Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-15
SOLDIERS AND
STRIKERS FIGHT.
Military Companies Stoned and
Forced to Retreat. Latter Finally 4
Charges Mob
SITUATION UNDER CONTROL
Serious Riotiu@ Feared Strike headers
Threaten 10 Cause 2u0,uoo Opera
tiycS tu strike.

! llSeu Day blltlS dliti Iit 'iS'N''' 'i''H
I, tneatcn back the police and were
/ sweeping down on The local mills. the
| three companies OF stale militia hlr-
riedly called for strike duty finally
go, control OF the situation after half
hundred Of the rioters had been
more or less seriously injured.
The order TO The soldiers 10 charge
came after rhe police aided by spc-
cia officers from Lynn and teverhill
had made repeated efforts 10 get the
strikers. who were jammcd in Il COM
pact mass about The mills where the
strike is in progress. 10 dispersc. The
police were stoned and forced 10 re-
trea! to The mill yards and then the
soldiers were called on 20 dispcrse
the mob.
With bayoncts fixed the three com
panies swept down on the strikers al
double quick. The workers stood for
i inmate but finally broke and ran.
y
condition.
Mayor Scanlon ordered the militia
10 guard duty along Union Street.
from The Wood and Aver Mills across
the Merrimac River Bridge TO Essex
Street. where the strikers gathered
in greatest numbers. and literally
overwhelmed the police and twenty
iiremen. sworn in as deputies who
had been on guard since midnight.
The appearance OF the militia.
coming at the double quick. with
guns and side arms, was met with
icers and hooting from the crowds
which offered no violence as the sol
diers were halted and deployed al in
tervals OF several yards between the
mills and the strikers. y score Of
young hoodlums in the rear OF the,
crowd sent Il volley Of snowballs intoi
the mili,amcn before they broke
companies. huI the police chased
thrill from tle scene.
i, was by Scanon's order that the
militia WAS called on today Under
Massachusetts law the governors ac-
,ion is unnecessary. mayors having
The authority 10 act when they see tit.
Scanlon was on the scene and
when the strikers began tearing down
the fences ne sent special deputy
on Ihe run to Capt Donovan. Co +
Capt. Ranlrrt. Go l.. and Capt. Cox.
of Battery G.. ordering them out.
Serious riorins is feared as the
strikers are all foreign born and
members Of the Industrial Workers
of the World. whose chiefs are on
the ground in personal charge. The
strike resulted from genera! wage
cut following the going into effect
OF the new state law which limits
Il working week TO 81 hours instead
OF 90 hours.
The leaders threaten general
strike of the 200. 900 mill operatives
in New England if the local COM
panieS do not restore the old wage
scale.
By order Of The mayor The police
refraincd from using 1heir clubs,
and they were unable To drive the
strikers back without resortins 10
force. which The mayor is anxious 10
avoid. The troops were held i'll re-
serve on the scene and the situation
was growing worse as the day wore
on. The strike leaders eXhorted
their followers 10 permit no strike
breakers 10 penetrate to the mills
through the Gordon OF pickets that
surrounded all OF the entrances.
Boston. Ian. l5.-So serious IS The
situation at Lawrence. where 1900
striking mill hands have deted the
local authorities and compelled three
companies OF militia on duty 10
charge them with fixed bayonetS 10
diSperSc them that Gov. FosS This af-
ternoon ordered five more companies
OF suardSmen To The scene. They
will be sent there OH special trains
and their number will be augmented
as needed
More than 100 foreigners were ar
rested following the rol. Most OF
Them were armed with revolvers.
dirks and razors. The police allege
that they had been ordered by their
, leaders 10 gain an entrance 10 the
mills and wreck the machinery. That
/ they failed 10 do so was due In the
prvsencc of the militia, according to