The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-10

returned TO their places after Labor
Day.
The strikers won the long drawn
out conflict. which began on the 9th
of March and which dragged through
twcnty-three long weeks of idleness
that spelled heavy losses to the mills,
the employers and to the tradespeople
of the city.
Last March. when the big mills OF
Lawrence, headed by the giant Pacific
Mills. where more than 5000 are en-
ployed in normal times. made the an
pouncement Of 20 per cent. wage cut
the strike promptly resulted. The
sentiment was practically unanimous
among the workers that the wage cut
was uniustifed, coming on the heels
of the cut of 22h per cent. which they
accepted year ago.
Between 10000 and 10000 mill hands
were involved and the greater part OF
this number are again at work. Sew
eral of the leading mills have an
nounced that they were resuming on
full time schedule. but this may not
be the case with the entire number
In many ways the strike now ended
has been unlike any other similar con-
fiict ever visited upon Lawrence
Never before has there been such an
absence Of disorder condition that
brought words Of praise from the lips
of officials and persons in position
to observe the conduct of the strikers
as whole.
To be sure there have been a few
cases of assault and the like that
made their appearance in the local
courts Mild periodical disturbances
naturally occurred, but on the whole
the peace was kept, much to the JOY
of all familiar with the terrible scenes
of the Industrial war in Lawrence
ten years ago.
New Methods Invoked
In Settling the Dispute
Methods never before heard OF in
connection with strike settlements
were invoked in the struggle just
ended. A citizens committee OF cler-
gymen named by the Mayor was per-
haps the most important single agency
in bringing the parties together into
final agreement. The Mayor. keeniy
alert right at the start of the trouble
to all the possibilities. at once named
this committee with the plea that 1t
do all it could to effect peace.
Happily. the executive selected a
group of churchmen in whom the peo
pie of the city had confidence. The
group was headed by the Rev. Father
James t. OReilly, pastor of ST. Mary's
Catholic Church. and under his guild
ance the committee functioned in
manner that brought praise from every
side.
The mills that were affected include
the Pacific group. the Pemberton, the
Acadia, the Monomac, the Everett, the
Katama, the Methuen Company and
the Patchogue- Plymouth.
The big Arlington mills We're tochni-
cally 'outsde"the quarrel. On March
20, four days before the wage cut an
nouncemcnts by the other plants. the
Arlington mill posted the announce
ment that 1t would close for an in
definite period because of trade condi-
tons. No reference was made to the
employees wages. A short time later
the plant reopened with a small num-
Der of operators, and ii has continued
along with a skeleton staff throughout
the summer. gradually increasing the
number, however, during recent weeks.
In this strike the workers had a
larger measure of public support than
in any that has gone before. their
generally good conduct on which they
were constantly cautioned by the more
responsible leaders, being an impor-
tant factor in this feeling toward them.
Although the tieup is ended, 1t will
be many weeks, perhaps months. be-
fore normal" conditions return to
Lawrence. Tradesmen have been
badly hurt. There have been many
local failures in various lines, the re-
suit of the disappearance of free
cash" and in the case of stores deal
ing with necessaries of life OF efforts
to carry along the customers on the
books until they were able to pay.
Many Workers Moved
To Other Mill Centers
Many workers have left the city,
some finding jobs they could fill in
other manufacturing centers while
others drifted into other work. 1T Is
inevitable that considerable pro-
portion OF these will never return to
the n Ills. But there was no general
exodus and the total thus included is
relatively small.
The striking workers promptly re-
solved themselves into two important
groups. Probably % per cent. were
members of the United Textile
Workers of America, the oldest and
more conservative of the textile
unions. The other organization, the
One Big Union. had fair membership
in Lawrence, and its fiery leader, Ben
Legere. former actor lost no time
in getting on the ground, seeking re-
cruits and followers among the
thousands Of unorganized hands.
Fortunately. In the view OF many,
the majority of the strikers accepted
the advice and leadership of the United
Textile Workers leaders. Thomas T..
Mcmahon, president OF the latter body,
was in Lawrence conducting the fight,
and clashes between him and Legere
were frequent and often heated The
two had little success In the matter
of getting together for a Joint policy