The I. W. W.: A Study of American Syndicalism

by Paul F. Brissenden

[CHAPTER XII]
Lawrence and the Crest of Power (1912)

The year 1912 marks the high tide of I. W. W. activity. From Lawrence, Massachusetts, to San Diego, California, these restless militants stirred the nation with their startling strike and free-speech propaganda. Reports of strikes and free-speech activities in Solidarity and the Industrial Worker show a higher frequency for both these types of industrial warfare in 1912 and 1913 than for any other corresponding period in the organization's career. During the years 1911, 1912 and 1913 there were some fifteen free-speech fights of considerable importance—more than have been staged in all the rest of its history before or since.[557] The dynamic prominence of this period is less marked for the free-speech propaganda than for the then strange and novel syndicalist strike propaganda of the I. W. W. The strike activities were, however, confined quite largely to a shorter period—1912 and 1913. As already noted,[558] the years 1909 and 1910 were more crowded with I. W. W. strike activities than any previous period. These fat propaganda and lean organizing years were followed by twelve months of a general all-round leanness which was only saved from complete sterility by about half a dozen rather lively free-speech fights. Then followed the "Wobblies'" two big years, during which more than thirty "I. W. W. strikes"[559] ran their course in different parts of the country. In Table 3 are given what facts are available concerning I. W. W. strike activities in 1912.

Overshadowing all others in importance was the gigantic strike of the textile workers at Lawrence. This great struggle set new fashions in strike methods. It Americanized the words, "sabotage," "direct action," and "syndicalism" and revealed to the hitherto ignorant public the manner and effectiveness with which these alleged French importations could be applied to an existing industrial situation. Lawrence, together with San Diego, and one or two other "free-speech" cities, really introduced the Industrial Workers of the World to the American public. The organization and its activities were known to students of the labor problem and to others who happened to be on the spot when a fight was on, but they were not known to the great body of citizens. Lawrence and the free-speech fights made the name of this little group of intransigents a household word, hardly less talked about and no whit better understood than the words "socialist" and "anarchist."

On January 11, about 14,000 of the textile operatives left their work. During the strike, which continued until March 14, this number was increased to 23,000. According to a Federal report, "the immediate cause of the strike was a reduction in earnings, growing out of the State law which became effective January 1, 1912, and which reduced the hours of employment for women, and for children under 18 years of age from 56 to 54 hours per week."[560] At the beginning of the struggle only a small minority of the operatives were organized.

TABLE 3.

I. W. W. Strikes in 1912 (Partial List).[561]

Local Union No.	Industry.	Location.	Strikes.	Number Involved.	Number Arrested.	Duration.	Result.
10	Electrical Supply	Fremont, O.	1	30	...	...	Lost.
161	Textile and Shoe Wkrs.	Haverhill, Mass.	2	572	60	7 weeks	Won.
169
194	Clothing	Seattle, Wash.	10	...	15	A few hrs to 2 mos.	1 lost.
327	R. R. Construction	Prince Rupert, B. C.	2	2,350	12	...	Won.
326	Laborers	Shenna Crossing, B. C.	1	...	...	...	Won.
327	R. R. Construction	Lytton, B. C.	1	5,000	300	7 months.	Compromise.
	N.I.U.F. &L. W.,[562] 72 Unions involved	Louisiana & Pac. N. W.	2	7,000	"Several hundred"	1-3 wks., 1-2 mos.	Compromise.
436	Textile	Lowell, Mass.	2	18,000	26	...	1 won, 1 lost.
557	Piano	Boston	1	200	...	5 weeks.	Lost.
20	Textile	Lawrence	5	29,000	333	...	Won.
157	Textile	New Bedford	1	13,000	...	...	...

Total strike expenditures.	No. involved.	Aggregate duration.	No. of arrests.	No. of convictions.
$101,504.05	75,152	74 weeks.	1,446	577