The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-05
Employees at the LymansviIIe
Mills Wouldn't Go to Work
WHEN THE WHISTLE BLEW TODAY.
The Trouble Is Caused by the Attempt
to Have the Weavers Run Two
Looms, as the Competing Mills are
Doing.
THE NEWS BUREAU, }
oLNEYvILLE, Room I, Library BuiLDIso,

| The expected strike at the Lymansville
| Mills arrived on time this morning and is
now in progress.
Its not built on very large lines although
1t throws some 800 people out of work and
indeed, IL II were reduced to facts, il would
be found that the union and a few, not
over half dozen rabid weavers, are the
cause, but on the face it is because OF the
requiring by the mill that the weavers
shall operate two looms.
The Lymansyille mills turn out mems
dress goods as general thing, and while
| perhaps good weaver might operate two
looms on this the mill had no intention of
asking them to. They had recently re-
ceived an order for ladies' dress goods
that would require about two months
| to fill and it was the intention to run
| part OF the looms on this, but there was
no idea OF cutting down the help on ac-
| count OF doubling up.
The majority of the weavers were will
| ing to try this but a rabid few, backed by
the bylaws of the union, prevented this.
| The men were told on Friday that the
mills would start up on the new
goods today, running the two looms.
"Joshua" McGuy said to the sun of in
dustry g stand still, SO today there were
no men at work in Lymansville. As the
News reporter stepped from a car this
morning he ran into the sentinels that the
strikers had posted to keep workmen
away and they inquired IL he was looking
for work. Denying the soft impeachment
he was allowed to pass on, the
aforesaid sentinels accompanying him
to see that he did not turn
out to be a man in disguise. A mass
meeting of the strikers was being
held and these were keeping watch
meanwhile. Every stranger was ac-
costed and the arguments used were
| effective for no workman had reached the
mill. About 400 are thrown out of work
/ by this strike. Mr.. Sack, the
manager, has advertised for weavers
and will start up as soon as sufficient help
is secured but will insist on running on
| the two-ioom basis in order to compete
with other mills.
| ''Every Stranger is Accosted."
| The men who THE News man met,
boastcd OF having dissuaded some half
dozen men from Olneyville this morning
| to give up the idea of going to work. A
number from Harrisville were also turned
| back.
| The strikers feel bitter and claim that
the accepting of the terms offered by the
mill would cause them to work harder for
the same pay, would throw part
| of them out of work and
"would force the fellow laborers in other
mills to do the same" They claim that
they have the support of the Textile
Union and are in good condition for a
| contest.
The Other Side.
| A little different story was learned i'm an
| interview with MIR. Sack, representing the
mill. Mr.. Sack bears the reputation
among the strikers of being "hard man
to beat" and he certainly was little dis
| turbed at the outlook.
"We have been running to help our
| people for some tiine," said Mr. Sack,
"and it would be a benefit for us to shut
down during these dull times. ! had se-
cured an order for line of ladies dress
| goods somewhat similar to that turned out
at the Atlantic mills where one girl
handles two looms) and should have run
| part of the looms on this. We have
only had some 35 weavers at work and
| this doubling up part would
have thrown none out. Most OF our peo-
pie are intelligent, own their houses here
and are anxious TO work, but few hot
heads backed by the laws of the Textile
! Union have caused the trouble.
! number of men have sent word to me
that they would like to go to work but
| feared the violence of the strikers
| Several men were al work but
left under threats fearing their
| lives were not safe. One
| man who owns n house refused to work
although he wanted money badly as he
feared the strikers would burn his house.
Friday night we told our help that we
would start upon Monday running the new
goods on two looms, but the workmen
evidently decided not to come to work.
| The departments require 400 persons, but,
| OF course, we shall not run part and not
the whole"
In reply to the question as TO the prob
able outcome OF the strike Mr.. Sack said
81 am here to run this MILL and as other
mills are running on a two loom basis,
| we must II we wish to compete with them.
We are advertising for weavers to do
| this work, as will be seen by glance at
THE NEWS, and but for the intimidation
| OF the strikers should have secured
enough already to start up.
| The mills are determined i'm
their stand and as the strikers are evil
IDENTIFY equally so, there is every prospect
| OF another bitter strike. The men are
organized and will have the support OF the
| Textile Union, but times are not favora bic
| for raising money and few have much
| ahead. On the other hand the mills have
little 10 do and would be perfectly willing
| TO shut down for while.
| There is every prospect that
this strike will affect other mills
than these and may assume proportions
little dreamed OF at present. The Harris
willie mill. and the Wanskuck mills have
already adopted the two-loom basis and
that the other mills in this vicinity win
endeavor TO follow their example is self
evident"