The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-21
Governor Orders Two
Cavalry Units to Paw
tucket Valley.
STONES HURLED
AT SUBSTITUTES
Police Draw Guns to Rout
Strikers Surrounding
4 Girl Workers.

PROVIDENCE, r. l.. Feb. 90
Continued rioting by cotton mill
strikers at Pontiac, following dis
orders during the day In two other
Rhode Island textile centers. has
caused Gov. Emery J. Sansouci Ia
order two troops OF National Guard
cavalry to proceed at once to the
Pawtucket Valley.
The cavalry had been stationed
at the armory OF mounted COM
mands here for the past ten days
in readiness for such an emergency.
The governor called the troops
out soon after 6:30 o'clock tonight.
following a fresh outbreak. and Or
dered them to see that the laws Of
Rhode Island were obeyed. Late
tonight they were expected to ar
rive in the strike area and take
charge OF the situation in Pontiac.
River Point, Natick. Crompton. Cen.
terville, Arctic. and smaller mill
towns. Their first task will be ~
clear the streets, which will prob
ably cause little trouble.
Substitute Men stoned.
Sporadic demonstrations in Pom
tiac, Natick and River Point during
the day were featured by fusillades
of stones directed at men hired
by the p. BJ and II. Knight Com
pany to load cotton goods on trucks
which were to take them to the
finishing plants. Employees of the
Crompton mills were similarly ar
noyed. No one was injured. but
early tonight. when strikers began
to tear down picket fences in order
to get within better throwing dis
tance. the governor took action.
A large section of the Pawtucket
Valley, where 1000 are on strike
will thus be practically under mar
tial law. Whether Gov. Sansouci
will decide TO proclaim martial law
and call, out the infantry compa-
,nies probably will be decided by
TIE events of tomorrow.
-Bsrfy SfTsthe morning the Paw
tucket police were forced to draw
their guns TO drive away a body of
strikers who attempted to prevent
four girl operatives reporting for
work. Clubs were used freely and
two men were arrested and fined
but the police. with special officers
and deputy sheriffs ready to assist
have the situation there well un-
der control.
Danger in Small Towns.
The danger lies in the smaller
centers. which in most cases have
little police protection.
From reports TO this city, IL ap-
pears that those responsible for the
outbreaks are for the most part OF
the foreign element. which type OF
workers prevails in the Pawtucket
Valley. The rioters were largely
men unamliated with the textile
unions, and many are unable to
speak English.
Following the first outbreaks
union officials issued a statement
that they were exceedingly sorry
for the actions of the irresponsible
persons involved in them. Those
handling the strike have been striv-
ing as never before to avoid such
disorders. and coming on the eve OF
an important conference with mill
representatives and the State con-
ciliation board here tomorrow. IL is
feared they may tend to weaken the
position of the strikers.
1t is reported that representatives
of the strikers will refuse to yield
either on their opposition to the 20
per cent wage cut or the 54-hour
week, and will accept no compro-
mise. The mill owners are expected
to stand firm on both the issues and
prospects of a successful meeting
are not bright.