Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-12
MACHINES DESERTED
Ranks of Strikers Being
Rapidly SWelled.
ARE GAINING CONFIDENCE.
Spinners at the National Mill Refuse
to Work at the Old Prices.

PROVIDENCE. Oct. l2.-The great strike
at Olneyville continues, and as yet there
are no indications of a speedy settlement.
The situation grows more serious every
hour, in view OF the fact that the other
mills in the state will be closed in the
near future
In some villages a cutdown has been or
dered by the millowners, but this does not
go into effect until Oct. % The action OF
the operatives in Olneyville aud Geneva
will have "A tendency 20 cause the opera
tives in these villages TO resist the cutdown
and leave their machines.
Already 5000 people are affected by the
labor troubles in Olneyville alone, where
but one mill, the Delaine, is now in opera.
tion. There is no appearance as yet OF
disorder in the place. Olneyville as a
manufacturing community is unlike many
mill towns, in that au unusually large
proportion of the operatives are estab-
lished residents. A considerable proper
tion Of them are owners of their homes,
although us "a rule the real estate holdings
are more or less encumbered.
That the present situation has devel.
oped without a single disturbance requir-
ing Ctficial action by the authorities is
largely due 20 the fact that the rowing
class Of operatives are so few in number
that they cannot exercise any noticeable
influence in the progress Of affairs.
There is n general expression of opinion
that there would not have been any strike
had moderate reduction been made.
There is quite n general expression of be-
lief that the strike would be terminated
-,
Willingness to make reasonable com.
promise. The strikers are, however, i'm.
bued with the idea that IL will be "a stub
b ru fl -ht. They feel that the manufac.
turers should b. willing To lessen the rate
of reduction and should also give to the
help the assurance that with the improve
ment in the Goth market the old rate of
wages will be restored.
Those who are in favor Of compromising
expect that by the organization. which
they hope will now be elected and made,
permanent, they will be in position,
when the anticipated return Of good times
arrives, 20 demand ali thar has been taken
from them in this period of depression.
Discussing Wages.
rousing meeting Of the strikers was
held in Woods hall last evening. Chair.
man McGuy, in addressing the strikers,
dwelt largely upon the new schedule OF
salary. He said he did not think that
even the weavers themselves compre-
hended the extent of the reduction.
In looking over the lists he came to the
conclusion that the reduction in wages
WAS not clearly understood. While under
the old list the amount was L. l2 cents for
full pack work, the weavers received in
addition premium of two cents for per-
feet cloth, making 10 ~ cents The pre-
MUM for perfect cloth was TO be discon-
tinued, and the price under the new
schedule cut down from IL cents mills to
10 cents s mills. This refers to white
work, piece dyed on fast looms, while the
weavers ON slow looms will receive IA
cents s mills. This cutdown is a great
deal more than at first sight appeared.
Mr.. McGuy referred to one mill in this
city which, he held, made speciality Of
white goods and paid Is cents per 100
ricks on fast looms, and the reduction to
the rate of l3 cents mills is to be made.
The smallest price list heretofore known
was Is cents per 100 picks, and good
many privileges were allowed.
Superintendent Baldwin, of the National
mills, yesterday invited the spinners OF
tne WOrsJeu department 10 return TO work
at the reduced scale Of prices, but they re.
fused. The spinners a. yet have been un.
able to secure copies of the old and revised
schedules, and comparison cannot be
made so as TO show the exact amount Of
the cut, but number Of the operatives
stated today that the reduction will
amount TO an average loss of "a cents a
day. On gooi work, running on full time,
these men could make sl2 TO sl3 per week.
When the men struck on Monday, the
superintendent tald them the mill would
be closed If they went out Yesterday,
when he sent for them. he gave them to
understand $50 the strikers declare) that
he would endeavor to fill their places IL
they did not return To their machines.
The strikers are enthusiastic over the
public demonstration arranged for Satur-
day. An effort will be made to have the
parade take place in the afternoon, instead
of in the morning, rs the mill operatives
of the state have a half holiday Saturday
and would, therefore, be able to he present.
At the Crefed mills I'm Westerly the 800
hands employed have decided To remain
at their work at a reduced salary. This
mill has been run but three days a week
during the past few months. Conmenc-
ing the present week, they will run full
time.