New-York tribune., 1919-02-05
Ne,U England Textile
Strikers to Fight
Direction BY 1. ". ",
Special Correanondence


BOSTON, Feb. 4.-The textile strike
started in Lawrence is spreading
throughout New England, but it has
lost much of its original force because
1t ls developing rapidly into contest
between the United Textile Workers
and the Industrial Workers of the
World and because it started a.
clean-cut demand for 48-hour week
and has developed into a demand for
bhe fuil 54-hours' pay for 48 hours Of
work -
In Lawrence the strikers are fight
ing among themselves. One faction
tavors accepting the 4s-hour week
with AZ hours pay. This faction stands
toyaiiy by the Textile Union and its
animated body, the American Fedora
tion of Labor. The more radical q ele- a.
ment. however, to-day cut Ioose fron,
the Textile Union and is demanding
l. ". W. direction of the strike.
me Lawrence strikers claim to have
$4,000 out. All the mills except one
we're running to-day, although short
handed. The mill agents are confident
OF a serious break in the ranks of the
strikers as result of tho radical eae.
ment cutting loose from the recognized
union. there IS also belief that the
resorting 20 violence by the l. w w
followers in the strike will disgust tbc
better element and cause that element
10 return TO work
Inc ofrer by the American Woolen
company, operating the biggest sn;lls
IN the city, of fiat 48-hour week and
ne decision of the Textile Union that
the offer is fair, have robbed the STRIKE
oi much ammunition.
INC mill and city officials have
@eopeeo strenuous measures to put
H""A every EFFORT at violence Peace
III picketin2 of the mills is permitted
but no crowds are allowed to assemble
Inrce strikers already have been ar
rested, and although some shots were
hred ia DISTURBING crowds nobody was
'njureH Mounted police patrol the
streets IN the. vicinity Of the mills. 'N
strikers talk Of having ample funds
70 carry on the fight, but IL ia be-
ieVed that without support from the
american Federation Of Labor and
from the Textile Union the strikers
are in no position to wage a lony z fSJ oh+
II is realized the /. ". w. may attcmnt,
10 finance the strike, but such action.
y - thought, would only serve to in
crease the determination Of the better
clement Of the strikers to have no part
IN the radicals programme.
The United Textile Union is back
.ng no strike in New England where
me demand IS other than 45 hours pay
for ~ hoors' work. Its officials say
that - the extent Of the Unions sym-
pathy with textile strikers. The union
stands ready, and has promise Of full
a. =. Of L. support for It's demand, for
q 4s~bour week, b1t beyond that will
haze nothing 10 do with aiding atrikes.
Outside Of Lawrence the situation
appears TO be rapidly clearing. The
Amoskcag and Stark, mills at Manchcss
tsr, ~ H., to-day granted the demand
., ., their employees for a 4a-hour week.
JI,hefe twe corporations employ more
1nAn ZOgo9 persons, About 2 900 en-,
pioyss Of the Grea1 Falls Manufactnr.
4ng company At somersworth, y. H.,
sD,dday accepted the 4s-four week
hisewFsre the Eew England sifna.
Isen seems, fur from serious. The
Ay~ss plan II gaining ground in Law
@hs Fan kiyer, Salem, Ipswich and