The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-06-20
FALL river WILL
JOIN IN WALKOUT
SOON, He SAYS
Fight on Wage Cuts, So
Hour Week, Spreads
(Bg a Worker Correspondent

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. tBy mani
The naturalization of industry, the
Dawes-plan and the general Europe
an competition, the extension Of the
industry to the southern states, have
all had their effect in putting the tex
tile industry in state of chronic
crisis. Since the war, the history OF
this basic industry is the story OF
one wage cut after another. The av-
erage weekly wage of the cotton mill
workers, according to the bureau of
labor statistics for 1926, show male
S1748, and female $3.50. Since
then, because of more wage cuts, the
average has been lowered consider
ably. The young workers in the in
dustry receive as low as 81 and S.,
and the children even less.
Workers Militant.
The above conditions are not re-
suit of the lack of militancy of the
textile workers. These workers have
struggled heroically, one need only
mention the Lawrence, Paterson, and
Passaic strikes, but because of the
continued betrayal of the A. F. T. O.
and the U. 7. W., have remained I'M
organized helpless victims to the on
slaught of the bosses. 1t is because
Of these betrayals and sellouts, linked
together with the extensive spy sys-
tenn in the industry, that created an
attitude of wariness and general mis-
trust among the workers. However,
the persistent and INSCRIPTIONS at
tacks Of the bosses have given the
workers no other alternative but to
fight 70 the extent where even the
reactionary A. f. T. O., has been fore
ed into struggle, altho betraying at
the earliest possible moment.
The present struggle of the $4,000
textile workers in New Bedford must
therefore be viewed from the general
situation. Because of the lack of
faith in unions, and because the field
is divided between the reactionary A.
f. T. 0. and the new militant Textile
Mills Committee, we find that this
strike has thus far more or less as
sumed the character Of a lockout. The
"Batty outfit" afraid of struggle,
and anxious to stand up t0their splen-
did record Of betrayal, told the work
ers to stay home and sleep" How
ever, today in the tenth week of the
strike one can clearly see the grow
ing influence and strength Of the New
Bedford Textile Workers Union, af-
filiated with the Textile Mill Com
mittees, and with this, the growing
spirit, determination, and militancy
Of the workers.
One Mill, One Branch.
The workers are fast learning that
the New Bedford Textile Workers
Union under the leadership Of Muir
dock, Beale, and Weisbord, is the only
organization that fights for their in
terests; and that has seriously under
taken the task of uniting the industry
and organizing the unorganized. IN
stead of having as it's panacea the
Lewis and Batty" theory of "toc
many workers in industry" this I'M
ion is marching forward under the
industry, one union"
The bosses, realizing the growing
menace of this new organization OF
atruggle, and seeing the picket line.
gradually change the entire complex
ion Of the strike, have become wor-
sied. The conference between the mill
representatives and Batty behind
closed doors no doubt laid the basi.
of the betrayal, and worked out ways
and means of first crushing the N. B
T. w. U. They know very well thai
as long as this union continues to
grow and spread courage and solidar-
ity in the ranks Of the workers be-
trayal is impossible
The aim Of the bosses is mo com
promise" In accordance with this
aim their strategy is to smash the
union and with it the resistance Of
the workers. The following are the
tactics Of the mill owners: % Ar
rest and inprison all strike leaders
~ Use the press as a means Of iso-
lating the union, and breaking the
support of its followers and sympa-
thizers. Oh Create dissension withis
the ranks of the N. B. T. w. u, dem
oralizing it from within. (4) AS soon
as expedient issue Injunction against
pieketing.
Cne need not go very far to show
these tactics in action. The Jail SEN
fences looming before Murdoch, Beale
Porter, and others, is a sign of the
attempt to remove the leadership
from the field, and to demoralize the
picket line. The reading Of the New
Bedford Mercury, Times, and Stand
ard for the past week shows the ma
lcious intents of the press. The most
assiduous action, however, has been
The attempt to create inner dissensior
which was for time used by stool
pigeons and spies working within the
anks of the union. However, in all
IF these attempts to crush the union,