The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-22
COTTON MILLS CLOSED.
Fourteen Hupdred Hands Out at the
ManYille' Mills.
SPINNERS WANTED MORE PAY.
The Company Refuses an Increase Of 1S to
go Fer Cent. and shuts Down the Mill
Executive Committee OF the National
spinners' Union Appealed 10.

Forty-four mule spinners employed at
the Manville company's mills, at which
mainly cottons are manufactured, struck
yesterday noon for an advance in wages,
and an equal number of back boys, fxers
and dotfers went out with them out OF
sympathy. The spinners demanded an
increase in wages OF IL or 20 per cent.
The mill. employing l.450 hands, with a
weekly pay roll Of $1,000. comprising
practically the only biz industry in the
village, shut down last night and will re :
main idle until the strike Is settled.
Superintendent Charles III. Savage says
about seventy-fve men or so from the
mule spinning room were out. He said
n comm ittee OF the spinners waited upon
him couple of weeks ago and asked for
more money. but did not specify how
much. He claimed that the spinners
were receiving as much pay as spinuers
anywhere, and that he did not think the
company would ay any more than az
present, aud that the company would not
accede 1.-THE strikers demands but would
ALLOW the mill TO remain idle for some
time.
Secretary. Melarkey tells the strikers
about April the Mule Spinner
union here hai a meeting. The senss OF
the meeting was that the matter Of an
increase In wages should be agitited.
and a resolution was passed to that
effect. stating that the Manville spinners
wished their pay to be on a par with that
in other mills.
Secretary Melarkey and Alex Desjar-
dians were appointed u committee to III
terview Superintendent &. II. Savage.
Melarkey ted AS spokesman. aud sai d
that the Manville spinners were getting
wages from 10 To 20 per cent. be-
INV tha racaiVan other
mills. and submitted price lists OF
Slater's mill, Pawtucket, X. l.; Berkley
mills. Berkeley, K l., aDd mills III New
Bedford aud Lawrence, Mass, and
Dover, N. III. Secretary Melarney told
him the men wanted more pay, aud
would take measures TO get II. A week
later Superintendent Savage informed
Melarkey that the spinners were receiv-
lug AS much money AS men In other
mills, and that tue company would pay
no more, Eence ne strike"
Yesterday afl erncon the Spinners'
union met, and voted 10 turn the matter
over to ,he National Mule Spnners'
union and notified National Secretary
Samuel Ross OF New Bedf,r Mass, by
telegraph. lie is expected TO arrive mere
Monday. Speeches were made at the
meeting. and the strikers. while remain
ing quiet, state that they are receiving
less money than other mule spinners,
getting but $40 or $40 80 PER week, when
tue Berkeley spinners ge. sl2 or sl3, They
also state that they will stan nrm for
what they consider their rights and stick
by anothe aud The unioa.
Both strikers aud the company are de-
termined, ana u protracted strug sle is
anticipated. The plant is oynel by the
Manville company OF Providence. I his
strike Will give abDu; every one in the
village AN enforced vacation, and store
Ike pers are already prophesying hard
times and bad bills. Tuere was a
weavers' strike in the mill years ago,
which continued Tor three months, dur
ing which tim 100 IA miles left the viii
lage. The Strikers went back to work AZ
the old terms.