The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-20
Big Mass Meeting Of The Employees Of
Coates Thread Mill.
THE WILSON BILL DENOUNCED
Employees AK Senators and Represenia-
tlves TO Vote aud Work Against the
Measure Democrats ana Republicans
Speak Against the Bin.

Upwards of 1900 operatives OF the J. &
J.. Coates Thread company OF Pawtucket,
assembled i'm mass meeting in Music hall,
Pawtucket, last evening, TO take action in
protest of the Wilson tariff bin, which in
wolves a reduction of wages in the cur
tailment of work and the cripplieg of the
spool cotton trade in the country. This
fionrishing mandatory which has
Justly earned an international reputation
gives employment TO 250O operatives, and
casual glance over the audience that
filled the auditorium and galleries en-
phasized the fact that in point OF intelli-
gence, responsibility and prosperity the
wage-earpers were distinctiyelya a repre-
sentative class.
Operatives Had Charge OF tho Meeting.
The special committee which had charge
of the meeting were selected from the vari-
Gus departments in which they held sub
ordinate positions, and they wisely re.
Trained from enlisting the services OF
labor agitators from abroad 10 ventilate
revolutionary tactics and insisted that
the meeting should be strictly non poll
tical and its action conservative
and conciliatory. Some time
since committee representing the.
O. N. II. and Mile End and Kearney
mills in New Jersey visited the Conant
works and had communication with
the employees with reference to the opera
tion OF the Wilson tariff bill which
proposed reduction OF 80 7-10 per cent
on spool cotton and 81 per cent. on
thread in hanks. They directed attention
TO the fact that as result OF the
introduction of this measure and its prin-
ciple enactment the manufacturers in
that state influenced by the finapcial de-
preston, had shut down the works for
several months and the operatives feared
that the revival of business wodld'be in
definitely postponed.
The Conant w orkers Well Paid.
This committee found that the Conant
operatives in all of the departments had
been given uninterrupted employment
and that the corporation had maintained
their standard OF wages, Notwithstanding
the bard times and had manifested
considerate and kindly disposition in the
present crisis. IL ever they refused TO
join in any movement antagonistic to the
interests OF their employers,
and determined to submit
protest to congress through
the agency Of the senators and representa-
tives in coagress-from this state az the
most judicious and well-directed course
OF procedure. Conseqpently'the speakers
did not indulge in>d dny incendiary utter
ances directed at the unjust treatment of
the corporation, and the protest and reso-
lutiors which were accepted were in the
nature Of the corporation as well as its
employees.
Chairman HanIon.
Edward Hanlon was elected chairman
of the meeting, and his Introductory
speech emphasized the necessity of prompt
action to inAuencethe defeat OF the Wilson
bill to prevent the crippling OF the indus
try in the interest OF foreign manufactur-
ers. The most significant speech was that of
Charles i. McAlice who has been life
long Democrat and prominent in the
councils of the party in that city. He
as an American citizen had the
right to place his fealty in any party. He
believed that congress whether Republican
or Democratic, would heed the wishes
of the working class. He believed
that the country was safe in the hands
of the majority whatever its political
complexion might be. 1t was true that
the Conant mills had not felt the effects of
tho financial depression as quickly as
other concerns. The reason for this lies
in the fact that the corporation was COM
posed OF honest, upright and con-
eiderate men who were not
influenced by the unscrupulous motives
which had induced manufacturers else
where to take advantage OF their despond-
ent employees.
Other Speeches.
Thomas b. James made alconservative
and effective speech. Hc explained the
operation OF the proposed act by stating
that the spinners at Conant mills whose
wages at present average Sl4 per week
would be reduced 10 S910, and that
for week OF 90 hours less pay would be
earned than they are now securing by
employment a3 hours per week. lie
limited in a political aside that the
Wilson bill was calculated To transfer the
thread industry 10 the South, but he en-
phasized the fact with the earnestness OF
a war veteran that the men i'm control of
affairs IN congress were licked i'm
'6i-65, and he believed that they would
get left again IL they sought TO cripple the
New England industry by legislative en-
aetment The other speakers emphasized
the line OF argument suggested by the
chairman in his opening address,
and the audience was in full
sympathy with the conservative and
practical Treatment OF the subject by
then fellow employees. Emphasis was
placed on the points that not only were
the operatives vita,iy interested Ia the de-
feat of the bill, but the people of Paw
tuclyet; that the 200 operatives in
the mill represented 10000 dopendanis,
and the population Of the city, estimated
az 5000, were likewise involved.
Tho BiE Industry MeBsced.
The bill mcnaccd tho thread industry
which had largely contributed to the
material prosperity 81 the cts. We opc-
natives are willing 20 make sacrifices for
fhecorporsfion, and only desire that The