The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-02


After leaving the mills the men went
to Labor Hall where meeting was held
and Ways and means discussed. A few
weavers remained at their looms when the
Others came out, but probably as soon as
they finish their cuts they will come out.
What Mr.. Ward Says.
While he did not wish to make any
statement. still the aspect OF things were
not favorable for a speedy settlement.
The mill could not consider the demands
OF the strikers and the directors proposed
to run the mill themselves.
They should endeavor TO fill the looms,
but il that was impossible the mills
would shut down. Business was
duh and such action would result in no
loss. They would give employment to the
hands in the finishing department
until the present stock was worked out,
and after that if the strike continued the
directors would decide what TO do.
Mr.. Ward thinks the dissatisfaction is
confined to portion OF the strikers ana
have influenced the rest.
The Cause OF the Strike.
The strike has been pending here since
1t was announced that the mill pro-
posed to introduce the two-loom system
on part of its goods. This action
aroused a storm of disapproval among
the weaVers who claimed that it was
not only impossible TO do good
work on two looms, but that it meant
throwing half of their number
out of employment, and plans
were made for resisting. The new looms
ordered by the mill arrived in due time
ana were set up, and as the
warps were filled weavers began work
on them TO see if the system could
be adopted. 1t was found
impracticable, so the weavers claim, and
the men say they made but & or SS week
while the product was not perfect, and
II fine system had been enforced
their wages would have been eaten up.
Those at work in the shed where
these looms were, struck q short time
ago and since then the mill has been try
ing to fill the vacant looms with setting
women at work there.
The Textile Union protested against it
ana 1T was resolved to stop IL SO
committee waited on the mill directors
and requested that the system be
abandoned. The request was refused
promptly and the strike is the conse-
quence.
The labor leaders say the men are in
better shape to strike than ever before
as an insurance scheme, national
in its scope, has been organized
giving this State an increase Of several
thousand dollars week, and this Is de-
voted 10 the support of the strikers,
each man receiving assistance IN
proportion to his assessments and the
sums will run from sl.50 20 $3.50 per
week. Other States or districts will
assist this one so the strikers are well pro-
/ vided with the sinews of war. The strikers
claim they are organized and that their
condition is vastly different from what IL
was in the other strike. Two hundred
weavers are out now and II the other
help come out or are thrown out il VIII
mean a force of 1900 people idle for an in
definite time. The men ar determined
and say they will win this time.
The Wcayers' Meeting.
The weavers held a long meeting after
coming out, and this was followed by a
meeting of the committee, but no action
was taken except discussing the situation.
Arrangements viii be made 90 let other
weavers know that there is n strike on
that they may not come here for work.
Ii appears that the only Weavcrs LETT in
are several in the old shed where the
trouble started and these had family rea-
Sons for remaining.
Loom FiXcrs Quit Work.
This afternoon the mill authorities re-
quested the loom fixers to take the places
oi the striking weavers.
There was brief consultation and they
refused to do so, and putting on their out
side garments they left the mill and
marched off TO the strikers headquarters.
Twenty-Five were affected.