The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-06
h sajMLA SIRKt NEAR?
Labor Agitators Should Not
Rush Men into One Hastily.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT CONDEMNS
Talk of a strike When Work Is So
Hard 10 Get strikers Can Not Rely
Upon Support from business Men
A strike Would BE Foolhardy.

What il the Riverside mill weayers fol-
low the example Of the Lymansville ope-
ratives, as there is every indication that
they may, how will the business men OF
Oineyville feel toward themY
That ia n question that is OF more I'M
portance than appears on the first glance.
In the course of strike the strikers run
short of money. They have TO owe Tor
rent, for groceries, for clothing; they
must depend in part for the necessities of
life upon the contributions of the
remainder of the community,
and naturally the position OF
the business men Is OF the first Importance
rs their sympathy and quiet cooperation
would go far toward winning strike. The
business men of Olneyville had much TO
do toward settling the other strike and IT
shows at once that no future strike could
be successful without their sympathy and
aid.
Would the strikers have il?
III there is any man who feels that he is
willing to take part in another strike, let
him visit the men THE News reporter
called ON today and he will
zee that another strike would
meet with but little help in these quar-
ters. Public sympathy and charity have
been strained to the last notch already,
and the man who voluntarily faces want
must do so with the understanding
that no aid will be Forthcoming,
and the strikers at Lymansville, who
are so confident that Olneyville will con-
Olneyville charity is abundantly oc-
cupied at home. No strike has ever
succeeded without public sympathy
and aid. A NEWS reporter, feeling
that the sentiments OF the leading
business men, lin the event OF a probable
strike, would be Of interest, visited them.
They include dry goods dealers, provision
dealers. professional men, and are men
who assisted in the last strike in more
ways than one as those engaged in IT can
testify. For obvious reasons their names
are Withheld.
Among these men quoted are leaders
recognized i'm labor circles.
No. said: "The strike at Lymansville
Is piece of folly that do not think the
Riverside mills people will initiate. This
Is the ago Of composition and men must
expect to work harder. A few years ago
At Fall River the man who ran
two looms was considered an
extra smart Z, weaver. Now they
run six and even eight looms each. These
weavers mu expect to do more and as
soon as acc1 med to 1t think they will
have no trouble. They would be more
than foolish to strike now. They are not
in condition themselves and the public
would not put upa penny for them. In
the last strike we did all we could and
another strike would meet with no favor"
No. 2 said: What would do in case
there was another strike here? can tell
YOU pretty quick. j have several houses
that are occupied by mill people and while
they are struggling along l have let the
rent 60. just let those people throw up
their work again and will empty my
houses as quick as the sheriff can act.
helped the men in the last strike and
my wife has had several families to
help ever since, but IL they
70 out again while they can have work /
will do no more for them. don't care
bnsp whether the mill people are justified
rathy for the man that Arrows himself
out OF . job in these days when SO many
are out of work. No striker Will ever run
up another bill at my store"
n No. was equally determined. "Would
we help the strikers IL the mill people
The business men here need assistance
Snore than the strikers to escape the
consequences of the former strike.
Our store helped many, but you
can rest assured that we will not help
again and shall not give credit. i am not
nen should try this new scheme. They
would be worse than fools to stop work"
No. 4 said; 81 am afraid the mill people
pre- asking too much, but hope we shall
have no further strike"
No. 8 said: "The strikers have no chance
bOL sutCccSs nc tiint IL COHilnR WDen
they must run looms and they must ac-
cept the situation" The speaker was a
practical mill man.
No. 6 said: "My sympathies are with
the mill workers, but gave all / could in
the other strike. fear public opinion
would be against them in case OF another.
] hope that no other will follow
Iymansville. Public sympathy has
been stretched to the last point,
and there Is danger of reaction IL there
should be another large strike to make
demand on IL. A strike has no hope for
success at this time"
These are half dozen opinions. More
could be quoted, but they are in the same
sfrain. The strike at Lymansville is but
little needed, ~ IL affects few here, but the
prospect that the Riverside workers may go
ont on the same excuse rouses only con-
demnation and anger, and ii is safe to say
that such strike would meet with gem
eral disapproval. In the present times a
man must work harder for his money than
in former years, and he must also
cut closer his living expenses. The
troubles OF mill people, IL is to be feared
are but begun, and the mill owners evil
IDENTIFY believe In the old motto that
"What man has done man may do"
The general feeling is apprehension at
the proposed strike mingled with resent
ment at those who will take part. For
their own benefit the labor leaders should
sound tho feeling OF the men who hold
the purse strings before they commit
themselves TO another strike.