The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-07-08
Chester Textile Workers in
Strike Ferment

nave patiently suffered wage cuts Tor
a number of years. So much so that
the bosses had ceased to look upon
the workers with even the little re-
spect one usually associates with the
profit seekers. Anything was good
enough for the Glands" who made the
fortunes for the textile barons.
On Friday, 10th of June, one of the
most arrogant millionaires decided to
take another slice off the already dis
graceful wages Of his workers. Irv-
ings Worsted Mill was the place-Mr.
Irving the blatant Rabbit. The work
ers came to the mills as usual and
found to their great Indignation that
another 5 per cent wage cut was be-
/ ing enforced.
100 Percent Speed-up.
The workers in the mill are mostly
young boys and girls many of whom
receive a wage of $1,000 for TWO
WEEKS work with an average wage
of $11.00 per week for the whole mill.
The little children in the mill range
from II years upwards. The speed
up system is 100 per cent efficient;
the conditions are hellish, toilets be-
ing particularly obnoxious.
The last wage cut was too much.
The wool-sorters decided to protest
and were met by the bosses with the
usual class collaboration dope of.
Come and see me on Monday and we
will discuss the question" Monday
came and the workers went to see
the boss. They were refused a hear
ing and all were fired at the end of
the ashift There were only II wool
sorters implicated but the rest of the
workers were very bitter about the
left-handed action of the boss and de-
cided to call meeting for Wednesday,
June 18th, to discuss the whole situa-
ton in the mill and support for the
wool-sorters.
Pat Devine was called in by the
Chester Textile Committee to handle
the situation. Leaflets were printed
for the meeting and three workers
sent to distribute them. The police
were on the job and arrested the work
ers on the charge of disorderly con-
duct. Workers who saw the arrest
were shocked to see the arbitrary ac-
ton of the police against workers who
were merely calling meeting. Many
ideas about democracy, free speech,
etc, were shaken and showed them
selves at the meeting that night. For
practically the first time in years the
workers of Chester gathered together
to discuss the question of struggle.
Enthusiasm was at high pitch.
Especially the young workers were
against any worsening of their con-
ditions. In view Of the fact that a
majority of workers had not come to
the meeting it was decided to call
another meeting for Friday night.
Leaflets advertising the meeting
were printed and Devine went to the
factory gate with two others to dis
tribute them. The workers did not
wait to be given the leaflets, they
literally rushed to the distributors
and asked for bundles of them to take
into the mill.
Don't Want Another 1908.
Suddenly three men jumped at De-
vine and held him until the usual
convenient protection came on to the
scene. AS the policeman came for
ward one of the scissorbills urged him
to use his club-he did not however.
The other workers were arrested
simultaneously with Devine. On the
way to the police station the captain
of police met the party and went al
most crazy. Had you any trouble ?"
he bawled. "Yes", said one of the
assistants of law and order, from
this dhe here, pointing to Devine.
did you use your clubs?'', he barked
and was very obviously disappointed
when told no. We've got to be sew
ere on these BIRDS, the captain then
said. eve don't want another 1908"
(1908 saw big traction strike that
was only settled after the company
had been bankrupted, the town tied
up completely and the militia called
in to repress the workers.)
The police station was all excite
ment when the prisoners were march
ed in. Foul language was bawled at
the prisoners. Talk about Russians,
Jews, ETC., ETC., predominated until
the officers asked for names. Patrick
Devine, the first name given seemed
to upset the balance of the guardians
of the law who were mostly Irishmen
themselves. After that things were
not so bad.
Even the hard-boiled cops were
surprised when the Judge mentioned
the bail. A lawyer from the mill