The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-14


proved wonderfully in the last two or
three weeks. and we gave good reason
| 10 believe that IL will continue 10 i'm
prove. l have no hesitation I'm saying
| lhat consider this result 10
be due TO the tariff.
CONTENTED AND HOPEFUL.
our workmen are contented and
| hopeful again. Once more they see
that they can save money and become
! the owners or their own homes. Ny
partner Mr.. Weeden, is a believer in
Iiee raw wool and tariff on manufac-
tufed WOOL. but 1 disagree with nim
think that by an equitable system OF
protection we shall keep our markets
ana all shall prosper. The farmer Is
| gong 10 receive a better price for his
! WOOL The workman may have TO pay
small percentage more for his coat,
but as has been truly said again and
again. he will have the money with
which TO buy it,
| why the price OF real estate will be
] going up in Olneyville because tI1e work.
men will be buying homes again. That
does not go to show that the workman
IS worse Off than he was before, does
The Riverside Mills employ about 600
hands. and the manager of the big plant
said; I'VE never knew, and hope
| never 10 know again. such hard times
as We had during the Cleveland admin
| sratlon. yes We were very busy un-
der the Mckinley law. Under the VIII
| son law our customers sent their money
| abroad and we and our worknen were
| idle. Just as soon as 1t was. known trnat
| Mr.. Mckinley would call a special ses-
| sion OF Congress and that we were like
ly TO have a living tariff, we noticed a
| steady Improvement. which kept on as
| the passage OF the Dingley bill became
| more and more assured.
The last two or three weeks have
been the biggest of ALL Now we are
doing all that we can, and we have had
/ TO refuse some orders for next winters
goods. We have enough orders for next
summers goods TO keep us busy for a
| long time TO come. and everything
| points TO a continuation of the heavy
| demand. To say that we are satisfied
with the advance agent OF prosperity is
putting u too mildly. Our overseers
| tell us that the workmen are better Re-
| publicans than ever"
RUNNING AT A SACRIFICE.
The great Atlantic Mills, that employ
| about 1000 workers, and which are cell
| ebrated for women's dress goods, have
been used by the free traders as an ar
gument in support of the Wilson law.
because they were running most of the
| time under that law.
Mr.. $. Nj. Lougee. superintendent of
I these mills. belongs TO a Huguenot fam
lily, many generations of which have
been adopts at the loom. He said
I'VE kept running only at sacrifice
for two seasons. On account of our
| workpeople. and so that our goods, sold
! entirely 10 women might maintain their
| place in the market. II the Atlantic
Mills product should cease TO be a ia
| miliar sight on store shelves we should
| be at a comparative disadvantage when
| we did start UP again. Let me say,
with all possible emphasis. that had we
! thought that the Wilson tariff law was
TO continue indefinitely we should have
I been forced either to shut up our fac
l tory and give up business or else TO
bring our wages down nearer to the
/ English standard That is the long
] and short of our support OF free trade"
| WAGES MAY BE RAISED.
Under the Wilson law there was re-
| duction in wages in the worsted and
woolen mills in and around Providence,
| and IL is expected that the manufacture
ers. who have lost the interest on their
| capital. added to the expenses Of insur-
ance and wear and tear. WILL as soon as
| they are fairly on their feet again, agree
| 10 raise wages back to the old AtcKin-
| ley scale.
Another sign of prosperity in Olney-
Vile is found at the savings bank. The
| cashier said: Naturally, with all the
mills running, we are receiving more
money both from the workmen and the
store-k keepers. Many of them had to
| draw out all Of their savings during the
| hard times and now having paid their
| bills. they will begin to save again.
/ Some of our best patrons are workmen.
! 1t is not uncommon in good times to
| have workman run his deposit up to
| 81 900 or more. This money 10 gener-
| all N a hnIIQa -
The store-keepers OF Olneyville feel
| equally as well pleased with the situ-
| alton as do the employees. There has
| been a great change in this respect.
| Only a short time ago the .store-keepers
| were the most detected looking resi-
! dents of the town. now they see some
use in living.
LOOK AT THE CASH BOOK. ~
"If you don't believe times have inn
proved" said Mr.. w. l.. Whipple, the
| Olneyvile furniture dealer, Just look
| at my cash book for day or last year
| and a day of this. Last year q quarter
of page tells the story. This year 1t
shows we are in the good times OF five
and six years ago. Four or five pages
of 1t showing that the workpeople are
| paying their installments again.
I They are beginning to come In an
they used to, whole family at time.
and they are not afraid of starving
to death If they spend money for some
thing useful in their homes. This ex-
perience is making me red hot protec-
ZIONIST, and also restoring my belief in
human nature. People are honest and
they will pay their bills IL there is any
thing TO pay them with. We have had
enough of low tariff in Olneyville TO
| last us till dooms-day."
Mr.. w. a. II. Grant, coal and wood
dealer had something to say about the
! law of Cleveland. He remarked that af-
! ter the Wilson law the workmen
| couldn't have any more pianos. organs
| or Brussels carpets and bought very
! little coal. Everything in the savings
bank gradually vanished and the people
got down to hard pan. Five or six years
| ago they used TO buy five or six tons
! OF coal and thus save money on their
whole winters stock. After the Wilson
| bill they got down TO buying IL in bags.
| and, OF course. not knowing whether
there was anything better in store for