New-York tribune., 1912-01-26
FOSS ASKS INQUIRY
INTO TEXTILE STRIKE
Massachusetts Governor Says
Lawrence Labor Trouble
Needs Probing.
WRITES SPECIAL MESSAGE
Tariff and immigration Dis
cussed-Settlement Seems
To Be Remote-City
Is Quiet.

Lawrence, Mass, Jan. %. -- y message
from, Governor Foss to the state LCgSlat-
rre urging a searching investigation into
the strike Of the fifteen thousand or more
cotton ana woollen mill operatives in this
c,tv was the most important development
to-day I'm the labor troubles here. The
Governors message was based on n rc-
port made to him by his private sccr"-
tsrv. Dudley NJ. Holman. who spent sey-
eral DAYS in this city studying the situa-
ton
Twelve companies Of militia remained on
duty in the mill district. but there were no
disturbances. The strike leaders have
urged the operatives to commit no Vio~
lcnce and the cold to-day kept the crowds
Of the streets. Mil owners said that some
OF the strikers went back to work in lhe
Arlington Mills to-day, but the labor lead
crS said that not enough returned to affect
the situation materially. Most of the mills
are I'm operation but on a greatly reduced
basis.
The most important meeting Of tho
strikers held to-day was in Franco Belgian
Han. where Joseph ]. Ettor, of New York,
leader Of tho strike, and William u. Hay
wood, the Western labor leader, urged the
Tor working conditions and increased
wages. saying that financial help would be
forthcoming from other mill centres. The
strikers, Haywood said. had shown a dis
position to meet the mill owners half way.
and any further step toward peace must
come from the employers
Would Meet Owners as Body.
The strike committee issued statement
to-day in the form of an open letter to
William NJ. Wood. president Of the Amer-
can Wcolen Company, in which they said
that they would be willing to meet him
with the other mill owners collectively.
The strikers position was contained in this
paragraph:
We are willing to meet you at any time.
as committee. when the rest of the mill
owners involved in this strike agree to
such a meeting. The strikers are deter
mined TO meet the mill men Of Lawrence
a collective body. and If YOU come as
p part of that body then We will deal with
you on behalf of the strikers, who are the
supreme court of this strike. SO tar as
this committee is concerned in its deal
inGs with the mill owners and managers.
The mill owners have said that they
would meet the committees from their re-
spective mills. but would not deal with
Jude that brought about the failure Of
last nights efforts to bring both parties
together.
Boston. Jan Ex-Governor Foss sent a
special message TO the Legislature to-day,
urging the immediate investigation Of the
strike in the textile mills in Lawrence.
The Governor points out that the strike
was not wholly due to TIE fifty-four-hour
law. but that unrest prevailed before that
measure was passed The message fol-
lows:
call your attention to the serious con-
ditiOn existing I'm the city Of Lawrence,
where an extensive strike of factory oper-
atives has occurred. Disturbances Of the
Teiicd to- orI6r twelve companies Of militia
10 that city to safeguard public and private
property and the public dncluding the un-
employed operatives themselves from out
breaks cf disorder and lawlessneSs.
Cannot Tolerate Anarchy.
no, the slightest approach to anarchy
can be tolerated in this commonwealth,
and ! shall not hesitate to employ every
means al my command to maintain law
and order: but the duty Of the state does
not end here. and ! shall perform but the
smaller part of my duty if ! failed at this
iuncttIrc to recommend a searching in
Vestigation Of all the facts relating 10 the
strike. including the condluon OF the strIh-
Tho immediate cause Of the strike is re-
ported 10 be a reduction OF wages cOnse-
oucpt upon the operation OF law enacted
last year BY which the hours or LABOR
of certain classes of factory CmpIoyes
were reduced from ffty-sN TO MI! -iouT
hours a week. Investigation may snow
that some reduction of wages was neces-
eaT,.. when the law in question was under
consideration il was fully UNDERSTOOD tidt
such a reduction might occur al IeasI
temporarily. ..,,,i,,,,
cmploves believe that they have otheFr
grievances than the recent reducuoh ed
wages II is alleged mat Tor EedLS Ec ',lT
bringing into their mills the cheapest grace
of labor obtainable in this or IN IorelgSn
countries and by fines and other llgtilouS nous
have reduced wages far below thdt utCei,
standard which American citizens Shoulu
cniov. II these things are true, thelr tIuIh
should be established by puOHc lhNesusd-
ton and the facts should DC Ehcm t@Ie ne
widest publicity. If not true lheH IL
fcctive denial is equally important
Thinks Employers Should Act.
In view OF the character Of the questions
in dispute. ii seems PLAIN that the manu-
facturers should at least be willing TO dls-
ouss the matter in spirit OF compromise.
The importance Of some immediate dcuoi,
or the part of the Legislature is manifested
In. tho failuTe of the representative or the
manufacturers to Join last night in con-
fevence after an understanding TO 90 so
had been reached.
4 further pertinent and important consid-
cration is that the industry IN which the
strike originated Is ono that has been es-
reciaIIv favored by tariff laws designed
and only justified on the ground that they
protect and elevate American labor. ono
PURPOSE Of the Investigation ShOuld DC 10
determine how far the advantages con
ferred by national law upon the immediate
teueiciarieS OF the protective system nave
teen and are to-day shared with the Ia