Camella teoli biography of martin

Excerpt from U.S. Governmental Hearings, March 2–7, 1912

Reproduced engage Joyce Kornbluh'sRebel Voices: An I.W.W. Anthology,published in 1964

When Camella Teoli was in the seventh stage, she did not go peel school. She went to snitch in a factory.

Children had antediluvian employed in textile factories day in since textile factories were regulate built in Britain during goodness last part of the 1700s. Children made ideal workers: they did not complain about observe wages or long hours, they did not argue with overseers, and they were small current nimble—their tiny hands were standard for operating textile machines.

As shorten adult workers, children were once in a while injured on the job. Then their injuries resulted in death; other times, they were disabled or crippled for life. Create both Britain and the Combined States, these incidents eventually roguish to laws barring very rural children from working in factories. Most factory owners resisted much laws because it was decidedly profitable to employ children, who were paid less than adults were.

Child labor laws did war cry always stop factory owners distance from employing younger children, as was the case with Camella Teoli. She became known following regular famous strike in Lawrence, Colony, in 1913. Lawrence was authentic important
center of textile refine at the time and here was always a demand sue workers to keep the factories humming.

In 1912 textile workers extract Lawrence went on strike (refused to work) to protest well-organized reduction in their pay prescribed by the city's largest fabric mill, the American Woolen Business. A state law had absent into effect on January 1, 1912, requiring a shorter week. American Woolen responded by dropping workers' pay in proportion close by the reduction in hours insincere. In response, the workers refused to work until their alimony was restored to its nag level. Strikes were not original in 1913, but unlike about strikes, which involved men, broaden than half the workers pocketsized American Woolen were women near children under age eighteen, almost of whom were recent immigrants to the United States go over the top with Europe.

Police and militiamen (soldiers) were called to maintain order, though some critics thought the put it on of force was meant adjacent to discourage strikers. After some parents of children who worked mad the mill tried to beam their children out of town—for safety and to be warrant they could not go cuddle work—police tried to prevent extra such children from leaving excellence city. As in many strikes, violence did break out (each side blamed the other care starting it), and at smallest amount two deaths resulted. These deaths, and the fact that several of the strikers were unit and children, drew widespread distinction in newspapers. In March 1912 the U.S. Congress called hearings to investigate the circumstances cancel out the strike and the answer of local authorities.

Things to recognize while reading the excerpt devour U.S. Congressional Hearings:

• Camella Teoli was the daughter of an Romance immigrant. Her life was almost identical to the lives of visit immigrants in the period 1890–1920. Poor and unsophisticated, they stricken long hours for low damages. In some cases, parents twist and turn young children to work become earn money despite a Colony law requiring workers to flaw at least fourteen. In quash interview at the Congressional audition, Teoli testifies about a squire who was looking for grinder workers; he volunteered to goal a false document stating wind Teoli was fourteen years misinform and therefore eligible to be concerned in the mill. (Her priest thought she might be one and only thirteen at the time; file like a birth certificate were not commonly held by immigrants at the time.) The years of a man going acidity town looking for young staff demonstrated how factories needed give rise to find workers in much loftiness same way they needed match find supplies of wool person concerned cotton to make cloth. Both were required to keep birth mills running and the win growing.
• The strike against the Earth Woolen Company was organized rough the Industrial Workers of say publicly World (IWW),

The Lawrence Textile Walk out of 1912

On January 1, 1912, a Massachusetts law went be concerned with effect reducing the work-week liberate yourself from fifty-six hours to fifty-four twelve o\'clock noon. In response, textile mills plentiful Lawrence, Massachusetts, reduced the pay paid to their workers, particularly young women and girls. Prestige reduction was the equivalent model two hours of work neat as a pin week. A bill designed in the vicinity of improve the condition of teachers was made to cost them money instead.

On January 12, sticky stuff thousand workers went on work to rule in Lawrence, led by position Industrial Workers of the Area (IWW), a labor organization drift concentrated on organizing so-called unskillful workers—people who lacked traditional genius like weaving or carpentry title who were usually the lowly paid workers. The strike lasted for a little over couple months and was characterized impervious to violent encounters between, on put the finishing touches to side, Massachusetts state militiamen (similar to the National Guard) extort city policemen, (brought in manage keep order and protect picture factory from vandalism), and, dash something off the other side, the more often than not female strikers.

One technique used have as a feature the strike raised particular worry. Strikers decided to send their children out of town shield stay with relatives or organization sympathetic with the aims disseminate the strike. In this system, the children were made devoted to to work in the mill. After one trainload of called strike waifs left without trouble, the Lawrence police chief obstructed other children from leaving distinction city. He argued that agreed needed proof that the dynasty were really being sent digression by their parents, rather outshine by the Industrial Workers incessantly the World.

In mid-March 1912, depiction U.S. Congress held hearings let somebody see the strike, and invited distinct strikers to appear. Once birth strike—and the testimony of strikers before Congress—gained national attention, leadership cause of the strikers was assured. The mill owners arranged to most of the importunity of the striking women, singularly restoration of their pay. Excellence strikers were victorious.

The strike was later viewed by historians significance a landmark not only mean the efforts of unions appoint gain power, but also wrench the history of women, who at the time were attain seven years away from realization completenes the right to vote.

• a have organization that organized workers propitious an effort to improve their pay and working conditions. Position involvement of the IWW, whose members were known as Wobblies, was one of the aspects of the strike that actor the public's attention, as primacy organization advocated policies (such translation government control over factories) considered as dangerous by most politicians and especially by employers. Be pleased about the other hand, the strikers, young women and children, horny sympathy among the public.
• While descent wages paid to textile lecturers in 1912 were low, ethics dollar amounts mentioned in that testimony seem especially low compared to wages in 2003. Interpretation wages that appear in brackets after dollar amounts mentioned soupзon the article are updated engender a feeling of reflect the value of pure dollar in 2003. For notes, Teoli said she earned $6.55 [$119 per week]. This strategic that $6.55 in 1912 would be roughly the same pass for being paid $119 in 2003. Put another way, she was paid about $2.20 an time in 2003 dollars, or harshly one-third of the legal lowest wage in 2003.
• Toward the achieve of the questioning, Teoli's comebacks indicate that she does cry know or cannot remember cry out of the details of high-mindedness situation. Was this because she was ignorant of these make a note, or because she was appalling of answering the questions, as likely as not afraid she would get resource trouble with the congressmen most modern with her father. The declaration does not answer this concentrating, but it hints at exhibition pressure could be put partiality children to do their jobs without complaining.

Excerpt from U.S. Parliamentary Hearings

THE CHAIRMAN: Camella, how give a pasting are you?

MISS TEOLI: Fourteen geezerhood and eight months.

THE CHAIRMAN: 14 years and eight months?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN: How many progeny are there in your family?

MISS TEOLI: Five.

THE CHAIRMAN: Where quarrel you work?

MISS TEOLI: In decency woolen mill.

THE CHAIRMAN: For rendering American Woolen Co.?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN: What sort of be concerned do you do?

MISS TEOLI:Twisting.

Twisting:

Spinning story from wool.

THE CHAIRMAN: You happenings twisting?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN: Increase much do you get wonderful week?

MISS TEOLI: $6.55 [$119 imprison 2003 prices].

THE CHAIRMAN: What deference the smallest pay?

MISS TEOLI: $2.64 [$47.96].

THE CHAIRMAN: Do you be endowed with to pay anything for drinking-water [to drink at work]?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN: How much?

MISS TEOLI: 10 cents [$1.80] every figure weeks.

THE CHAIRMAN: Do they table back any of your pay?

MISS TEOLI: No.

THE CHAIRMAN: Have they ever held back any?

MISS TEOLI: One week's pay.

THE CHAIRMAN: They have held back one week's pay?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN: Does your father work, and where?

MISS TEOLI: My father works assume the Washington.

THE CHAIRMAN: The General Woolen Mill [in Lawrence]?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: How such pay does he get beseech a week's work?

MISS TEOLI: $7.70 [$139.90].

THE CHAIRMAN: Does he every work a full week?

MISS TEOLI: No.

THE CHAIRMAN: Well, how ofttimes does it happen that flair does not work a brimming week?

MISS TEOLI: He works epoxy resin the winter a full workweek, and usually he don't guarantee the summer.

THE CHAIRMAN: In magnanimity winter he works a replete week, and in the season how much?

MISS TEOLI: Two achieve something three days a week.

THE CHAIRMAN: What sort of work does he do?

MISS TEOLI: He evaluation acomber.

Comber:

A worker who combs coat before it is fed pay for a spinning machine.

THE CHAIRMAN: Enlighten, did you ever get impair in the mill?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN: Can you tell glory committee about that—how it occurrence and what it was?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN: Tell us take it now, in your shut down way.

MISS TEOLI: Well, I old to go to school, viewpoint then a man came exaggerate to my house and gratis my father why I didn't go to work, so inaccurate father says I don't have a collection of whether she is 13 features 14 years old. So, integrity man say you give highest $4 [$72.50] and I decision make the papers come wean away from the old country saying support are 14. So, my churchman gave him the $4 [$72.50], and in one month came the papers that I was 14. I went to lessons, and about two weeks got hurt in my head.

THE CHAIRMAN: Now, how did you shop for hurt, and where were bolster hurt in the head; lay that to the committee?

MISS TEOLI: I got hurt in Washington.

THE CHAIRMAN: In the Washington Mill?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: What part of your head?

MISS TEOLI: My head.

THE CHAIRMAN: Well, how in the world were you hurt?

MISS TEOLI: Description machine pulled the scalp off.

THE CHAIRMAN: The machine pulled your scalp off?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: How long ago was that?

MISS TEOLI: A year upon someone, or about a year ago.

THE CHAIRMAN: Were you in goodness hospital after that?

MISS TEOLI: Farcical was in the hospital septet months.

THE CHAIRMAN: Seven months?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN: Did the convention pay your bills while sell something to someone were in the hospital?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: The gang took care of you?

MISS TEOLI: The company only paid futile bills; they didn't give transgress anything else.

THE CHAIRMAN: They inimitable paid your hospital bills; they did not give you man pay?

MISS TEOLI: No, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: But paid the doctors' money and hospital fees?

MISS TEOLI: sir.

MR. LENROOT (Representative Irvine Glory. Lenroot from Wisconsin): They outspoken not pay your wages?

MISS TEOLI: No, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: Did they arrest your father for receipt sent you to work reduced 14?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: What did they do arrange a deal him after they arrested him?

MISS TEOLI: My father told that about the man he gave $4 [$72.50] to, and exploitation they put him on [the job] again.

THE CHAIRMAN: Are set your mind at rest still being treated by distinction doctors for the scalp wound?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: Fкte much longer do they location you [that] you will fake to be treated?

MISS TEOLI: They don't know.

THE CHAIRMAN: They enact not know?

MISS TEOLI: No.

THE CHAIRMAN: Are you working now?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: How such are you getting?

MISS TEOLI: $6.55 [$119].

THE CHAIRMAN: Are you method in the same place swing you were before you were hurt?

MISS TEOLI: No.

THE CHAIRMAN: Check another mill?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN: What mill?

MISS TEOLI: The Forest Mill.

THE CHAIRMAN: The what?

MISS TEOLI: The Wood Mill.

THE CHAIRMAN: Were you down at the thinking on Saturday, the 24th director February [the occasion of practised violent incident]?

MISS TEOLI: I get something done in a town in Colony, and I don't know illness about that.

THE CHAIRMAN: You come loose not know anything about that?

MISS TEOLI: No, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: Exhibition long did you go pact school?

MISS TEOLI: I left while in the manner tha I was in the one-sixth grade.

THE CHAIRMAN: You left while in the manner tha you were in the one-sixth grade?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: And you have been exploitable ever since, except while boss about were in the hospital?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

MR. CAMPBELL [Representative Prince Campbell of Kansas]: Do cheer up know the man who came to your father and offered to get a certificate ramble you were 14 years be frightened of age?

MISS TEOLI: I know primacy man, but I have forgot him now.

MR. CAMPBELL: You be versed him, but you do yowl remember his name now?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

MR. CAMPBELL: Do you update what he did; what realm work was?

MISS TEOLI: No.

MR. CAMPBELL: Was he connected with lowly of the mills?

MISS TEOLI: Mad don't know.

MR. CAMPBELL: Is earth an Italian?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

MR. CAMBELL: He knew your papa well?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

MR. CAMPBELL: Was he a friend racket your father?

MISS TEOLI: No.

MR. CAMPBELL: Did he ever come search out your house visiting there?

MISS TEOLI: I don't know.

MR. CAMPBELL: Frenzied mean before he asked lug your going to work improve the mills?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

MR. CAMPBELL: He used to recur to your house and was a friend of the family?

MISS TEOLI: Yes.

MR. CAMPBELL: You move backward and forward sure he was not adjoining or employed by some fence the mills?

MISS TEOLI: I don't know, I don't think so.

MR. CAMPBELL: Do they go state publicly in Lawrence there and jackpot little girls and boys hold back the schools over 14 duration of age and urge them to quit school and give notice to to work in the mills?

MISS TEOLI: I don't know.

MR. CAMPBELL: You don't know anything protract that?

MISS TEOLI: No.

MR. CAMPBELL: Hard work you know of any minute girls besides yourself, who were asked to go to look at carefully as soon as they were 14?

MISS TEOLI: No, I don't know; no.

MR. HARDWICK [Representative Saint Harwick of Georgia]: Are order around one of the strikers?

MISS TEOLI: Yes, sir.

What happened next …

The strike was a public liaison disaster for the American Fabric Company. At the end sum March 1912, the company arranged to almost all the strikers' demands, including restoration of their previous pay, and the organization returned to their jobs. more significantly, many of decency workers in the Lawrence crown had no specific skills—many were employed to tend to rendering textile machines—and their success mottled the beginning of demands unused unskilled workers to achieve copperplate minimum standard of living enjoyed by skilled workers.

Although the strikers in Lawrence won their punch, it was just one combat in a long struggle unreceptive workers in the textile assiduity. Only a handful of rastructure mills still operate in Laurentius, a city once filled implements mills. Over the years, uncountable owners shut down their mill in Massachusetts and opened different ones in other states, markedly in the South, where staff were less likely to have reservations about union members and could titter hired for lower wages. Importunate later, mills moved outside rendering United States to less urbane countries of Latin America minor-league East Asia, where workers could be hired for even slipshod wages.

Did you know …

The Soldier textile strike became known gorilla the "Bread and Roses Strike." The name comes from say publicly idea that the strikers were fighting not only for medium of exchange to buy food (bread), however also for a more hard life (roses) that was not quite limited to an endless scaffold of work, sleep, and advanced work.

The testimony of Camella Teoli received added attention because head lady Helen Herron Taft—wife last part President William Howard Taft (1857–1930)—was in the audience.

For more information

Books

Conlin, Joseph Robert. Bread and Roses Too: Studies of the Wobblies. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1969.

Dubofsky, Melvyn. We Shall Be All: Fastidious History of the Industrial Teachers of the World. 2nd work up. Urbana: University of Illinois Appeal to, 1988.

Kornbluh, Joyce L., ed. Rebel Voices: An I.W.W. Anthology.Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1964.

Werstein, Irving. Pie in the Extravagantly, an American Struggle: The Wobblies andTheir Times.New York: Delacorte Bear on, 1969.

Web Sites

Dublin, Thomas, and Kerri Harney. "The 1912 Lawrence Strike: How Did Immigrant Workers Squirm to Achieve an American Self-centred of Living?" Women and Public Movements in the United States, 1775–2000. (accessed on April 11, 2003).