The New York herald., 1876-01-17
LABOR VERSUS CAPITAL.
Strike of Mill Operatives in
Rhode Island.
TEN PER CENT REDUCTION OF WAGES.
Skilled Operatives Required TO Work for
One Dollar a Day.
EN- PER CENT REDUCTION OF WAGES.
STATEMENT OF EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYED.
The Strikers Assembled in Mass
Meeting.


over the reduction of wages in the several mills. The
strike extended to Phenix Berkeley Blackstone and
Hope villages to-day, while at Lonsdae and the adjon-
ing village tho Blackstone River, known as
'New Village" 1t commenced on Monday last but did
not get under full headway before this morning. The
mills In all these places owned by the famous house
OF Brown 4 Ives, who said to rule Rhode Island
and Providence Plantations since the downfall OF the
Spragues This is saying all the country,
but how much truth there is in 1t remains
TO be Ever since Wednesday the villages
where the strike first have been guarded by
policemen from Providence it feared their pres
ence would be needed This interference Is severely
censured by the operatives and by the labor Journal
published in Providence The corporation name of the
mills in both places the strike the
Lonsdale Manufacturing Company and the Goddard
Brothers are agents they forming also part OF the
house of Brown Ives. The strike 1t Is anticipated
will also extend to the mills in Ashton owned by the
same house
In New Village there are l, 1l6 looms, and in the
mills at Lonsdale there are lO72; the popu-
lation OF the former village being 400 and
that in the latter about 210O, all OF whom
are dependent tor their living upon the revenue
derived from the mills As stated above these places
are pleasantly located and the mills and the tenements
cannot be excelled by any manufacturing district in
this State Massachusetts, in point of neatness and
general outward appearance But IL the stories OF
the operatives true and yet there is no reason
to disDeeve them, the owners of these fine mills
GRINDING
in this the mdwnter Of an eyentful year, in manner
which but attract the attention Of all thoughtful
men and women throughout the country
The HERALD representative called upon the general
superintendent George Kilburn this afternoon az New
Village for the purpose OF getting at the facts Of the
strike its origin, &c, but this gentleman did not seem
willing to have the facts published through him and
| t-fxr. ekn eho hn h,gr
being reminded that IL the custom at the HERALD
Office 10 always 60 headquarters for Information and
that its correspondent would be compelled TO state that
he was refused Information by one who was In
position to know the gentleman notified the writer
that it would be necessary for him to walk back to
Lonsdae, and there his assistant, Mr. G. W. Pratt
would furnish what facts he pleased In relation TO tho
strike He would leave it altogether with Mr. Pratt
This gentleman found, and he kindly consented to
give all the information possible
suPERINTENDENT's STATEMENT.
He stated that the strike originated at mill No
Monday, the help ten weeks previous having been
titled Of the proposed reduction He did not anticipate
strike ana was surprised to know that the help
contemplated gong out OF the mills. The company
pay higher wages for the class OF goods
than Is paid elsewhere, tho goods which
could earn fair wages For the manufacture OF these
goods they are obliged to have skilled workmen which,
in great measure, would account for their ntelli-
gence compared with the operatives at Fall River On
Monday Mr.. Pratt continued, nearly all the weavers,
after working In tho morning, refused to come IN at
noon All the other departments were full up TO
Thursday ON Thursday morning thero double the
humber OF weavers in the ms that there was ON Mon.
day and in the afternoon an additional number went
| to work. Before Friday morning, however the ring
leaders managed to induce them 10 quit work and they
did On wednesday and Thursday the strikers
gathered In the vicinity OF the mills, and although
noisy while the non-strikers we're gong in, did not
rHE cAUsK OF THE TROUBLE.
Mr. Pratt stated that the trouble wholly caused
by outsiders who there for the express purpose Of
creating commoton The operatives are about hall
Irish and half English the overseers superntondens
being Americans He did not think the blame could bo
attached 10 the majority Of any nationality Tho
weavers before the reduction receiving ny
per cut wide goods and with the reduction OF ten per
cent the price paid would be ortynve cents per cut
in other words they could earn about $la day. The
by the company, aud included clerks superintendents
cverseers and in fact every person employed In and
about the mills. They supplied the operatives with
meat and In accordance with the reduction OF labor had
also reduced that article ten per cent
Upon being asked by the HERALD representative the
price charged for tenements, Mr. Pratt stated that 81
was the highest price charged, and these contained
from six TO eight rooms, and had water led into the
kitchens from pure springs.
THE AVERAGE RENTS
s., and many were let to small families for
81 Is per month. These, however, could only accom-
modate a man and his wife Unlike Fall River In its
recent trouble, there organizations
among the operatives save the sovereigns OF Industry,
TO the Fall River trouble had existed.
The Sovereigns OF Industry, which Is similar TO the
granger societies, furnishes groceries, &c, TO the mill
operatives at rine above cost and in this way, Mr..
Pratt th ought the help were favored.
The company had done everything they could to
mako the surroundings OF their village pleasant
possible for the operatives. and had established and
built churches, schoolhouses and FREQ library, where
could be found, In addition TO $500 volumes Of books,
all the leading daily and weekly papers the country
and also the magazines. Tney frequently turned out
OF their numerous mills children OF opera.
tives who wanted them TO work, but who
not old enough and sent them to school instead The
schools not excelled by any In the State and It
was the intention 10 keep them up to their present
standard for the benefit OF those for whom they
intended. Ono weeks pay Is due the operatives, and
Mr. Pratt states that Notwithstanding they had not
given the usual according agreement II would
be handed to them their application for the same
No effort as yet has been made TO get help from
abroad, Mr.. Pratt being satisfied 70 have bis
former employees return. None OF the families
had been ordered out OF the tenements be-
longing 70 the company, and the company did
not propose take such action. Some complaint had
been made because woman who keeps large mill
boarding house had turned on her boarders Tor the
reason that they out OF work the company
fused 10 guarantee the woman her pay The mills In
Ashton, belonging 70 the same company, which have
500 operatives and a population OF 1000, had not
struck yet although they reduced per cent
In common with the other mills Of the company.
COMMITTEE
was going TO do about t" " and he informed them that
IL was the intention OF the company TO shut down
rather than accede 10 their demand for withdrawal OF
the.reduction. He gave them some good advice, and
told them that the price Of cotton goods had gone down
instead OF going up and the company mad either to
close their mills or make a reduction. The company
had waited until the last minute before announcing tho
reduction In the hope that the goods would advance
Wneh tho lheu cmploycu IN tno OieacucIy qub
work they LEFT $4,000 worth OF cloth in the
chemical. and reported abroad that this would "fetch
the company TO their oats' and would
loss. The cloth, however, Mr. Pratt stated was all
saved The present Is the nrst strike that has oc
Cured during the administration OF Mr. Pratt and
consequently he could not tell what policy had been
pursued in former strikes He was proud OF bis en-
proyes-they we're sober, industrious men and women,
and laid BY something for 'rainy day" one OF them,
as understood having IS, 900 deposited IN the saw
ings bank.
THE PRESENCE OF THE POLICE
Upon the HERAED correspondent informing him OF
the talk made by the appearance OF the police from
Providence and the Interference Of the authorities Of
that city, he stated that tue villages had previously
been so quiet that there use for more than
policeman, but that the Indications soon after the com
mencement OF the strike we're such 10 warrant tue
presence Of Captain Marston and sixteen Of the police
of Providence These men we're promptly on hand,
and but for their timely appearance trouble
might have ensued. They were there TO guard
the property Of the villages night as we'll
as day, until such time they could be ordered