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

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:

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.

[…..]

—–

“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.

—–

“We Win” Is Ettor’s Claim.

The strike leaders are counting upon especial activity tomorrow. A series of meetings have been arranged as follows: Franco-Belgians and Americans at 10 a. m, Lithuanians at 1 p. m, Russians at 3 and Italians at 5 in the basement of St Anthony’s Church; warpers and dressers at 2 in Bugbee Hall, Jews at 7 at 85 Common st, Armenians and Greeks at 313 Common st. at 3, Syrians at 7:30 in St. Joseph’s Church and the Hebrews at 7 at 85 Common st.

Leader Ettor expressed himself as highly pleased with the outlook tonight. “We have got them beaten,” was his emphatic assertion. He claimed that 20,000, or about four-fifths of the operatives, were now out and his prediction was that the force would be added to Monday morning, with the result that the mills would be compelled to suspend.

He was not prepared to say what effect the movement of the citizen’s committee to bring about negotiations between the mill officials and the strikers would have.

He said that he wished to learn more definitely just what the proposition implied, whether the mill men would want to confine the discussion to the 54-hour issue alone or would include the demands of the strikers for the abolition of the premium system and double pay for overtime.

In any event his course would be to bring the matter before the executive committee of the strikers for consideration tomorrow night and if the proposition was approved the next step would be to arrange separate meetings for the operatives of the various mills.

He has already made it plain that the operatives as a whole rather than any delegation will have to pass upon the question of settlement.

—–

Dynamite “Plant,” Says Leader.

The finding of dynamite was referred to with much spirit by Ettor in his addresses before the perchers, burlers, menders and speckers in Franco-Belgian Hall, and employes of Kunhardts Mill in Paul Chabbis Hall this afternoon.

He declared unequivocally that the dynamite feature was a “plant” and laid the responsibility at the door of the private detectives, who, he said, are employed by one of the corporations. He said that these detectives had to make good in order to hold their jobs.

For the last two or three days these people had been talking about dynamite and today it was found. He said that these detectives had declared that the way to stop the strike was to “get” the leaders. “You know what to ‘get’ means,” he declared to Kunhardts strikers. “It means to murder. I never make any bluff. I came from a part of the country where everyone has to take his chances of being ‘gotten’ and I will take mine of ringing the bell on them first.”

He referred to the act of the authorities in hunting up his suitcase and breaking it open, with the result that it was found to contain literature bearing upon the subject of strikes.

“That shows the kind of dynamite that I am carrying around,” he declared, “and it is more effective than the sort which they expected to find.”

In discussing the 54-hour issue he said that there was no question about the advocates of it expecting that the operatives should receive no change in pay, but he did not know what the Legislature Intended.

He warned his audience to take good care that they were not provoked into any trouble, but to stick together, for the other side was beaten.

————–

[Emphasis added.]