The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-02
0lneyVll!e Strikers in Great Need of
Food, Coal and Clothing.
STILL PRESENT DEFIANT FRONT
The Executive Committee VIII Not Per-
nit the Men to Go Back to Work
Unless Their Terms are Accepted.
Saxon MIL Proposition Rejected.

The situation among the striking mill
operatives OF Olneyville has passed the
stage of unsubstantiated rumors. IL is
useless for advocates of the strike TO de-
clare that the men can stand the strain
many days longer. Poverty with it's
attendant horrors of hunger and
cold is rapidly and steadily working out
one Inevitable result. The men must
submit to the schedule proposed by the
manufacturers or starvation will speedily
| overtake them.
| For some unscrutable reason, unprece-
dented in the history OF strikes, the
starving weavers do not seem TO realize
the emminence of their danger. They still
assert, with all their former bravado,
that they can, and will fight their cause
10 successful issue. Rapidly accumulat-
| ing bills for board and grocers supplies,
some OF them already so
large that it will require
months OF prosperity to pay them, do not
seem to bring them to their senses. Many
single men who board have already run
up bills with their landlords as high as
go or $40, while the grocery bills of men
OF families cover even a larger figure.
The merchants OF Olpeyville have been
unusually indulgent, but there is a limit
to their ability to provide, and the day is
rapidly approaching when the door of the
grocer and the baker will be locked
against the moneyless strikers as a
matter OF sheer self-protection.
The strike is now in the
eighth week of its existence and condi-
tions that prevailed at the outset no longer
continue. The cold weather has added
materially to the burdens of the strikers.
Coal, additional clothing and more expen-
sive food are necessary to enable them to
withstand the rigors of the winter.
These cannot be obtained on credit very
much longer. 5000 day at least is
necessary to keep the weavers and their
families from actual starvation
and freezing. Few il any of them are
doing anything to earn sustinance, and
the chances for getting work outside the
mills are decreasing every day.
The Executive Committee stubborn.
The executive committee is determined
not to surrender an inch OF ground and so
long as the strike is to be conducted as an
organized affair the men must abide
by their mandates. The committee, head
ed by Mr.. McGuy, has stubbornly and
persistantly refused TO accept sny over
lures of the manufacturers. Yesterday
the Saxon mill owners presented propo- |
sition offering TO pay the required |
two mills pick with /
twenty per cent. off the gross earnings |
during the continuance of hard times. |
This the committee scornfully rejected. |
but offered to accept il fifteen instead of |
twenty per cent. should be |
taken from the gross earnings.
The difference between this schedule and |
that offered by the manufacturers would
amount to only about 80 cents a week for
each operative, but the executive commit
tee says that the men shall not accent.
and their word is law.
Sad Destituiion.
Very few operatives have money
enough today to provide the necessaries
Of life for tomorrow Many have insuffi-
cient clothing even for summer weather.
Many homes do not see the light of fire
from one days end TO another and wives,
mothers and children not infreuuently
wrap themselves in bed clothing and car
pets TO keep out the cold. A certain
amount of pride still dominates many of
,he strikers and, they are loath to admit
heir real condition even 10 emissaries of
;harity. The secret societies have con-
,ributed much valuable and timely aid.
specially the Sons OF st. George, which |
ncludes many strikers in its membership.
Committees from the society make regular
and relieve distress so far as
heir funds will permit. The Church of
he Messiah is likewise doing a great
OF charitable work, distributing
oal, food and clothing I'm
ccordance with the needs
Il the afflicted strikers. But even all the
id that can be put forth is not one half
efficient to meet the requirements of the
Not Half Living
The truth OF the matter is the majority
( the strikers are not half living. They
ierely manage TO sustain miserable ex-
'tence. They eat when they
an get food and warm them G
elves as best they can. When they can Q
btain neither, as not infrequently hap !
ems they get along without. How long y
be human constitution can sustain such
strain is eaisly estimated.
mins Nay AOt start Monday. :
Owing 20 the unanimous refusal to ac- c
spt the terms offered by the manufac- (
irers, IL is more than probable that none
the mills will start next Monday as
'rmerly contemplated. The employers
fered the terms as an, ultimatum 4
I'D IL the men do not care 20 accept tl.ey
Ill neither make nor entertain any further
IL the mills do not start
Ext Monday, however, they will remain =,
osed Tor the winter and all opportunity !,
IT the operatives TO obtain work will :,
! gone.
i;ciccted By Ballot
The strikers at the various mills met
'sterday in their various halls, each de-
Irtment having meeting OF its own TO
eide what they should do on
onday when the mill 0atoa 49, |