INDUSTRIAL UPHEAVAL OF 1912 - TEXTILE MILL STRIKE    

• Facts of the Strike in a Nutshell:
• Began January 12, 1912
• Lasted 63 days
• 27,000 operatives involved
• Cause:  Reduction in pay with enforcement of new 54-hour law

Two regiments of infantry, two troops of cavalry, besides Metropolitan Park police, assisted augmented Lawrence police force in preserving order.  

Anna LoPezzi and John Remi slain in clashes between strikers and police and strikers and militia.

Joseph J. Ettor and Arturo Giovannitti, strike leaders, arrested on charge of being accessories before the fact to the slaying of Anna LoPezzi.

After jury trial both acquitted.

Parties of children sent to New York, Philadelphia and Barre, VT for care until the close of the strike.  One group  stopped by police and several arrests made.

Investigation by Congressional committee, the United States Attorney General, and Federal Bureau of Labor, a committee of the State Legislature and the Attorney General of the state.

• Cost to mills: Estimated nearly:  $1,000.000.

• Estimated loss of wages to employees:  $1,350,000.

• Estimated cost of maintaining regular and special police by the city:  $75,000.

• Estimated cost to state in maintaining militia:  $200,000.

• Relief funds sent in from all over the country:  approximately $65,000.

• More than 2,500 persons cared for daily during the period of the strike.

• $45,000 collected by I.W.W.-- Leaders of the organization accused of mismanagement and misuse of funds.

• Estimated number of arrests:  500, of whom about one half paid fines ranging from $1.00 to $100.00.

• Strike ended March 14, 1912.

• Concessions of mills, 5 to 25 percent, increases in wages.

• Wage advance spread over New England.  A general increase of 5 to 7 percent.

• Estimated cost to 1,500 textile manufacturers: $5,000,000 a year.

LAWRENCE YESTERDAY AND TODAY (1845-1918)

This was transcribed by MET April 16, 2006