Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-27
Summary of Riots
And Ettor Trial.

rUSo. a mill worker. came about in
consequence of the strike in the textile
mills in Lawrence, Mass. suddenly
precipitated January u last and con-
tinued for two months. E,ttor and
Giovannitu We're accused as accesso-
ries before the fact to the murder of
Anna LopizZo, Who was killed in a
street riot. The Commonwealth main
tanned that they melted the riot in
which the woman met her death by
intiammatory speeches to the strikers.
Caruso was accused with Salvatore
Scuito, who never has been apprehen-
ded, with actual participation in the
riot.
The strike, which was accompanied
by much violence. enlisting organized
ana unorganized workers on one hand
and mill owners on the other, with
the police of Lawrence and militia of
Massachusetts on guard to avert dis
astrous consequences, attracted world
wide attention for many weeks. Riots
We're frequent; ears in Lawrence were
attacked; men, women and children
who attempted to work were assailed
and in some cases injured, and there
were repeated clashes between strik
ers AMI organized forces of the law
until citizens of Lawrence We're alarm
ed at the threatening struggle. Its
climax came ON january %, II day be-
gun with parade of agitated foreign
workers to demonstrate their solidari-
" against the mill owners and ended
with Il riot in which the young woman
was slain and oscar Benoit, Law
renee policeman, stabbed.
Even Congress was appealed TO dur
ing the struggle following an attempt
of strike leaders To take frora Lawrence
10 Philadelphia n hundred children of
strikers families to be cared for by
sympathizers This effort. preceded
by successful deportation of strikers
children to New York and other cities
was frustrated by the police in clash
at the railroad station in which faith
ers, mothers and children clashed with
the authorities. Many men and wo-
men were arrested. This occurrence
widely heralded, aroused protests from
ali parts of the United States and
prompted Victor Berger. Socialist
member of the House of Representa-
tives te plan Congressional inves-
ditions in the mills of the American
Wooden Company and others. A reso-
hutton directing such an inquiry
brought about a preliminary hearing
before the Rules Committee of the
House in which Lawrence strikers
men. women and children, representa-
tives of the mill owners and repre-
sentatives of the Lawrence authori-
ties participated. The hearings held
in the caucus room of the House office
building in Washington aroused in
tense interest, hundreds of persons. in
Guiding Mrs. Taft. wife of the Pres
ident attending them for several days
No Congressional action, however, was
recommended
The strike began on January II
when workers in mills of the Ameri-
can Wooden Company left their looms
in protest against reduction without
notice of two hours pay a week in
consequence of there going into effect
a new State law restricting labor to
ffty-f9ur hours a week. Rioting about
the mill gates Immediately followed
and on the following day Ettor, a
young Italian-A American labor leader
from Pennsylvania, went to Lawrence
to take charge OF the strike for the
Industrial Workers of the World and
to organize the dissatisfied and un-
organized army OF laborers.
By January 10, 10000 persons were
idle; the mills were closed: special
police We're sworn in to aid the regular
force i'll preserving order; State troops
were ordered to Lawrence by Governor
Foss and an industrial crisis was at
HAND.
Ettor, assuming command of the
workers cause, announced that the
strikers demanded a wage increase of
fifteen per cent, abolition of the pre-
MUM system and double pay for over
time. Numerous conferences were held
with State bodies and mill owners
and Strike Committee was organized,
headed by Ettor and composed of rep
rescntatives of each nationality in
volNed in the conflict, including the
Italians. who We're most numerous,
Poles, Syrians, Lithuanians, Hebrews,
Americans and others.
During the progress of the trouble
Ettor frequently addressed the masses
al CHuTcleS, ndllS ana on the Lawrence
Common In keeping up the enthu-
SiaSm thus he was aided by Arturo
Gioyannitti, who went to Lawrence
from Brooklyn, William d. Haywood,
the leader of the Industrial Workers
of the World, and many others prom
inent Ia the work Of the organization.
For MANY days the situation in Law
renee was tense, with outbreaks of
violence constantly agitating the public
mind On January 20 seven sticks Of
dynamite We're found by the police
in houses and shops in the Italian
quarter. Suspicion against the strikers
was directed at once, and six persons.
Italians and Syrians, were arrested.
Ettor was informed by Colonel +.
Leroy Sweetser of his grave respon-
sibility IN the matter. Ettor imme-
diateiy told the strikers that none of
their people had anything to do with
the dynamite and charged that the
mill owners had planted it to preju-
dice the cause of the strikers. Suisse
quent investigation resulted in the
conviction of Il Lawrence school COM
missioner for planting the dynamite.
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