You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Monday November 21, 1904
San Francisco, California - A. F. of L. to Come to Aid of Fall River Textile Strike
On Friday the American Federation of Labor, meeting in convention in San Francisco, voted unanimously to come to the aid of the 25,000 textile workers who have been on strike in Fall River, Massachusetts, since July. The delegates were addressed by John Golden of the United Textile Workers Union, and by Mary Kenney O'Sullivan of the Women's Trade Union League. Mrs. O'Sullivan reported that conditions for the striker are extremely difficult:
She characterized the conditions existant as more terrible than those attendant on the anthracite coal strike. One meal a day consisting of soup and two slices of bead was, she alleged, the fare of 1,400 women and children. To safeguard the virtue of these unfortunate women and protect the health and perhaps the life of the children she prayed that financial aid might be given until the strike was won.
It is hoped that with the aid of the A. F. of L., the suffering of the strikers can be alleviated and the strike can be sustained to a victory.
From Saturday's Topeka Daily Capital of Kansas:
$75,000 TO AID THE STRIKERS
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Labor Federation Wants Textile Men to Win.
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MORE MONEY IF NEEDED
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Fall River, Mass.,
Manufacturers Insist Strikers Will Not Win Anyway-
They Think They Will-
Other Labor Disturbances.
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San Francisco, Nov. 18.-By an unanimous vote, the delegates to the American Federation of Labor today decided to aid financially the striking textile workers of Fall River, Mass., to the extent of $25,000 per week for three weeks. If by the end of this time it is found that the strike is not broken the executive council will, if it sees fit, continue the donation. The money for the purpose is to be raised by an assessment of one cent each week, levied on each member of every labor organization affiliating with the American Federation of Labor. Some stirring and impassioned addresses on behalf of the workers of the Fall River district were delivered.
THE DELEGATES CHEERED.
Delegate Driscoll of Boston put the motion before the house which was carried amid the cheers of the entire convention. Many delegates arose in their seats, and, on behalf of the organization which they represented, offered then and there to hand over to Delegate Golden checks to cover the amount of their respective unions' assessments. Delegate Keef of Chicago handed over a check for $1,500 on behalf of the Longshoremen Dock and Marine workers of his city. Others quickly followed suit, a delegate from the brewers' union even offering to turn over the actual cash if given a few moments' time to get it.
Delegate John Golden, of the United Textile Workers of America, addressed the convention and inspired them to aid the 25,000 operatives now on a strike by voting to levy an assessment of one cent per week for every member of a labor organization affiliated with the American federation. That this might be accomplished, he offered the following resolution for adoption:
HERE IS THE RESOLUTION.
Whereas, 25,000 textile operators in the city of Fall River having been on strike since the 25th of last July against a reduction in wages ranging from 12 1/2 per cent to as high as 40 per cent in some cases, and
Whereas, The United Textile Workers of America firmly believe that not only are we being forced to work for an un-American wage, but are also of the opinion that a deliberate attempt is being made to wreck our organization, portions of which have been in existence since 1858; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we do respectfully ask the delegates in convention assembled for the placing of an assessment on the members affiliated with the American Federation of Labor on the lines laid down in the constitution, viz.: One cent per member a week, being firmly of the opinion that by such action both the United Textile Workers of America and the American Federation of Labor would be enabled to win one of the greatest victories ever secured by organized labor.
Mary Kenney O'Sullivan
Women's Trade Union League
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Impassioned speeches were made in behalf of the measure. Delegate Mrs. Mary Kenny O'Sullivan of the National Women's Trade Union League, depicted the scenes there since the strike began. She characterized the conditions existant as more terrible than those attendant on the anthracite coal strike. One meal a day consisting of soup and two slices of bead was, she alleged, the fare of 1,400 women and children. To safeguard the virtue of these unfortunate women and protect the health and perhaps the life of the children she prayed that financial aid might be given until the strike was won.
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MAKES STRIKERS REJOICE.
Fall River, Mass., Nov. 18-The news that the American Federation of Labor had voted to raise immediately $25,000 in aid of the textile strikers was received joyously by the officers of the various textile unions and the strikers in general. The newspapers issued extra editions containing the announcement. The action at San Francisco is regarded by most of the union officers as the only step necessary to enable the strike to be carried to a finish. It is estimated that it costs about $10,000 weekly to conduct the contest against the mill owners.
President N. B. Borden of the Fall River Manufacturers' association, when told of the labor body's action, said:
The assessment levied by the American Federation of Labor will have no effect whatever on the manufacturers. They can not and will not make any concessions.
Mr. Borden further says that the question of reopening the seventy-five mills depends on the disposition of the operatives.
Thomas A. O'Donnell, secretary of the Spinners' union, said:
I consider the report from San Francisco very encouraging. I think that the manufacturers will see the wisdom of doing something to end the controversy.
[Said Secretary James Whitehead, of the Weavers' union:]
The action of the American Federation of Labor...means added strong support for the strikers, and will be the means of prolonging the strike if the notices of the reduction are not taken down. The next step now must be made by the manufacturers. No concessions will be made by the labor men.
Nine of the cotton manufacturing plants which started last Monday in an attempt to break the big strike were shut down today. Three others say they have made gains.
[photographs added]
SOURCE
The Topeka Daily Capital
(Topeka, Kansas)
-Nov 19, 1904
http://www.newspapers.com/...
See also:
The Necessity of Organization:
Mary Kenney O'Sullivan and Trade Unionism for Women, 1892-1912
-by Kathleen Banks Nutter
Taylor & Francis, 2000 -
( search with "fight for subsistence" & choose p.107)
http://books.google.com/...
IMAGES
Lewis Hine, French Girl in Massachusetts Textile Mill
http://www.teenagefilm.com/...
American Federation of Labor Button
http://www.laborsolidarity.info/...
Mary Kenney O'Sullivan
http://iamwoman-mxtodis123.blogspot.com/...
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Solidarity Forever-Utah Phillips
All the world that's owned by idle drones is ours and ours alone.
We have laid the wide foundations; built it skyward stone by stone.
It is ours, not to slave in, but to master and to own.
While the union makes us strong.
-Ralph Chaplin
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