The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-20
Lawrence Strikers Were Appeal
ed to, to Resume Work
BY PRESIDENT OF THE MILLS
Pres. Wood Promised He Will Recon-
mend Wage Increase When Conditions
Warrant-Leaders Of Strike Say They
Will Stand Firm in Demands.

Lawrence, Mass, Jan. 20.-An appeal
by William NJ Wood, president of the
American Woolen company, in which he
asks the strikers to return to work,
promising that he will recommend a
wage increase when the conditions war
rant, was the principal subject OF dis
cussion by the strikers to-day. The
leaders of the strike declared that they
will remain firm in their demands.
The opening OF the mills to-day was
marked by general quiet. One mill, the
Lawrence Duck, was added to the list
Of those that remain open. Orders be-
came effective to-day for an additiopal
patrol of four companies of the state
militia. Picket duty was carried on
BIZ the strikers this morning ON peace
full basis. The saloons were closed to-
day and they win probably remain
closed until next Tuesday. The strike
has resulted in closing the evening
schools.
Crazed by hunger, the police say, Pet
ter Kuerazornak. a striking mill work
er. jumped from the window of his home
to-day in an attempt at suicide. lie
sustained injuries which probably will
result in his death
The first arrest growing out OF the
investigation of the possible use Of dyna-
mite in connection with the strike was
made to-day. when three Syrians were
taken into custody in house where
several sticks of dynamite, with caps,
fuses and wire were found. The arrest
was made by four members OF the state
police, who had been hunting for such
explosion exploits for several days. How
they happened to find the Syrians and
dynamite matter they kept secret previ-
Gus to the arrest. Col. Sweetzer round
ed up all the dynamite that could be
found in Lawrence and had it conveyed
to the armory Fewer old employees re-
turned to work to-day, and the outlook
became less encouraging when it was
announced that not a mill will open
Monday.
An appeal for moral and financial as
sistanee for the cause of the strikers
was issued by their committee yester-
day. Their grievances are rehearsed,
working conditions are explained and
appeal is made for clothes, provisions
and money 1t is planned to establish
soup kitchens and depots OF supplies,
at which the needy among the strikers
may secure the necessities of life.
The appeal, which is addressed TO all
the working men and women of Massa
chusetts and elsewhere reads in part
as follows:
Fellow Workers; We, the textile
workers OF Lawrence, are on strike
we are striking against unbearable con-
ditrons
1T Is not sufficient that our wages
were low. but the masters, taking ad-
vantage Of the 54-hour law, that was
passed to reduce the admitted too long
working hours of women and children,
have cut our pay to an average of fifty
cents a week, which to US means ten
leaves OF bread.
According to the fgures furnished
by the other side, the manufacturers
paid out in wages on Jan. ID, for one
weeks work on the 54-hour basis, to
total number of 25,000 operatives,
the sum OF Sl50,000 or an average of 81
per week, and in making up the aver
age it must be considered that the high
weekly wages of the oyerseers, etc, of
the mill figure in the total wages paid
For years the operators have grad
ually reduced our wages, and at the
same time have speeded up the ma
chimes so that we turn out, in some
cases, three times the amount of work
and receive about one-third of the old
rate.
Taking advantage of the 54-hour law,
the employers have cut the wages and
are now making their war cry fifty
four hours pay for fifty-four hours
work. but we submit to a candid world
the fact that some of the mills are steal
ing sufficient time around the hours of
starting and quitting each day in the
week to make up the two hours re-
duced.
IF the cut in wages is allowed to
stand then the weavers and loomixers,
because of the insufficientness of their
wages, and because of the lure of the
premium or bonus at the end of the
week, will speed up the looms and weave
fifty-six hours into ffty-four; thus all
the other workers who are week day
workers, and who speed up the looms,
will have to work that much faster in
order to keep it up.
Because we dared to rebel, militia
men have been sent to drive us back
to work, and already the bayonets of
hired Hessians have been wet in the
blood of our fellowworkers.
''We must win this fight. Our lot is
beyond resignation. We must resist
now or all hope in the future is lost
$50 we appeal to all the workers,
mer, and women and children, to sup
port this strike, not merely morally.
but financially. Remember that many
of our fellow-workers have but one
weeks wages between themselves and
starvation.
Financial aid is needed, and need
ed quick. He who gives quickly gives
dcubly. We propose to establish COM
missary for the needy and We ask for
provisions and money.
Sincerely yours for the cause of 25,- |
600 men and women and children,
aCtr;Ir, Co,,,