Vignettes from Russell of the long strike in Little Falls, New York where those that made clothes had to temporarily give their children, who had no clothes, to others to care for during the struggle.

‘Sending Their Children Away’ by Phillips Russell from Industrial Worker. Vol. 4 No. 40. December 26, 1912.

Strike bulletin issued by Textile Workers’ strike committee, Matilda Rabinowitz, secretary, box 458, Little Falls, N.Y.:

Sending Their Children Away

Little Falls, N.Y., Dec. 17. Eighteen boys and girls, children of the textile workers who have been on strike here since October 10 against a reduction in pay, were sent out of the danger zone this morning on the 11:08 train for Schenectady, where they will be taken care of by the Socialists and sympathizers until the strike is over. Seven other children were to go but at the last moment their parents refused to let them leave their homes because they had no underwear. These parents are engaged in making underwear all the year round, but have not enough to keep their children warm.

The strikers saw the children off in a body, but were compelled to maintain silence, as the police would allow no cheering, and also forbade singing and the carrying of placards. Some difficulty was encountered in reaching the station as the police first notified those in charge of the children that they would have to walk in the street and then ordered them back on the sidewalk again. One mother who was wheeling a baby alongside of an older child was ordered out of the line of march on the ground that she was obstructing traffic.

This is the first time since the great Lawrence strike that the children of strikers have been sent away from their homes. Their departure this morning went off without a hitch, three girl strikers accompanying the babes to Schenectady to see that they are placed in their temporary homes with safety. At the last moment mothers clung to their children in desperation and there were tears in the eyes of even the conductor, who himself took a hand in seating them comfortably.

More children will be sent away as soon as sufficient warm clothing can be obtained to fit them out.

Detective Kenny of Albany, for the alleged stabbing of whom Organizers Legere and Bochino are in Herkimer jail, has been fired from the local police force for an affray with the proprietor of a hotel here, whose daughter he insulted. Kenny also caused the imprisonment of Valera Zugai, a young Polish woman with a two-year-old child, on a charge of assaulting him with a club.

Two cops were caught one night last week stealing underwear from one of the struck mills, but are still on the force. The police threat of eviction from the building in which the relief kitchen is located has failed to work. It had been discovered that the property extends partly over state land and only the state authorities have power to interfere. So far they have made no objection.

Organizer Miles of the United Textile Workers, having failed to break the strike here, has gone to Utica, where yesterday he caused a walkout from one mill in an effort to get rid of two I.W.W. workers. The strike here was never in better shape. It should be remembered that upon its outcome depends the fate of practically all textile workers in this state.

Little Falls, N.Y., Dec. 14. Headquarters of the striking textile workers was the scene of jubilation this morning when a committee reported that they had gotten out nearly all of the remaining scabs in the McKinnon mill, which belongs to the Phoenix Company. The scabs still remaining promised to stay away from work on Monday so that this mill will be completely tied up.

This news, coming on top of the proposal to send the children away, has given the strikers new life and they were more confident today than for two weeks past.

Guido Mazarella, the Lynn agitator who was arrested two days ago for walking the streets “without a permit,” has been prevailed upon to stay here until his trial on Wednesday next, though he was compelled to cancel his speaking dates in Massachusetts. The police were uncertain for several hours after his arrest as to what charge to make against him, but finally made it “boisterous and disorderly conduct” and “slapping an officer in the face.” Everyone knows what would have happened to Mazarella had he really slapped the face of an officer. Strikers have been beaten to a pulp, while in their cells, for much less.

Many parents have already selected the children who will go to Schenectady next week to be taken care of by the Socialists there, and it is believed that 25 or 30 will be ready to go by Tuesday or Wednesday to remain away until the strike is over.

Visitors who have come here to help the strikers have been surprised to find that it is practically impossible to obtain accommodations in the local boarding houses. Today the cat was let out of the bag when one landlady informed an applicant that her landlord had threatened to evict her if she permitted anyone connected with the strike to stay in her house. No hotel is now open to strike sympathizers except the Richmond, which is rather expensive for an extensive stay. The Metropolitan recently ordered out all persons having anything to do with the strike.

However, the hatred shown strikers and sympathizers is not quite as bitter as it was, because the merchants are now alarmed at the prospect of a wadless Christmas and some of them are now bitterly condemning the mill owners for refusing the trifling increase which the strikers ask.

Philip Russell.

The Industrial Union Bulletin, and the Industrial Worker were newspapers published by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) from 1907 until 1913. First printed in Joliet, Illinois, IUB incorporated The Voice of Labor, the newspaper of the American Labor Union which had joined the IWW, and another IWW affiliate, International Metal Worker.The Trautmann-DeLeon faction issued its weekly from March 1907. Soon after, De Leon would be expelled and Trautmann would continue IUB until March 1909. It was edited by A. S. Edwards. 1909, production moved to Spokane, Washington and became The Industrial Worker, “the voice of revolutionary industrial unionism.”

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v4n40-w196-dec-26-1912-IW.pdf