Bread and Roses: Mills, Migrants, and the Struggle for the American Dream

Every leftist political movement has its `high holy days' of remembrance, or it should. The international labor movement has May Day and in the America labor movement today, Labor Day. There are, however, other days worthy of celebration by militants here in America (and internationally) like the anniversaries of Sacco and Vanzetti, the great general strikes of 1934 in Toledo, Minneapolis and San Francisco and the subject of this review the great `Bread and Roses' strike in the textile mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1912. That, until recently, this heroic (and victorious) strike was not remembered officially under any conditions by that very representative working class city and that its continues to remain shrouded in ignorance tells as much about contemporary American labor as any other indicator. That ignorance is something that Professor Bruce Watson has with this effort attempted to remedy. As an important work of labor history Watson has done more than a commendable job. Moreover, because he has done such a scholarly, well-written and easily readable work today's militants can draw many lessons from that seemingly long ago labor struggle.On completion of this book I was struck by the parallels between the conditions that fostered that 1912 strike, the social composition of that work force and the attitudes of those bosses and today's `globalized' capitalist working conditions. The ethnic and racial groupings today that make up the core of the American working class, for example, are somewhat different from those that fought the 1912 where South and East Europeans predominated. However, the much overused sociological term `melting pot' still applies to the extend that the working class is not heterogeneous in its racial and ethnic makeup, a factor that not only aids the breakdown of class unity but is, a more or less, conscious stratagem of the bosses to divide the working class at the base. Moreover, although we are not talking about fighting for nickel and dime raises like those asked for then today the wage system has created a wider gap between rich and poor that would not be unfamiliar to those strikers long ago. And certainly the bosses have not changed, although they are certainly slicker than in those days of William Woods and the other textile magnates. And they put their money where their mouths are, spending over a billion dollars a years to defeat unionization drives and strike action.One question, on which there is no comparison, or none worthy of mention, is the difference in labor leadership as the 1912 strike evolved and today's labor leadership. This refers not only to the differences in political perspective of the Bill Haywood and Joseph Ettor-led Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and today's Democratic Party-embedded labor leadership which are striking enough but about the nature of society and politics. Fundamentally the old preamble to the IWW constitution drawn up in 1905 is correct in its assertion that there are two distinct and different class interests in the world and at the end of the day they are irreconcilble. Today's labor leadership acts as if there wasn't a capitalist that it did not like. An interesting sidelight to the IWW-led 1912 struggle was the attempt by the conservative traditional craft unions associated with the AFof L during the strike to break away from the bulk of the unskilled laborers who formed the core of the textile industry. That has happened in later struggles as well.One thing that was clear then and has been muddied by today's labor bureaucracy (with no little help from social democratic and other leftists) is the role of the state. If any mass struggle in the last one hundred years points out the capitalist class nature of the American state it is Lawrence. At every critical point from the first day of the strike and from the lowest level of government the police and military power of the state was used against the working class and in defense of the interests of the capitalist class. This is the class struggle in the raw, up close and personal, that usually only gets exposed in pre-revolutionary or revolutionary situations.If nothing else, whatever Professor Watson's personal political sympathies may be, he has performed a great service by placing the Lawrence strike in the context of the development of American capitalism, especially in its post-robber baron period; the development of the multi-ethnic working class; the role of the development of light industry and the Merrimack Valley in the development of American capitalism; the creation and furtherance of a radical response to the primitive capitalist production conditions; and, the role of the state in capitalist society. One may fault Professor Watson with a bit of a `kitchen sink' approach to this work when he brings in every possible event and personality that can reasonably or logically be connected with the Lawrence strike in any way. Even Marxists recognize limits to the interrelatedness of events in any particular situation. However, that is a small price to pay for this important addition to labor history. Kudos.

My maternal grandfather worked in textile mills in Lawrence during this period and I wanted to better understand what he went through to support his family as a Lithuanian immigrant with few skills and no facility with American English. I was pleased at how well written and thoroughly researched this book is and surprised at how even-handed was the author's treatment of not only the strikers but also the owners and management. It also provides a survey of labor history during this era. On a personal note, I have more sympathy for my grandfather and a better understanding of some of his behavior in his later years. A very useful book for me and an interesting read for the general audience.

I worked in the Wood Mill for four years in the early eighties when it was Honeywell Information Systems, and knew very little of the story of the mill and the 1912 strike. I am happy to hear that the hard history here is no longer being white-washed. Well written from beginning to end; unions, immigrants, class warfare, technology, lack or workers rights - all key themes here.

I was raised in Lawrence. My grandmother was a polish immigrant weaver at the Wood Mill and my grandfather was an Irish plant foreman at the Arlington Mills as was my father. I have been reading and researching Lawrence for some time. In fact in my book about growing up in Lawrence "A Summer with Charlie" now listed on Amazon, I include a short synopsis of the Strike of 1912. When I saw Mr. Watson's book advertised, I had to have it. He did an excellent job as did Mr. Moran on "The Belles of New England". If you really want some fun books about Lawrence get Images of America, Lawrence Massachusetts by Ken Skulski and friends. These are two volumes full of old pictures and descriptions of good old Lawrence. Whenever I get nostalgic and lonely for the old days and the good times I go over and start browsing through one of these volumes.Bruce Watson's book is much the same - I loved walking with the strikers up and down all those familiar streets and learning about the history of my old hometown. This book should be a required reading at Lawrence High and Central Catholic, that's for sure.Richard Edward Noble - The Hobo Philosopher - author of:America On Strike - a survey of Labor strikes in America

I’ve only read the Table of Contents, which I found to be very interesting.

Like other Bruce Watson's book I have read, this volume provides enormous insight into history. I have a strong attachment to the labor movement , so I was delighted with the scope of the information provided. The price paid for improvement of working conditions for mill workers was central. The book enhanced my understanding of the different labor leaders such as Haywood and Flynn as well as the IWW itself. The manipulation of manufacturers and politicians was examined. The superpatriotic response to the introduction of Marxist philosophy was a point which was very enlightening. The branding of labor opposition with an extreme and negative association was a sharp tool in the arsenal to those who opposed rights for the workers. Interesting parallels emerged with the present in terms of the use of the term "socialist" as an attack. The supporting bibliography and footnotes were extensive and thereby very helpful.

This was a great book. The seller of the book was great and the book arrived on time. I bought a book here and the seller told me the book was in good condition. To my surprise the book wasn't in good condition at all. It was highlighted in and written in with pen. Just a little caution to the people who decide to buy used books online. Make sure you know what your paying for. Get to know the seller of the book and check out their reviews that should give you a clue. Luckly I had no problem with the seller of Bread & Roses book I purchased.

My great Uncle was killed because of the Textile strike, so it was a very informative account of that time.informative and interesting.

great read , should have been made into a movie