Month: January 2022

Hellraisers Journal: Italian Woman Killed in Lawrence as Strikers Gathered at Mills at Closing Time on Monday January 29th

Janet RayeBread and Roses Strike of 1912
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Lawrence Anna LoPizzo Killed, Jan 29, 1912

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday January 31, 1912
Lawrence, Massachusetts – Woman Shot and Killed During Strikers’ Demonstration

From The Boston Daily Globe of January 30, 1912:

HdLn Woman Killed in Lawrence Anna LoPizzo, Bst Glb p1, Jan 30, 1912HdLn Warrant Issued for Ettor at Lawrence, Bst Glb p1, Jan 30, 1912
——

From The New York Call of January 30, 1912:

WOMAN SLAIN BY SHOT IN LAWRENCE
STRIKE EXCITEMENT
———-

[…..]

LAWRENCE, Mass., Jan. 29.-After a two hours’ demonstration, during which the woolen and cotton mill strikers had full control of the streets of this city, there was a clash between the police and militia on one side and about 1,000 strikers near the Everett mills just before 6 o’clock to night.

The affray resulted in the killing of an Italian woman, who was standing on the sidewalk, the stabbing of Patrolman Oscar Benoit and sore heads for many of the strikers, who were finally put to flight.

The woman killed was the victim of senseless shooting by an unknown individual, who seemed to be taking great joy in firing revolver bullets into the ground on the opposite side of Union street from the woman. It is claimed that neither the police nor militiamen fired a shot during the battle and it is believed that the woman was killed by a bullet which glanced off a stone in the street.

[…..]

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Italian Woman Killed in Lawrence as Strikers Gathered at Mills at Closing Time on Monday January 29th” →

Hellraisers Journal: Joe Ettor Addresses Mass Meeting on Behalf of Lawrence Textile Strikers at Boston’s Faneuil Hall

Janet RayeBread and Roses Strike of 1912
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Quote Joe Ettor re John Golden, Lawrence Strike n Revolution, Bst Glb p4, Jan 27, 1912—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday January 29, 1912
 Boston, Massachusetts – Joe Ettor Speaks on Behalf of Lawrence Strikers

From The Boston Daily Globe of January 27, 1912:

ETTOR SPEAKS IN FANEUIL HALL
———–

Lawrence Strike Leader Joe Ettor, Bst Glb Morn p2, Jan 16, 1912

Joseph J. Ettor was the star of the great meeting in the interest of the Lawrence strikers which was held last evening in Faneuil Hail under the auspices of the socialist party of Boston. His picturesque looks and his vivid description of conditions in Lawrence contributed in part to the applause which greeted him. 

This man differs in appearance from any labor leader that has ever been seen in this part of the world before. He has a face on him which at first impresses you as being feminine, but which becomes masculine and full of expression when he talks. His skin looks as soft as a girls and his eyes are as black as coals.

More than $200 was taken up in a collection for the benefit of the strikers. The hall was crowded, though not uncomfortably so, and the rather large force of policemen found nothing to do but listen. There was a band of music, which kept the crowd entertained until 8:20, when a great cheer went up as the red Socialist flag and the American flag were borne up the center aisle and behind them came Ettor, James P. Carey and a number of people who were to sit on the platform.

The meeting was called to order by George D. Hall, who said he had personally visited all the textile cities in New England and had found nowhere more miserable conditions than existed in Lawrence.

———-

Woman Striker Speaks.

Miss K. S. Hanscom, one of the Lawrence strikers, addressed an audience for the first time and found a little difficulty in expressing herself. But she was so deeply impressed with the thing she wanted to say that she found no difficulty in making herself understood. She wanted to express first her admiration for the courage of the poor people who went out on strike, but more especially for the Italian women who were the first to walk out of the Wood Worsted mill. The average wage of most of the men and women, she said, was $5 a week, and they were compelled to do three and four times more work than formerly. The weavers and spinner do not average $9 a week.

Chairman Hall announced that the Boston Socialist Club proposed through a committee of 300 to collect by means of a house-to-house campaign clothing and funds for the strikers.

———–

Ettor Speaks of Wood.

Joseph J. Ettor was loudly cheered when he was introduced and it took considerable protesting with his hand to stop the applause.

This evening I was an conference with Mr. William M. Wood and he assured me that while I represented 20,000 workers he had 14.000 investors. Some of  them live on the Riviera. (Laughter).

[Continued Ettor with a laugh:]

That’s way off in Russia, I guess. You see the capitalist class know no East nor West, nor any other boundary.

The important thing today is that 20,000 mill workers of Lawrence are out on strike. The other side has done all in its power to crush out every effort that has been made by these people in the past to express themselves. The one who made a complaint was always made the victim of oppression by bosses and superintendents.

———-

Learn They Are Not Slaves.

An attempt is being made to bring the workers back to the mills, that they may be able to weave their lives into cloth on the old terms. John Golden with Billy Woods, say that in Lawrence we have no strike-we have a revolution. Well, where it is a question of life and death it is sure a revolution.

Twelve days ago the strikers were slaves, with nobody to speak for them-slaves attached to the looms who did not dare to raise their heads. All that has been changed in 12 days. These people have discovered that they are not slaves to superintendents or agents of mills.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Joe Ettor Addresses Mass Meeting on Behalf of Lawrence Textile Strikers at Boston’s Faneuil Hall” →

Hellraisers Journal: Senator Kenyon, as Head of Investigation, Makes Individual Report on Conflict in Mingo County

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
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Quote Mother Jones, WDC Tx p15, Aug 26, 1921—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday January 28, 1922
Senator Kenyon Advocates Tribunal and Coal Code to Settle West Virginia Troubles

From the Washington Evening Star of January 27, 1922:

KENYON ADVOCATES TRIBUNAL AND
CODE FOR COAL INDUSTRY
———-

Senator, as Head of Inquiry,
Makes Individual Report
on Mingo Conflict.

WV Battle by Shields, Same Old Line Up by B Robinson, Lbtr p19, Oct 1921

A government tribunal for regulation of the coal Industry under a statutory code of industrial law enforced only by power of public opinion was recommended in a report presented to the Senate today by Chairman Kenyon of the labor committee, which recently investigated disorders in the West Virginia-Kentucky coal fields.

The report held that both the coal operators and miners were responsible for the recent fatal conflicts and property destruction in West Virginia, and said mutual concessions by the coal operators and United Mine Workers would have to be made to end the conflict.

“The issue is perfectly plain,” said Senator Kenyon’s report. “The operators in this particular section of West Virginia…openly announce…that they will not employ men belonging to the unions,…and further, that they have the right and will exercise it, if they desire, to discharge a man if he belongs to the union. …On the other hand, the United Mine Workers are determined to unionize these fields, which are practically the only large and important coal fields in the United States not unionized.”

His Personal Suggestion.

The proposal for a federal coal tribunal and code of laws applying both to operators and miners was his personal suggestion, Senator Kenyon said. Other members of the investigating committee did not sign the report, and are at liberty to submit individual reports.

[…..]

Battle of Blair Mt, WV Today by Bushnell, Guards, Gunthugs, Spies, UMWJ p5, Sept 15, 1921

[Photographs and emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Senator Kenyon, as Head of Investigation, Makes Individual Report on Conflict in Mingo County” →

Hellraisers Journal: Lawrence Strikers Greet Bill Haywood with Wild Enthusiasm as Attempt at Settlement Falls Flat

Janet RayeBread and Roses Strike of 1912
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Quote BBH Dream of One Big Union, Bst Glb p4, Jan 24, 1912—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday January 27, 1912
Lawrence, Massachusetts – Big Bill Haywood Arrives to Cheering Crowds

From The Boston Daily Globe of January 25, 1912:

HdLn Lawrence Attempt to Settle Strike Fizzles, Bst Glb p1, Jan 25, 1912

Lawrence BBH on Platform, Bst Glb p1, Jan 25, 1912

By F. P. SIBLEY.

LAWRENCE, Jan 24-The first attempt to hold a conference between the striking employes of the textile industry and the mill owners and mill agents fizzled flat tonight.

The mill owners’ representatives did not all come to the meeting in City Hall. Nobody appeared for the Kunhardt, the Duck, the Pemberton nor the Arlington Mills. Of the seven men representing the other mills, all but two left almost immediately.

The strikers’ committee was then told that the mill agents who were there had not sufficient authority to treat with them. “We’re wasting our time,” said a strikers’ delegate and the strike committee adjourned to its own hall.

[…..]

Lawrence BBH Hailed, Bst Glb p4, Jan 25, 1912

Greeting to Haywood.

In the meantime [while Ettor was in conference with the Mayor] the scenery was setting for the first big spectacular event of the day. For two hours the strikers and their sympathizers, with tour bands, were gathering at the North Lawrence Station to greet William D. Haywood, the famous labor agitator, whose coming has been so eagerly expected here.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Lawrence Strikers Greet Bill Haywood with Wild Enthusiasm as Attempt at Settlement Falls Flat” →

Hellraisers Journal: Strike Committee Travels from Lawrence to Boston in Effort to Reach Settlement with Mill Owners

Janet RayeBread and Roses Strike of 1912
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Quote Lawrence Strike Committee, Drunk Cup to Dregs, Bst Dly Glb Eve p5, Jan 17, 1912—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday January 26, 1912
News from Lawrence Textile Strike: Joe Ettor Travels to Boston, Seeks Settlement

From The Boston Daily Globe of January 24, 1912:

HdLn Lawrence Move to Settle Strike, Woman n Children, Bst Glb p1, Jan 24, 1912

By F. P. SIBLEY.

LAWRENCE, Jan 23-Mayor Michael A. Scanlon and Alderman Robert S. Maloney went to Boston this afternoon and enlisted the services of the State Board of Arbitration in the effort to bring the striking textile mill operatives and their employers to a conference with the view of settling the strike.

Joseph J. Ettor and five members of the strikers’ committee also went to Boston today at the call of Max Mitchell [emissary of the the American Woolen Company] and had a conference with two men closely allied with the mill owners. The conference was a secret one and Ettor refused to make any statement as to what took place. On his return he made a date with Mayor Scanlon to meet the mill owners if they agreed to his plan.

[…..]

—————

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Strike Committee Travels from Lawrence to Boston in Effort to Reach Settlement with Mill Owners” →

Hellraisers Journal: Lawrence Strikers Vote Unanimously to Confer With Mill Owners as a Whole; Spirit of Unity Prevails

Janet RayeBread and Roses Strike of 1912
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Quote Bread and Roses Verse 1, American Magazine p214, Dec 1911
—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday January 25, 1912
News from Lawrence Textile Strike: Unity Prevails at Mass Meeting

From The Boston Daily Globe of January 23, 1912:

HdLn Lawrence Strikers to Meet w Mill Owners, On Paraded, Bst Glb p1, Jan 23, 1912

By F. P. SIBLEY.

LAWRENCE, Jan 23-Two steps in the negotiations between the striking mill operatives and the employers were taken today.

The strikers have put it up to the mill owners to make the arbitration general and to apply to all establishments alike. This proposition accompanies a refusal of the plan offered yesterday by the corporations for each mill to deal with a committee of its own employes.

This reply of the employes, drawn up last night by their executive committee, was ratified by a mass meeting of more than 3000 strikers on Lawrence Common this afternoon. 

[…..]

Chairman Ettor announced at this morning’s meeting of the executive committee that William D. Haywood, lecturer of the I. W. W., is coming here to help tomorrow or Wednesday. Haywood sprang into prominence in connection with the Western Miners’ Federation trouble in Idaho in 1906, when Gov Steunenberg’s residence was dynamited. The trials of Haywood, Moyer and Pettibone that followed stirred the labor men of the whole Nation.

The regular number of mills opened this morning. The pickets were fairly active and at the Pacific Mills a half-company of militia was sent to keep the crowd moving and prevent intimidation. At noon there was another slight disturbance at this mill and one Syrian, James Vlahodimo, 34, of 467 Common st, was arrested and locked up, charged with intimidation. This was the only arrest of the day in connection with the strike.

[…..]

HdLn Lawrence Strikers on Common, Thousands, Bst Glb p4, Jan 23, 1912

Big Crowd at Meeting.

The committee last night decided once more on recommending that a committee representing all the manufacturers should deal with another committee representing all the strikers.

This afternoon at 2 more than 3000 strikers, men and women, were gathered around the bandstand on the Common to listen to their committee’ proposition and to vote on it.

Joseph Ettor, August de Tollenaer for the French-speaking strikers, A. M. Giovannati [Giovannitti] for the Italians, and a Polish and a Syrian speaker climbed into the handstand and so far as possible divided the crowd into Nationalities, so that each speaker would have his own people before him. This set the crowd to “milling” round the bandstand. The pressure was fearful, and one woman was slightly hurt. She was helped out of the crowd, and remained there through the meeting.

Joseph Ettor said:

I hope nothing will be done to disturb this very important meeting. I know that it may be disturbed, for the purpose of distracting your attention from the real issues.

The question of meeting the employers was submitted to the strike committee last night, and its recommendation is that we offer a plan for a meeting of two committees, one representing all the operators and the other all the employes. (Cheers.) This is the report your committee now offers for your approval or rejection.

—–

Plan Unanimously Indorsed.

It means much to you. Accept and you say to the mill owners that the solidity and unity of the workers will be kept regardless of mills or employers. Decline and you will have to elect committees to deal with each mill separately.

When this speech had been translated into the various tongues, one after another, a show of hands was called for and it was wonderful to see the hands sprout out of the mob. The vote was unanimous.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Lawrence Strikers Vote Unanimously to Confer With Mill Owners as a Whole; Spirit of Unity Prevails” →

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for August 1921: Found Advocating for Workers of Mexico and Standing with West Virginia Miners

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
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Quote Mother Jones PAFL Congress, p72, Jan 13, 1921————————-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday January 24, 1922
Mother Jones News Round-Up for August 1921
Found Advocating for Mexican Workers and Standing with West Virginia Miners

From the Salina Kansas Leader of August 4, 1921
-from The New Majority (Chicago Federation of Labor):

U. S. LABOR ASKED TO ASSIST MEXICO
———-
Mother Jones Brings Request for Alliance in
Fight for New Civilization

The Republican administration under President Harding is beating the tom-toms to arouse the country to stand for a war against Mexico to bind and gag that country while the oil profiteers continue to pick its pockets. Excuse has been made of a strike of oil workers to send United States gunboats to Mexican waters in an effort to cow the Mexican workers back to work for their “American” employers.

Only the labor movement of the United States can prevent war with Mexico. The Denver convention of the A. F. of L., adopted a policy of resisting such a war. The time seems to be at hand for the American unions to start their protest, if it is to become effective.

Mother Jones has just returned from her second trip to Mexico within the year. She was in Chicago last week and brought with her a message from the Mexican organized workers. Just before she left, she attended a meeting of the presidents and secretaries of the unions affiliated with the Mexican Federation of Labor. They asked her to bear this greeting to organized labor of the United States : 

We send greetings to our brother workers in America and we want you, Mother Jones, to carry the message to them that the world is in the birth throes of a new civilization and that we in Mexico are coming to her aid to relieve her pain. We also wish you would ask our brothers in the United States to join us and we will stand shoulder to shoulder with them to usher in the new day and the civilization.

Now is Time to Help

If the workers of the United States are to stand shoulder to shoulder with the workers of Mexico, the job has got to begin with making impossible a war by our oil kings against the Mexican people.

Mother Jones reports that labor is making great strides in Mexico. She says that the newspaper reports that President Obregon is giving in to American demands that article 27 of the Mexican constitution be repealed are false. Article 27 vests ownership of the underground wealth of Mexico in the Mexican people.

She says that recently the Mexican government provided 300 striking miners with agricultural implements and placed them on farm lands so they could support themselves during their struggle and that in another case when the workers of a factory were locked out, the employer was compelled to reinstate them and pay their back wages.

[Said Mother Jones:]

Mothers who are employed are now retired on full pay for three months before childbirth and three months thereafter. Then for another three they bring their babies to work and have them cared for during working hours in nurseries provided by the employers. Whereas Mexican workers heretofore never knew when starvation and death would overtake them, their condition has improved so that now their children are going to school and are assured of their breakfast every morning before they go.

-New Majority.

[Photograph added.]

From North Carolina’s Wilson Times of August 5, 1921:

UNION MINERS GO TO COAL
FIELDS N MINGO COUNTY
———-

MOTHER JONES IS GOING
———-
Union Official Sates if the Organizers Were Arrested
He Would Send More Until the Jails Were Full.
Coal Fields in Mingo County Are Under Martial Law
———-

Charleston, W. V., July 29.-100 members of the United Mine workers of America from Cabin Creek and Paint Creek fields will start for Mingo county according to C. F. Keeney, president of district No. 17.

Mother Jones, organizer, is expected to arrive here tonight and also will go to the coal fields.

The decision to send the union men into the district which is under martial law was made the miners president said after C. F. Workman an organizer was reported arrested. Keeney claimed Workman had permission from the state authorities to return to the fields to wind up his personal business.

Keeney stated if organizers were arrested he would send more until every jail was filled, and if they were not arrested it would prove “organizers can go into a strike zone unmolested.”

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for August 1921: Found Advocating for Workers of Mexico and Standing with West Virginia Miners” →

Hellraisers Journal: Dynamite Found in Lawrence; Strikers Blamed and Arrests Made; Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Arrives

Janet RayeBread and Roses Strike of 1912
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Quote Lawrence Strike Committee, Drunk Cup to Dregs, Bst Dly Glb Eve p5, Jan 17, 1912—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday January 23, 1912
Lawrence, Massachusetts – Joe Ettor Asserts Dynamite a “Plant”

From The Boston Sunday Globe of January 21, 1912:

HdLn Lawrence Dynamite Found, Bst Glb p1, Jan 21, 1912

By JAMES C. O’LEARY. 

LAWRENCE, Jan 20-With more than 20,000 mill operatives, among whom are Italians, Poles, Syrians, Russians, Lithuanians, Franco-Belgians, Portuguese and those, of other nationalities on a strike, and talk of dynamite plots, indiscriminate bomb throwing and other acts of violence rife here for the past week, the city was thrown into a violent state of excitement today when Inspector Rooney of Boston and his men, working in squads, discovered dynamite, fulminating caps and fuss [fuses?] in three different places.

[…..]

HdLn Lawrence Ctzn Com Try Settle Strike, Bst Glb p2, Jan 21, 1912—–Lawrence Diagram Where Dynamite Found, Bst Glb p2, Jan 21, 1912

“Plant” Is Claim of Ettor. 

The searchlights in the different mills are kept constantly at work, and sharpshooters posted in the towers and on the mill property are unusually alert. 

Joseph J. Ettor of the Industrial Workers of the World, who is recognized by the strikers themselves and by every one else as the leader in the strike, says that the dynamite which was found was placed where it could be found by persons who later directed the searchers where to look for it.

[…..]

Seven Under Arrest. 

The five men and two women who were in the tenement house when taken in the first raid at 292-294 Oak st. where seven sticks of dynamite and a box of caps were found in a closet of an unoccupied room, said their names were Farris Marad, who led the parade of Syrians on Thursday and who came into contact with the soldiers at the head of Canal st; Joseph Assaf, Trinidad Beshon, David Roshed, David Beshara, Mary Squeriq and Zekla Roshell. 

A five-chambered revolver was found in the pocket of Marad, and Beshara had a pail of steel knuckles. 

 Marad and the two women were bailed out tonight, the former furnishing $1000 and the latter $500 each. 

[…..]

Miss Flynn Begins Work. 

…..Leader Joseph J. Ettor of the strikers relaxed his efforts this evening after a busy day, and went into conference with Miss Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, National organizer of the Industrial Workers of the World, who arrived on a late afternoon train. 

She will begin her work tomorrow at the meeting of the Franco-Belgians and Americans in Franco-Belgian Hall in the morning and will probably address one or two more meetings in the afternoon. 

—–

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Dynamite Found in Lawrence; Strikers Blamed and Arrests Made; Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Arrives” →