The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-08
IMPORTANT MATTERS
To Be Considered by the Convention
OF Textile Workers.
Membership Largely Increascd-Many
New Unions Have Been Formed I'm
Rhode Island.


PHILADELPHIA, May s-The fifth annual
convention of the National Textile
Workers convened In this city with 67
delegates present. The object Of the con-
vention Is to discuss and pass upon mat
ters which will tend to unite the work
men OF that department of labor for
mutual protection and the improvement
of their position.
The morning session was devoted to
the appointment Of committees on
finance, law, resolutions. legislation and
press During the afternoon session the
reports of officers were heard.
The especial objects to be consider
are the shortening of the hours Of labor,
the framing of the national factory laws
and the establishment of uniform wage
rate on such basis as Is possible.
Announcement was made that the
strike at the Washington mills at Law.
renee, Mass. which has been going on
for the past 10 weeks, has been settled
and the 1900 employees will GO back to
work.
1t was. also stated that a misappre-
hensfon exists as to the condition OF AZ
fairs in Pittsneld, Mass. to which point
operatives from Philadelphia and other
sections of the country have been flock
ing on the false representation that there
Is work for them there, only to find them
selves stranded in strange community.
international Union Proposed.
During the sitting of the convention
steps will be taken toward the formation
of an international union OF textile work.
ers, and to that end Robert A. Howard,
secretary of the Spinners' union of Fall
River, Mass, will be delegated to repre-
sent the American textile workers at the
proposed conference. which will include
not only British textile workers, but
probably representatives from France,
Belgium, Germany and Austria as well.
It is expected that the National Textile
union will be augmented by a combina.
tion with the National Silk Workers Of
America. which comprises 5000 members.
1t was stated that the latter organization
is awaiting the outcome of the present
convention to take formal action in the
matter
The sole woman delegate at the con-
vention Is Miss Annie Luccedd of Provi-
dence, who represents union No. 43 of
that city, composed entirely Of women, of
which she is president. She is also master
workman of knights of Labor assembly
No. 4047 of the same place. and has rep.
resented that order in number of it's
conventions.
The Transfer Of Power
In addition TO favoring the limiting of
the hours Of labor to SIS q week, which
will doubtless be adopted, the conven.
tion will also take into consideration the
transfer of n portion of the power of the
national union to district councils. The
change is contemplated because the
major body is becoming unwieldly and
better results are expected to result from
the establishment OF q district system.
The national board, however, is to have
the whole power of sanc.ioning strikes,
so that two big ones will not occur at the
same time.
The place for next years meeting was
decided on. Providence was the city
selected. The first Monday in May will
be the date. IL was shown that the
organization has largely increased its
mem bership. and now has over 10000
workers in its ranks Rhode Island has
been especially active of late. 90 new
unions having been formed in the past
few months. The increase In the MEM |
bership is drawn largely from the cotton |
industry employees. and In this city the |
lace curtain makers have joined the |
union. The finances were stated to be in |
n satisfactory condition.