in population, for the tinder pile awaiting the incendiary match.

At Little Falls, New York, a strike occurred in the textile mills in
October, 1912, as a result of a reduction of wages due to a fifty-four
hour law. No organization was responsible for the strike, but no sooner
had the operatives walked out than here also the I.W.W. appeared. The
leaders ordered every striker to do something which would involve arrest
in order to choke the local jail and the courts. The state authorities
investigating the situation reported that "all of those on strike
were foreigners and few, if any, could speak or understand the English
language, complete control of the strike being in the hands of the
I.W.W."

In February, 1913, about 15,000 employees in the rubber works at Akron,
Ohio, struck. The introduction of machinery into the manufacture of
automobile tires caused a reduction in the piecework rate in certain
shops. One of the companies posted a notice on the 10th of February
that this reduction would take effect immediately. No time was given for
conference, and it was this sudden arbitrary act which precipitated
all the discontent lurking for a long time in the background; and the
employees walked out. The legislative investigating committee reported
"there was practically no organization existing among the rubber
employees when the strike began. A small local of the Industrial Workers
of the World comprised of between fifteen and fifty members had been
formed.... Simultaneously with the beginning of the strike, organizers
of the I.W.W. appeared on the ground inviting and urging the striking
employees to unite with their organization." Many of these testified
before the public authorities that they had not joined because they
believed in the preachings of the organization but because "they hoped
through collective action to increase their wages and improve their
conditions of employment." The tactics of the strike leaders soon
alienated the public, which had at first been inclined towards the
strikers, and acts of violence led to the organization of a vigilance
committee of one thousand citizens which warned the leaders to leave
town.

In February, 1913, some 25,000 workers in the silk mills of Paterson,
New Jersey, struck, and here again the I.W.W. repeated its maneuvers.
Sympathetic meetings took place in New York and other cities. Daily
"experience meetings" were held in Paterson and all sorts of devices
were invented