of the population of Lawrence. air
Stodeifs Investigations, he says. have de-
Neioped the fact that there is a pauper|
burial in Lawrence every other day. aud
that practically every one is that OF
mill operative or a member of Il min o.
erative's family, These deaths represent
per cent Of the city's population. he
says, and he claims also that 10 Der
cent. of the worl1men died each year
He declares that a congressional investi-
CATION committee visited Lawrence. Iast|
year. and found matters so bad that 40
report was made.
The observations Of Rev Herbert :.
johnson of Boston during TWO visits to
Lawrence have prompted the minister to
say:
II the figures as srown to me by the
min owners in Lawrence, covering the
wages paid the operatives are correct,
the average weekly wage is S924. in
stead OF Sc and the mill owners are
not able tn increase the wages at the
Present time" Mr.. Johnson said. to-
day. that Il may have been hood
winked by the mill owners and those
figures may not be true. / have only
just heard that the American Wooden
Co, mas made enormous dividends for
the past 10 years and that the Wood
mill in Lawrence has paid for itself
Git cost S3,500.000) in five years.
MIR. Johnson declares thar the
strikers are led by Revolutionary So
cialists and that in fact it is not the
~
in a war between capital and labor.
a social revolution. that is aimed at.
He quotes Joseph ]. Ettor the strike
leader. as saying to him. This is not
strike: il is war, a war between
classes" reporter asked Ettor for
statement as to whether or not the
strike was connected with am attempt
at social revolution, a few minutes
before the leaders arrest, several days
ago. Ettor then wrote out a statement
which said: The historic mission of
the working class is to become the
dominant and recognized economic
class. Every effort ON the part of the
workers to better their conditions is O
step towards supremacy. The present
strike is against admitted miserable
working and living conditions. 1t is
not social revolution, nor the start
as some may try to argue. The strikers
are not social revolutionists, but they
are part of the forces that lead to
social revolution"
1t is claimed by the strike leaders
that up to the present time, marking
nearly a month of the strike, the OPP
eratiVes who are out of work have
Jared as well as when at work under
what they term Starvation wages" |
Soup kitchens and commissaries have
been established at many places
Throughout the city, the several ma
tionalities each maintaining a depot of |
supplies. At these places bread may
be had to he carried home and soup
and bread, and other articles of food |
are served as meals. The local over |
seers of the poor have not been called |
upon for assistance, beyond the ordi- |
nary since the strike started Wheth- |
Ell they can do SO fer long will depend |
upon the amount of money which they |
can secure.
Lack of money as a result of the |
strike was expected TO result in evic- |
tions ,of strikers families from their |
houses. but a member of the strike |
committee said, today, that only two
Of three such cases had been reported. |
In these cases the families had beer
evcted upon inability To pay the rent |
at the end of one week, ii was said. |
and the strike committee did not learn |
of the fact until eviction had taken |
place. The people were promptly tax |