The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-10
THE OLNEYyILLE STRIKE.

That the industrial conditions of
Olneyville have reached a very serious
phase cannot now be doubted and
while it is to be regretted that the
operatives took such a hasty step as that
of yesterday, it is to he hoped that some
agreement may be reached by employers
and employed by which "a long and
ruinous strike may be averted.
1t is safe TO say that a very consider
able proportion of those who left their
work did SO against their better judg-
ment. Indeed, the statements of many
of the operatives go to show that there
was a strong sentiment among the work
ers against precipitating a conflict at
least until the reduced scale Of wages,
of which notice was given, goes into
effect. 1t would ~assuredly have been
the wiser course to have waited instead
of yielding to the first impulse to resent
what is considered an unnecessarily
heavy and unjust cut down.
1t is altogether prob able that had the
operatives remained at work their rep
resentatives would have a better stand
ing before the employers in any effort
they may make toward a compromise
scale of wages. BY precipitately leaving
and compelling the shutting down of
the mills they have undoubtedly for
feited something Of their claims to
consideration.
These are not times when defiance and
antagonism ought to be INDUCED in
by either mill owner or mill worker.
The safety Of each from hardship if not
from positive ruin depends upon mutual
concession and mutual helpfulness. 1t
is because this is the case as we see 1t
that we are forced to regard the action
of the operatives as wanting In wisdom,
and unfortunate from every point Of
view.
Nor have we any doubt that this
action was in great part the result of
the talk of two men at the mass meet
ing held last week. They are not mill
workers themselves now but trade upon
the fact that they were once, and as
sumo because Of their former calling the
right to tell honest toilers
what they should do in these
deplorable times. These men told
the operatives that the cut down
is unnecessary, that it Is the result of a
plot among the mill owners to increase
their profits and grind the help down to
starvation wages. Demagogic utter
ances of this kind are, when taken as
true, the bane Of the working man.
They lead him to regard his m
ployer as an oppressor and to fol-
low n course which generally ends in
costly strife and suffering for himself and
those dependent upon him. The pro-
fessional agitator is a constant menace,
q dangerous firebrand, and the pity is
that those who earn their liveli-
hood by honest toll should permit them
selves to be deceived 80 often aud 80
heartlessly by the misrepresentation of
these breeders Of discomfort and strife.
All sensible citizens will joia in the
hope that the Olneyville operatives will
not tolerate such men in their midst.
Let them appoint to represent
them cool, careful, conservative men
from their own ranks. Let the EN-.
ployers meet these representatives of
the workers frankly to the end that
some means may be devised for averting
a prolonged struggle and of saving our
most lopulous suburb from the want
and suffering il will entail.
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