As a first-hand observer, Leftist critic Nell Battle Larkin published many articles on the Gastonia strike.  She published an article in the North American Review called "Tragedy in North Carolina: Human Problems behind the Flare-Up of Labor Strike in the South."   She cited the low wages, long hours, and introduction of efficiency systems as all leading indirectly to the strike at Loray.  She describes the diet of mill workers as consisting of, "cheap, bad food -- 'grits,' field peas, beans, bread, corn meal, and 'fat back.'  No fresh veg, no fruit, little fresh meat or milk," and comments that, "pellagrea -- malnutrition -- rages among them."  Larkin sympathized with the workers, but felt that the Communist leaders of the NTWU strike were uneducated about the problems in waging a full-scale labor strike.