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CIO Leaders with Auburn's Mayor

Local authorities and the press criticized the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) union organizers as "outside agitators." The factory owners refused to negotiate with them, claiming the CIO did not represent the local workers. Yet, thousands of Lewiston-Auburn shoe workers partook in the 94-day strike led by the CIO.

This picture was taken after violence on the picket lines. The unnamed man in the back center has a bandaged head. Powers Hapgood (second from the left) was a Harvard graduate and the CIO Secretary for New England. He wrote letters to the Lewiston Auburn Shoe Manufacturer's Association to negotiate with the workers. They refused. William Mackesy (second from the right) had worked in Lynn, Massachusetts, as a cutter for 35 years before becoming a CIO organizer. These leaders were imprisoned without bail for violating a court order not to hold meetings, discuss strikes, or walk picket lines. They were released on bail the day after the strike ended. It is unknown why they pose smiling with the Mayor Ernest Estes of Auburn.