The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-04

sailants.
Lawrence, Mass, March A cri-
sis in the big textile strike involving
many thousand operatives in the cot
ton and worsted mills in Lawrence,
is expected today, when the mill own
ers' offer ofsa minimum wage increase
of 5 per cent will become effective. Al
though the industrial workers OF the
world have rejected the offer, the EN-
ployes in the Arlington and Pacific
mills who are affiliated with the cen
trail labor union have voted TO return
to work. Five hundred wool sorters
representing all the mills in the city
and 300 mule spinners also voted at
meeting yesterday to return to their
tasks today. ,
The industrial workers of the world
remain firm in their ORIGINAL demands
which include 10 per cent increase
double pay for overtime, the abolition
of the premium system, the taking
back of all strikers and the release
from Jail of Strike Leaders Joseph j.
Ettor and Arturo NJ. Gioyannitti, who
are held for the grand jury on
murder charge. Picket lines OF lar
ger proportions than ever were plan
ned by the general strike committee
of the industrial workers OF the world
for this morning. Men. women and
children were to be on hand in the
early hours preceding the opening OF
the factories, to endeavor to prevent
the mill hands from returning TO
work
To guard against possible outbreak
and TO prevent intimidation OF return
ing mill workers by the pickets, the
entire police force, including metro
politan park police and special officers
and the military companies, went or
duty this morning at o'clock and
remained until after the time OF be
ginning operations at the factories al
GAS. =,
Mill agents believe that today will
bring a greater addition to the ranks
of the workers than any previous
Monday since the strike began, near
" eight weeks ago. Many of those
on strike may wait, however, unit
tomorrow or Wednesday before re
turning to their places in the factor
les in order to avoid the anticipated
disturbances of Monday. 1t was will
this possibility in mind that the mil
owners In their notices announcing al
increase Of pay informed their EN-
ployes that they would give them un
III Wednesday to so back to thei
former positions.
Leader William ID. Haywood OF thu
Industrial workers addressed severa
meetings OF strikers yesterday. I'VE
have our opponents beaten to a fraz
zle,' he said, "and we can get wha
we want by sticking together. TIL
only thing that can defeat our plal
is the refusal of friends TO sem
money and that they will never do"
Eight hundred Italians who wer
the first of the operatives to go Of
strike, met yesterday and voted no
to return to the mills today. The,
planned to remain up all night, to b
ready for early picket duty and al
rangements were made to have sou
kitchen opened at o'clock in tn
morning to furnish them with. hot col
fee.
In a telegram to the strike leader
last night Congressman Victor Berge
requested that some women allege
to have been dubbed by the polio
be sent to Washington to appear be
fore the House rules committee whic
Is considering resolution for fec
eral investigation. The communities
ton was turned over to the Italia
strikers committee. Arrangement
are expected to be completed in tim
for the party to leave for Washingto
today.