Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-13

lin many circles, tonight, that the riots
of today will have the effect of sober
ing down many wouldbe strikers and
that a general strike, which would
involve upwards of 20000 men and
women. is improbable. The five men
and one woman under arrest are said
to be the real leaders of the outbreak.
A pass meeting of 1900 operatives,
mainly Poles and Italians, voted, to-
night. 10 hold firm in their protest
against "a reduction in wages and TO
remain away from work, tomorrow
morning. The operatives are employed
in various mills and the strike vote is
directed against all the mills except
the Kuhnhardt.
Many of those at the mass meeting
belong to labor organization known
as the Industrial Workers of the
Weria. but the attendance was not
confined to members of that body.
All the speakers expressed regreat
over the riotuus scenes of the day and
urged their hearers to refrain from
any violence during the strike.
The police admitted, tonight. that
| tney had another man under arrest,
who they think may have been The
ring leader in the strike. He is Leo
Phillips. "a, of New York City. Like
| the theirs. he is charged with melting
a riot and will be arraigned in the To-
cal court, tomorrow. There is. said to
| be another New York man in town
| whom the police would like to inter
view.
One hundred and seventy-fve floor
Ia CHI inc mil
| have joined the strikers their griev-
anee being the same as the others.
Lawrence Mass. jan 1.-THE mill
district of this city was thrown into
state of great excitement, today,
by riotous outbreak on the part of
about 500 Italians. who left their work
in the Wood, Aver and Washington
mills of the American Wooden Co, be-
cause they objected to a reduction OF
two hours pay week under the
workings of the new 54-hour law Be-
fore the trouble ended several per-
sons had been injured, none serious
~. number of girl operatives had
tainted and six arrests had been
made by the police The mill agents
hastily looked things over and found
that so many operatives had quit
work through fear of the angry 1tal-
ians that it was decided to close
down the Wood and Aver mills at
once. The Washington mills and those
of the Lawrence Duck Co, to which
the disturbance extended. were kept
in operation, although 800 operatives
at the Washington mills and 400 at
the Duck mills stopped work after the
riot. AS the Wood mill employs 5000
hands and the Aver mill $50, nearly
IL 900 operatives were idle, this after
noon
The only injuries sufficiently severe
to attraction particular attention &C.
CURED at the Washington mills There |
was an indiscriminate hurting of mis-
siles, mostly bobbins, in the rooms
there. Miss Della Burke, an operative, |
was badly cut by a missile of some
sort and overseers Blodgett and Be-
gin were hit on the head. The injuries
in no case are serious.
Considerable damage was done to |
mill property. At the Aver mills the
mob broke down an iron gate. Inside |
the Wood mills the rioters cut many
pulleys opened the sprinklers and
did other admage to the machinery. |
Union street side of the Lawrence
Duck Cos. mills We're smashed by
bricks and Jumps of ice hurled at
them by the Italians, who made their
last stand there. Although they had
threatened TO march on the Paeihe |
cotton mills. they Were dispersed by |
the police before reaching that point |
The italians had not gathered again. |
this afternoon, and DO further rioting
was anticipated, today.
While today's disturbance was not an
ticipated it was known, last night, that
the Italians intended to quit work, today. |
The dissatisfaction over the wage cut
caused by the reduction OF two hours
weekly in the work of the operatives un-
der the new law, which went into effect
Jan. !, is widespread and, yesterday, 800
weavers and spinner in the Everett, Ar
lington and Lawrence duck companies
mills went on strike. Although no for |
NAL action was taken at a meeting, last
night. of the Industrial Workers of the |
World, comprising the majority of the /
local operatives, it was the general fell
ing that a general strike involving the
2O,ooo or more mill workers in the city
was inevitable.
have on the general situation is problem-
atlcaL Some of the mill agents express
ed the opinion that it might make the
more responsible operatives realize the
dangers which would accompany gen
eral strike aud thus might make it easier
to reach an amicable agreement. The
union leaders We're not prepared, today.
TO make any statements as to their prob
able attitude but it was evident that the
disturbances, today had produced So
bering effect No formal meeting Of
union workers had been called, early this
afternoon but it was generally expected
that such meetings would be held very
soon TO discuss the situation and decide
what action would be taken
The mill agents intimated that They
would open all the mills. tomorrow, as
usual, including the Wood and Aver
mills. How many Of their operatives will
be on hand to go to work cannot yet be
foretold
The first attack of the Italians was on
the Washington mills. Thence they went