The Trial of a New Society by Justus Ebert ~ Full Audiobook
Jan 20, 2024
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This podcast explores the 1912 textile workers' strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and the trial of strike leaders. It delves into the labor conditions, the power dynamics between workers and capitalists, undercover agents' role in the strike, and the impact of the strike on the growth of the Industrial Workers of the World. The podcast also discusses the general strike in support of justice, the trial proceedings, and the societal issues surrounding the trial.
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Quick takeaways
The Lawrence textile strike in Massachusetts led to the emergence of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) as a major force in the labor movement.
The strike committee, led by Joseph J. Ettor, organized workers of diverse nationalities and united them in a common cause.
Despite facing brutal repression, the Industrial Democracy prevailed, sustaining the strike for nine weeks and highlighting the strength and resilience of the workers.
The textile workers of Lawrence achieved significant victories in securing wage increases, shorter hours, and improved working conditions.
The arrests of Joseph Ettor and Arturo Giovenini prompted a general strike for their release, showcasing the workers' determination to free their leaders.
The movement for Ettor and Giovenini's liberation gained international support, with boycotts and protests having significant economic and political impact.
Deep dives
The Industrial Democracy Emerges
The Lawrence textile strike in Massachusetts sparked a revolt against wage reductions and led to the emergence of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) as a major force in the labor movement. The strike committee, led by Joseph J. Ettor, organized workers of diverse nationalities and united them in a common cause. The committee functioned as a governing body, making decisions and providing leadership throughout the strike. Ettor's charisma and eloquence, along with the dedication of the committee members, played a crucial role in the strike's success.
Resistance from Old Institutions
The strike faced opposition from various quarters, including the mill owners, press, pulpit, and craft unions. Mayor Scanlon, while pretending concern for the strikers, favored the mill owners and discouraged opposition to those who wanted to work. Ettor, in contrast, emphasized the importance of organization and called for a peaceful strike. The old institutions and power structures attempted to maintain the status quo, but their tactics only served to highlight the strength and resilience of the Industrial Democracy.
Overcoming all Opposition
Despite facing brutal repression from police, military, courts, detectives, and other forces aligned with the mill owners, the Industrial Democracy prevailed. The strike committee's democratic structure, its ability to handle its own affairs, and its effective leadership allowed it to sustain the strike for nine weeks. The strikers organized their own infrastructure, including stores, soup kitchens, finance committees, and relief committees. The solidarity and determination of the workers enabled them to overcome all opposition and marked a significant chapter in the ongoing struggle between capital and labor.
Victory for the textile workers
The textile workers of Lawrence achieved a significant victory in their strike, securing wage increases, shorter hours, and improved working conditions. The success of the strike inspired similar strikes and wage increases across the cotton and woolen industries. However, the arrests of Joseph Ettor and Arturo Giovenini presented a new challenge. The workers recognized their duty to free their imprisoned leaders and initiated a general strike for their release.
The struggle for legal defense and publicity
A dedicated defense committee was formed to support Ettor and Giovenini. Lawyers were hired to provide legal representation, a publicity department was established to garner support and raise awareness, and a financial department was responsible for managing funds. The defense relied on public speaking tours, press coverage, and the solidarity of labor unions and progressive organizations. The defense received significant financial contributions, with the Italian community playing a prominent role in supporting the cause.
The global movement for liberation
The movement for Ettor and Giovenini's liberation extended beyond national borders. Protest conferences and demonstrations were organized in various cities, both in the United States and around the world. The protest movement gained momentum in Europe, Australia, Canada, and other countries. Calls for boycotts and strikes against American products and ships destined for American ports were proposed. The international support for the cause put pressure on American commercial interests and attracted attention from diplomatic circles.
The International Movement Exerted Influence in Favor of the Prisoners
The international movement, with its boycotts and protests, supported the three prisoners and had significant economic and political impact.
The General Strike Movement in Providence, Rhode Island
The general strike movement was formally launched in Providence and gained momentum in late August due to arrests and charges of conspiracy to plant dynamite.
The General Strike in Lawrence and its Aftermath
The general strike in Lawrence involved 15,000 to 20,000 textile workers and had a significant impact. The aftermath included threats of blacklisting by mill owners and an attempt to use religion and patriotism to incite violence against the IWW.
The Rise of the Working Class
The podcast episode explores the historical development of the working class and its rise to power. It highlights how the bourgeoisie, or the capitalist class, evolved out of the old feudal order by developing its own institutions and economic power. The working class, similarly, is now in the early stages of its own rise to power. While still relatively obscure and crude compared to the capitalist class, the working class is growing in strength and learning to unite. Recent events such as the strikes in Lawrence and England demonstrate the growing power and organization of the working class.
The Future of Industrial Democracy
The podcast episode speculates on the future of industrial democracy. Drawing on historical parallels, it suggests that the working class's struggle for power and its development of its own institutions mirror the early stages of the rise of the bourgeoisie. While the outcome is uncertain, the episode argues that the working class's increasing awareness of its labor power and the instinctive tendency to challenge capitalist society indicate a potential shift in power dynamics. The ruling class fears the revolutionary potential of the working class and attempts to control its movements. However, societal evolution and the inevitability of change suggest that the ultimate overthrow of capitalism is a possibility, and the future belongs to labor.
The Trial of a New Society by Justus Ebert audiobook.
In 1912 textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, mostly immigrants, went on strike in response to a pay cut, speedups, and unsafe working conditions. Representatives from the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW/Wobblies) came in to help organize the strike. The city declared martial law and a tense standoff went on for weeks. National newspapers provided breathless coverage of the strike and painted drastically different pictures of what was happening and who was to blame. When a woman was shot in ambiguous circumstances, strike leaders were tried for murder--not for shooting her, but for purportedly inciting mob violence leading to her death. They were acquitted.
This book by an ardent IWW member, which seems to have been written in haste as well as in great enthusiasm, gives a vivid journalistic account of labor conditions, of the strike which was afterward known as the Bread and Roses strike, of the trial of strike leaders Joseph Ettor and Arturo Giovanitti, and of the general strike organized to support them.
The linked text includes reproductions of various cartoons, posters, and leaflets from the strike, which have not been read aloud. It also includes many footnotes, detailed citations of sources for quotes, which also have not been read aloud--only those footnotes required to explain quotes which had no attribution in the main text have been included
