The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-08
Facts Regarding the Standing
of the National Union.
No Funds to Assist Strikers In a LONG
Fight for Wages.
Instead OF $4,000 Members 1t Is Al
legged That 10000 is the Limit.
The NEWS BUREAU, oLSEYvrLLE,
No. Hartford Avenue. (

THE NEWS BUREAU, oLSEYvmLE,
No. Hartford Avenue.
The sixth animal convention of the
National Union of Textile Workers of
America has been in session for three
days, and, it is to be presumed, transacted
the business for which it was convened.
This is the first It citing OF the national
organization in Olneyville and the
first real knowledge Of the average ope-
rator in this vicinity of the standing Of
this organization. 1t was supposed to
cover America, or as far as textile workers
extend on this continent, with its men,
bership. Previous to the assem-
bling of the convention in
Olneyville it was boldly claimed
that 81, 900 textile workers were affiliated
with the organization, that it was pow
erful, we'll organized, united body that
possessed numbers sufficiently large to
maintain strike in place like this for
an indefinite period.
The convention assembled.
The largest number of members claimed
was 25,000. This was an estimate given
out with measured words or drawn out
for 1t was only after persistent question:
ing that this estimate was obtained.
Upon the basis of the receipts
Of the national saedy for the past
year 1t is reasonable to assume that
the membership does not exceed 0,000 It
has been asserted frequently in times past
that the national treasury of the organi-
zation could be depended upon to carry
on the strike in Olneyville.
Upon this representation many have
pinned their faith in the ability
OF winning in struggle with
| the combine of manufacturers here.
From a reliable source it is learned
that the report of the finances of the ns-
| tional organization as received at the
convention showed but small balance
| on hand.
| The fact of this state of bankruptcy
was guarded with the utmost caution
lest it become known outside that the or
ganization of Textile Workers of America
is a delusion and not able to maintain
strike OF the very smallest kind for any
| extended time. A press committee has
furnished such reports as they have
chosen to give out OF the business that
was transacted at the convention.
1t was evidently intended in this
way to cover the weakness of the
| organizations and encourage the followers
still longer to put their dependence in tho
National organization.
As announced in The NEWS of yester-
| day, exclusively, the convention endorsed
as far as was in their power the strike OF
| the wooden and worsted help now out In
Olneyville.
| The treasury was without funds, conse-
| quently they were obliged to sanction the
strikers here in general way and appeal
| for popular subscription through the
| delegates representing locals outside Of
| the troubled district.
Today the strike Of the Atlantic help,
| which took place in accordance with the
| rules Of the union, was formally endorsed,
and they will now be given power to levy
assessments on all the textile unions in the
| country to aid them IL the funds
| in their local treasury became exhausted,
as the must do in another week, since
when they went out they had but about
| $4,000, and as nearly $1,000 per week is re-
| quired to meet the demands, and O week
| from Thursday the fourth lot Of pay
ments will be made.
Presents for the Officers.
A resolution to donate the president
sl0O and the treasurer $50, for their SER
vices, was passed this morning, to show,
as Vice. President Hart said, "tbst
the national body was not bankrupt"
Avote was taken endorsing general law
making nine hours constitute q days
| labor.
A resolution to send q delegate to an
International Labor Congress to be held
| in Belgium, was laid on the table until
| the next annual convention.
or the 80 delegates who have made Up
the convention, 30 at least are from this
State.
The officers elected for the ensuing year
are as follows:
President, r. A. Thornton Of Phila-
delphia; vice president, Neil Waters of
| Fitchburg, Mass; secretary, L. p. Ca
hill OF Lawrence, Mass; treasurer,
Miss Annie Lucitt OF olneyville; execu-
tive committee, John p. Mcdonald OF
Lewiston, Me-, Henry $. Mills OF Law
renee and Peter McDermott of Olneyville.
Agents from outside towns are continu-
ing to draft help from olneyville and
doubtless when 1t is settled that the mills
here are to be closed, rs seems inevitabls,
the exodus will set in at lively pace.
With the convention adjourned sine
die. the local meetings of the striking
help in the various mills will be resumed.
What the effect of he operatives learn
ing the true condition of the standing,
both numerical and financial. OF the
National Union OF Textile Workers OF
America will be il problematicsi.
Don't Fail to