Police Chief Orr and a detachment of about 15 men went out to the mill on the Hoskins car line at 6 o’clock to maintain order when the workers arrived. Although employes were not scheduled to arrive until 6:30 o’clock, the strikers had already congregated, with apparent intention of awaiting the arrival of workers.
Reports made to city officials were to the effect that employes of the mill were harassed considerably when they reported for work Friday morning, a big crowd of strikers hanging about the mill property and attempting to prevent them from entering the gates.
When the workers arrived Saturday, however, instead of finding a crowd of strikers, police officers stood guard and they went to their places in the mill as though nothing out of the ordinary had taken place.
The city commissioners informed a delegation of strikers Friday that officers would be sent to the mill Saturday morning with orders to disperse the crowd.
The orders were carried out by Chief Orr and his men. Some of the strikers objected to moving, claiming their right to gather on the street, but the officers were insistent, and, after making known to the strikers that they intended seeing that order was maintained and that the employes in the mill were given full protection, succeeded in inducing them to “move on.” None were in sight of the mill on the arrival of workers.
ABUSE IS CHARGED
Two arrests were made during the morning. Frank Caldwell, a striker, was brought to the station when he acted abusively towards the police in their efforts to disperse the crowd. Caldwell was charged with disorderly conduct.
Joe Boyd, another striker, was arrested for an alleged assault with a stick on a man named Perkins after a warrant had been sworn out against him by E.a. Howell, an overseer in the mill.
Aside from these two arrests, the officers found it unnecessary to bring any of the strikers to the city hall, although several manifested a revengeful spirit towards the police. Chief Orr demonstrated to the strikers that he and his men intended enforcing the law and maintaining order and that arrests would be made without hesitancy should the occasion arise.
Later in the day the chief issued a warning that the police will not be lenient towards any law violations. All persons found violating the law to any extent whatsoever, will be taken in charge by officers and tried in court, the chief announced.
The police will resume their guard Monday morning remaining on duty until all workers have arrived and have begun their work. The officials are determined that every person who wants to work shall receive sufficient protection to allow him to carry out his “constitutional privilege.”
There will be no repetition of disorderly occurrences, such as were reported Friday and Saturday at the Savona Mill, while the strike lasts it was announced. Officers will see that workers are allowed to go about their daily work without molestation by persons who disagree with them.
ONLY PLANT RUNNING
Trouble in connection with the strike of textile operatives has centered about the Savona Mill, which is the only plant where workers have struck which is attempting to continue in operation. Owing to employes in other mills, the Savona plant has nearly a complete force.
After reported trouble when operatives gathered Friday morning officials of the Savona Mill informed the city officials of the occurrence. Later a delegation of strikers appeared, admitted disorder had occurred, but blamed it on workers within the mills. The strikers were advices then not to hang about the mill and informed that the police would be ordered to disperse a crowd.
The mill payed off Friday afternoon, a considerable number of the strikers receiving wages for last week’s work. No disorder occurred in connection with paying off the men.
The mill closed for the week at noon Saturday, but no trouble occurred when employes left the company property to go to their homes.
Strikers who have been congregating about the mill and who were in the delegation which appeared before the commissioners Friday told the officials that if they “lost out” at the Savona Mill, a wedge would have been driven into the textile unions which would possibly cause continuous trouble for months to come.
They seemed of the opinion that the commissioners ought to sympathize with efforts to win a union victory because if the union lost out at the Savona Mill it would be weakened elsewhere and if the union lost out, trouble might result.
From the front page of The Charlotte News, June 4, 1921
No comments:
Post a Comment