Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-01-16
COTTON AND NOOLEN MILL OP-
ORATORS USE FORCE N Al
TEMPTS TO STORM MILLS.
MANY persons INJURED
Troops Charged With BayOncis and
Threatened 10 Use Cannon to
Clear the Streets.

LAWRENCE, Mass, Jan. l5.-Eight
companies Of state militia, including
one field battery, is holding the mill
district Of this city under martial law
tonight after a day of riotlng due to
the strike Of 5000 operatives in tho
big cotton and wooden mills.
At least 5000 other hands were
thrown out Of work by the strikers.
in one instance a company OF mill
ia had to charge a mob with fixed
bayonets one boy being probably IA
tally hurt Thirty-five armed rioters
were arrested during the day and a
few strikers and mill employees who
were defending the mill gates. were
treated for bullet wounds.
VIII Use Drastic Measures.
A majority of the mills are expect
ed to reopen in the morning and the
mlitlamen have been instructed to
use drastic measures to prevent re-
petition of today's outbreak.
Even If the mills reopen it is said
they can only run with a reduced
force, as the strikers have trebled
their strength since the beginning Of
the strike, Friday. Although tho
strike was originally instituted in pro-
test Of reduction in pay because Of
| the operation of the neG-54- -hour law,
making the working week two hours
shorter, the strikers now declare that
they will not return without % per
cent increase and other concessions,
including double pay for overtime
work and the abolition of the pre-
MUM or bonus system.
strikers TO Use Pickets.
This decision OF the strikers was
known at a conference between strike
leaders and members Of the city gov
'rnment this afternoon. AS result
of the conference the strikers were
granted the use Of the city hall for
mass meeting tonight. 1t was also
agreed that the strikers be allowed
to place pickets about the approaches
to the mills tomorrow with the under
standing that any signs OF violence on
their part will be cause for arrest.
throughout today there were out
breaks in rapid succession, police find
ing the strikers and their sympathiZ-
ers particularly hard to deal with be-
cause of the many nationalities repre-
sented. No less than forty-five tongues
are spoken by employees of the Law
renee mills.
Rioters StOrmed the Mills.
The opening of the mills at 7
o'clock was the signal for the first
outbreak when strikers stormed the
gates of the Wood, Washington, Pros
pect and other mills.
They were repulsed by police and
mill employees with streams Of water
but their tactics resulted in closing
down Of nearly two-thirds of the
plants.
Later there were clashes between
strikers and the soldiers and mill Of
ficias about the Pacific. Atlantic and
Arlington and other mills in which
shots were exchanged and several
persons slightly injured. The police
fired into the air to frighten the
rioters hut the fire hose proved more
effective
Three local militia organizations,
two infantry companies and battery
of light artillery, were called out
early when it was seen that the police
could not cope with the situation.
Until the show of force, the strik-
ers pressed forward. Captain Ranlett
ordered his men to fix bayonets and
charge. In the charge several per-
sons were injured, Sicilian hoy, Dom
nic Raprasa, being SO badly hurt that
he will probably die.
srst. h4art pwinrp1
to shoot if necessary, and at one time
battery c unlimbered its gun to clear
a street. Police from other cities ar
rived tonight to aid the forces already
here.