The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-08-26
WALk-OUT At LAURENS MILL.
Trouble Said to Have Been Caused by
Employment of Negroes in Me-
NAL Capacities,

Laurens, Aug. 21-About 400 looms
are idle at the Laurens Cotton mills
because of a walk-out of thirty-seven
weavers-fourteen women and tWen-
ty-three men-one or two of whom
have returned to work. The strikers
were paid off by the mill, and in the
meantime efforts to fiji the places va
Gated are being made by the manage
ment.
According to a statement made by
representatives of the workers who
Quit their jobs, the walk-out was the
direct result of the dismissal of two
white men who refused to work in
the mill with the negro help employ
ed. Objection was raised to the ne
gro help in the weave room only, the
negroes being employed to clean off
the looms and lay up filing for the
use of the white weavers. This work
the weavers considered white per-
sons Job and complained to the man
agement of the existing conditions,
but no relief was given, as they
claim. In all about twenty negroes
have been in the employ of the mill
in different capacities, as scrubbers,
loom cleaners, sweepers, water car
rters, picker room laborers, scaven-
ger drivers, boiler firemen, etc. Most
of the negro help occupied the COM
pany's cottages.
Following the alleged use of some
offensive language by one of the ne
gro helpers several days ago, the
general manager and the superinten-
dent were called upon by committee
of operatives and asked to remove the
negroes, because they we're creating
trouble and their presence distasteful
to the white help. This was refused,
according to the operatives version.
The negroes, however, were apprised
of the situation and gradually all Of
them quit. A meeting Of all the op-
eratives was called by General Man
ager W. S. Montgomery, who, it is
said asked them if they would assist
him in refnstating and protecting the
negro help. Practically all preesnt
objected, so it is claimed. A second
attempt was made, and likewise fail
ed
Meantime the negroes remained out
or off their work on the outside. The
issue came to a climax when the
management summoned two men to
the Office suspected of leading in the
trouble and dismissed them. These
two men worked in the weave room,
where the negroes were employed.
The two men in question denied any
connection Will the alleged intimida-
ton of the negro help. AS soon as
the action of the management was
learned the thirty-seVen operatives IN
one of the weave rooms walked out.
Concerning the dissatisfaction that
arose of the employment of certain
negro help in the mill and the conse-
quent walk out on the part OF the
weavers, the mill management has
stated that the company found it dlf-
fcult to secure the best results in
the employment Of white men to do
certain menial labor, such as sweep
ing, scrubhing and cleaning of the
looms, although they had held these
Jobs open at all times to white men
who were willing to give satisfactory
work. The plan of putting negro
help on these particular jobs was
adopted several months ago, and for
some time there has been an effort
on the part of certain operatives to
run the negroes off. A few days ago
the situation became more pronounc-
ed when anonymous letters and per-
sonal threats were directed to the
blacks. Within day or so every ne
gro had given up his job and left.
Mr.. Montgomery tnereupon called
meeting and and explained that he
had no desire to force negro help
on them and that he was ready to en-
ploy white men then and there for
the several positions. He made plain
4 his proposition, stating that if any
whites desired the places to apply
J and he would employ them. He fui-
: ther asked all who thought he was
making fair and reasonable offer
and satisfactory plan for the solu-
tion of the matter to indicate the
same by holding up their hands. Quite
number raised their hands, and
then the reverse proposition was
-oo5o vNorounon nnne voted This