The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-28

reVlNlng lrauc.
Whether they quit work in strike, as
at New Bedford, or went out on " va
cation,' as at Fall River, the fact re-
mains that in both cases thousands are
idle and they are no nearer gaining
their object than when they started over
six weeks ago.
With winter coming on the condition
of the strikers is growing serious. They
were unprepared for any extended idle
ness, and unless they soon begin to earn
money they must be forced to seek pub
lie charity to keep themselves and their
families from starvation.
The strike and the vacation" were
both ill-advised and foolish we'll nigh to
criminality. There is no show of win
ming in either case. aud even If a tenn
porary victory were gained by any possi-
bility, it would only be Of brief duration.
Secretary HOWARD roundly con-
demued the vacation" scheme at Fall
River as being a useless idleness with no
possiollily OF gam attached.
A very sensible clergyman in Fall
River has issued an open letter to the
operatives in which he urges them to
return to work, and although
he is located right in the
center of the movement he has
the courage of his convictions, and is
willing to encounter opposition because
he dares to tell the operatives that they
are wrong, and to volunteer advice that
should meet with grateful appreciation.
'Your so-called vacation was nothing
but vain delusion from the beginning"
says Rev. JOHN Brown; sis nothing else
and never will be anything else to the
end Of the chapter in 50 far as it was
sought TO coerce in employer. 1t
can not, will not succeed, no matter
what may be the price of cloth. You
have all made a serious mistake in put
ting yourselves out of employment when
values of all descriptions are on the
down grade or perhaps at their very bot
tom prices. The time to strike is not
when the whole land is full of idle men
and women seeking employment and
values sinking"
These are worthy words and they
come from friend of the laboring man,
from disinterested man, and from a
man whose calling renders his motive
above the suspicion of being uttered for
personal advantage.
Nor does he stop here. He points
out the reasons for his condemnation.
Another serious and palpable mistake
is in entering this conflict without suf-
ficient means TO carry it on with. To
prolong, therefore, the struggle Is but to
incur woeful hardships for large
number of families and to clothe your
selves with unspeakable wickedness."
These reasons ought to be convincing,
and were the strikers in q frame of mind
to coolly consider them they eyundoubtedly
would be, but when the strike fever is
on sensible men surrender their wills
and everybody acts in obedience to a
few controlling spirits.
The Rev. Mr.. BROWN then warns the
strikers of the wrath to come. 81 speak
a word Of warning, especially to the
spinners and weavers unions. tell them
that their future existence depends upon
their bringing their strike vacation or
whatever tbs to close before it is too
late. The first duty is to get together and
declare the strike off in the city i'm
mediately. The business condition of
the country; and the whole world, the
approaching winter, the almost helpless
union treasures, the breadless and fire.
less homes, these all demand an end to
this trouble"
These are brave words, for, alas,
labor has intimidated through the boy
colt and in other ways so many who
have attempted to give advice or who
have failed to approve the rash acts of
labor leaders, that it is a rarity for a
man to discuss labor questions freely
and without fear of the consequences,
but Rev. Mr.. Brown proves by his
fearless and honest words that
he who dares TO speak the
truth is truer friend of the working
man than the coward who outwardly
approves, pats him on the back and
secretly curses him for his idiocy.
Would there were more men like Rev.
JOHN BROWN.
What effect his letter will have is a
question. The strike fever soon pro-
duces delirium that forbids calm,
reflective action of the mind while it is
on, and until the pangs of hunger and
the cruel blasts of winter strike the un-
prepared bodies Of the strikers suffering
families this wicked and foolish strike
is likely to continue. This is the history
of the vast preponderance of strikes in
this country.