The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-17
TME IApon pEMoNsTRATlON.

THE LABOR DEMONSTRATION.
That was indesd an imposing column
Of unemployed which marched from
Olneyville square to Mnsic hall yester-
day afternoon and one who saw the
long line of operatives could not escape
a feeling of regret and encouragement
that conditions exist which made such
"A demonstration possible or necessary.
AS to the practical value of the parade
there may be two opinions, but there
can be 10 doubt that it has, ut least.
aroused the interest Of some who other
wise would have given little attention to
the tronble. Whether Or not this
awakened interest will lead to any sub
stantial benefit to the strikers remains
TO be seen. The meeting In Music hall
cannot, however, be regarded as a CON-
pie Q success except by those who hold
extreme views and who are opposed to
any movement looking to a settlement
of the differences between employer
and employed by compromise.
OF this class is Richard McGuy who
is the chairman Of the general commit
tee Of the strikers. In his opening
address he made the Statement. that the
Olneyville operatives were now being
punished for the votes they cast in favor
Of the Democratic national ticket a year
ago. This is in part true but not in the
sense Mr.. McGuy intended. His mean
ing was that the manufacturers have
nj wuges not because Of prevailing
depression and stagnation, but in
revenge for the manner in which the
wage workers exercised their rights Of
franchise. Such a statement carries
its own REPUTATION IN its face, and no
intelligent person who heard it yester.
day will regard IL in any other light
than rs the cheap talk Of one who
through the m~isfortunes Of others finds
himself temporarily in q position Of
prominence which his course thus far
proves he Is but poorly fitted to FIJI.
Other speeches were made ard for the
most part they were Of the kind that
may be expected from politicians. II
must be said, however, that Mr.. Carroll
of Pawtucket made the only practical
suggestion for the settlement Of the
strike when he proposed the appoint
ment of a committee to confer with the
manufacturers. This. however. was OPP
posed by Mr.. McGuy, MI. Cannon and
by the radical element among the
strikers, but when Mr.. Carroll plainly
told the operatives they could not afford
to loaf on the streets Mr.. McGay made
the startling announcement that such a
committee as that advocated by Mr.. Car
roll was already in existence.
In view Of Mr.. McGuy's oft repeated
declaration that no advances looking
toward a compromise would be made
by the strikers, and his insistance that
the employers would have to take the
initiative, even If the strike is prolonged
for a year, his statement that II commit
tee to confer with the mill owners has
already been appointed is, to
say the least, surprising. And
now the question arises why If such
a committee has been constituted has
the fact been kept secret? Why has Mr..
McGuy hung out the banner mo com.
promise" and dinned the motto into the
ears OF the operatives when, il what he
said Yesterday is true, he has been work.
ing for a compromise?
Are not the honest toilers to be trusted
with information as to the efforts being
made In their behalfg Is Mr.. McGuy to
be the sole arbiter in this unhappy
affair? How much confidence a the
rank and file OF the strikers have in the
sincerity of a man who breaches one
thing and practises another?
We have before said that professional
agitators are the bane Of honest work.
ing men and every new development in
the Olneyville trouble confirms the i'm.
preston that the interests Of the strikers
are not safe in che hands OF Mr.. McGuy.
II they are wise they will appoint a com
mittee from among their number-iu-
telligent and conservative men-to meet
the manufacturers. To depend upon a
compromise effected by Mr.. McGuy or
any committee made up by him will. we
fear, be disappointing and dangerous.