The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-11-16
ORGANIZE TO CONTINUE
THE STRUGGLE!
STATEMENT OF THE UNITED FRONT RANK AND FILE
= STRIKE COMMITTEE. LAWRENCE. MASS.

THE splendid general strike of the Lawrenc,
textile workers, which started on October 5,
was broken on November II, 1881 in the Airing
ton and American Wooden Co. mills by the Uni
ted Textile Workers Union
The Lawrence strike was not only a struggle
against 10 per cent wage cut, it was a blow
struck against the whole national wage cutting
offensive of the employers. The full forces of
the Lawrence workers must now be modified for
the support of the workers of the Pacific mills
who still remain out on strike.
The U.TW. which handed out IS to 40 per
cent wage cut to the Philadelphia hosiery work
ers and is now supporting the 10 per cent wage
cut in New Bedford, was called to Lawrence by
tae employers to put over the wage cut here.
They never officially recognized or endorsed our
strike. The employers needed the strike break
ing services of the U.TW. because last February
the workers won partial victory through the
strike led by the National Textile Workers Union.
The employers modified the united forces of
the government church leaders like Rev. Mac
Donald Milanisl, Fowler, the press and the U.
T.W. and American Union leaders for their
strike breaking moves On the day that the u
T.W. leaders were caned into Lawrence the fed
e-al government threw into Jail Edith Berkman,
and W. T. Murdoch, the two N.T.W.U. leaders
Who helped TO win the strike last February. The
to the U.T.W. misleaders and suppressed free
speech on the Common for the Rank and File
Strike Committee and the NT.W.U. The whole
sale arrest of strikers, the clubbing and tramp
ling Of men and women on the picket lines by
the mounted police Of Peter Carr, were the chief
results OF the secret conspiracy against the strik
ers Matched in the conferences of Gov. Ely, the
U-T.W. leaders and the Citizens Committee.
The U.T.W. made the first big break in the
strike in the Arlington mill where they had con-
troll OF the situation. They carried through their
betrayal at time when our strike was being
successfully spread to other wooden and Worsted
mills in Maynard Webster, Woonsocket etc. Al
ter they created the first big break the Ur.W.
told the strikers to "scab ii IN your judgement
YOU think it best They then proceeded to call
meetings of the various crafts and language
groups to take back TO work votes This was
their method of breaking the strike after the
Rank snd File Strike Committee and the MT
WI. had defeated their arbitration schemes and
their attempt to put thru general fake vote
together with the Citizens Committee. When the
employers decided that the time was ripe be-
cause of increased hunger TO stampede the work
ers back to the American Wooden Co. mills on
Tuesday Nov 10. the U.T.W. put its final touch
on the sel-out by refusing to speak to 5000
strikers on the City Common and tell them to
continue the strike. The officials of the Amer
lean Union Inc. worked hand in hand with the
U.TW officials in putting over this sell-out
These reactionary unions covered up their
strike breaking moves with the radical speeches
OF the socialists Muste, Red Nike" Shuman,
Alfred Baker Lewis, etc.. These little brothers
OF the big labor takers quit the strike in the last
two days in order to leave the ground clear for
The final sell-out steps by the U.1.W.
The National Textile Workers Union came for
ward with the only fighting program for vim
ming the strike from the beginning. 1t stood for
the united action of all the strikers, organized
and unorgsnized, regardless of union affiliation,
under the central leadership OF United Front
Rank and File Strike Committee. The National
Textile Workers Union was the only union which
honestly fought for victory in our strike and
could not be bought or intimidated. Because it