The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-07-19
OF JULY
IN LAWRENCE

With the Fourth of July Just past, and
with political liberty achieved to a great
extent. It may be well TO turn a little
attention to the struggle for economic
liberty now going on in this city. This
struggle did not end with the end OF
the recent great strike. Il Ia not raging
as before that event, perhaps more So
as that event gave more definite form
to both sides of the struggle than had
previously existed. Before the strike,
capitol alone was a factor, a strong, un'
disputed, tyrannical factor. Now labor
has to be dealt with; labor with greater
organization, power and influence, the
influence of revolt successfully accom-,
plished. Capital does not like this con
dition of affairs and seeks to get rid of
it. Labor desires TO retain all that il
has gained, and considers still further
improvement possible. And so the strug-
gle is on.
A brief glance at the table of wages
paid before and after the strike will give
the reader good idea of what labor has
won, and what capital seeks to retake
from it. The table is made up from the
schedule of wages paid in the spinning
combing, winding and beaming depart
ments and dye houses of the various
mills of the American Wooden Co. They
are compiled by workers employed in
those mills. They give the 90 hour scale
the 81 hour reduction that precipated the
strike, and the "a hour scale now in
vogue, with the percentage of increase
secured:
Fifty.four hour week before the strike
-$492, 1894, 1929, $500, $7,43.
Fifty-four hour week after the strike
5000, 500, 500, $s25, 1925.
Increase percent-22, 10, 10, 20, IL.
All piece work was increased 5 per
cent; all those who were employed at
wages higher than So per week received
an increase of l cent per hour. The
premium system was so readjusted as
to make permiums easier to secure. In
stead of being required to earn $1,000 a
month to secure the premium, the figure
now set is $37. Where formerly the
premium was only paid at the end of
the month it is now paid every two
weeks, so that the worker, needs only
10 ~ I'd 70 har 70
of the premium. In addition, better
wash up" privileges are allowed; and
treatment in general is improved.
Here then is the bone of contention:
Increased wages and piece work prices;
improved premium system, greater priv
ileges and better treatment. All this
means an incentive to struggle for more
to the workers, and the loss of millions
in profits to the mill owners. The latter
are fighting labor organizations hard
They have the mills and the textile
locals of the l. w. w. under close espion
age. In the meeting halls of the latter
this sign is displayed in all languages.
Beware of Spies" Recent arrivals are
regarded with suspicion; only old en-
ployes are trusted. The importation of
French Canadians, for the purpose of
supplanting the Franco Belgians mainly,
along with the Germans, Poles and Ital-
ians, is going steadily on, and is being
as steadily combatted by divers means.
Finally, the legal persecution of men like
Ettor, Giovannitti, Haywood Traut
mann, etc, tends to reduce the organic
ing force of labor, as it ties up and keeps
away from the scene of most necessary
activity the ablest and best men.
Labor shows no sign of laying down"
under the stress of the insidious pressure
being brought to bear against it, not
only here in Lawrence, but elsewhere.
While other men grow eloquent over the
illusory political freedom typified by the
Fourth of July, the textile workers here
are fighting an economic battle for the
simplest means of existence and the
simplest industrial rights in a sturdy
manner. This battle is not being her
aided broadcast, for it has, none of those
sensational and dramatic incidents which
command public attention and which
make good copy" for the yellow press.
But, it is being fought none the less !;
and is engaging labor's fullest attention.
This will account, to a great extent, for
the so-called indifference of the New
England textile workers to the fate of
Ettor and Giovannitti which, by the
way, is not as great as is generally be-