The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-14
Striking Weaver Got Him
self in Trouble
WITH MEENAN SISTERS.
Mr.. Metcalf Says Wanskuck Situa-
tlon Is Satisfactory.
PLENTY OF HELP AT GENEVA.

There was quite little excitement at
Wanskuck yesterday just after the people
had come out from church. 1t was all
caused by u difficulty that arose between
three or four Of the strikers and the Meenap
sisters, who have been called scats be-.
cause they didn't support the cause OF
the strikers. but went back into tho
Geneva mill as soon as it started up. IL
Is said that these strikers were standing
on the sidewalk as the sisters came along,
and when nearly opposite to where the
men were standing oEe OF the girls
slipped on the ice. whereat the men
began TO laugh loudly. This eDraged tha
girls, who at ouoe attacked them, and
one of the follows got good scratch on
the facs and one of the others was threat
ened with an unpleasant looking Eat pin
with which he had no desire to make
more intimate acquaintance.
The other side Of the story In that the
men blocked up ths sidewalk and would
not let the girls pass, and this Is claimed
TO have been tbs cause Of the trouble.
One thing is certain. and that Is that the
girls are far from popular among the
strikers ana their supporters ut except
that the girls went tn work In the mill
when the others did not, nothing can be-
said against them. 1t is said that the
men went to the police with a story Of
ooo'ui1 hhN pH"o WIG poiloo NOuiu nOt
listen to them. At any rate, no warrants
have issued as yet, though many people
thought tnat the girls would try 10 make
trouble for the alleged ohstructionists.
1he strikers say that they have taken
no notice OF the wapskuck Comlany's
notifications to quit their tenements
within seven days, and that they do net
intend To. In order to get them out, the
strikers saw that tho company will ravs
TO "sheriff" them out. They also say
that there are plenty of vacant houses In
the neigh Dor hood where tho rent is ,cry
low, so they won q have far 10 move.
A committee Deeting was held tiis
morning In Concordia nail. at which
number of strikers were appointed, tn 90
out and raise funds for maintaining the
strike.
There will be a procession tonight from
Wanskuck 10 the fair at Edmond hall,
Randall square, This fair is In aid Of the
strikers. In tho procession will DO several
tansparencies bearing appropriate legends
such as: lone loom and the 0S prioe
list. ~ etc.
The success with which the mills ara
running is a subject about which the
strikers will not saw much. At the mills
it was stated that the Geneva has the full
complement OF hands and is running full
time No moro help Is wanted there.
Abuut 100 looms have been taken out Of
the Wanskuck mill which will not be re-
placed. This leaves the mill with about
$50 looms of which Mr.. Metcalf said n
very large part were running. He also
said tnat he should not hire my more
weavsrs Just at present. This was due 70
the fact that there We're so many things
| to attend to and straighten out incidental
| to starting up the plant again. 1t was like
starting up n new mill with an entirely
| new set of hands. He said that he had
been very much surprised at the little
| difficulty he had net with in starting up
| thu mill for he had expected TINT it would
| be a somewh hat hard matter to start up
again.
Many OF the weavsrs are doing excellent
work, while there are number who
| have vet to learn some of the details of
| that class of weaving. In some places
| there had been poor cloth, but he had ar
ranged for that Ivy a special process,
which hs explained, so that it did not
bother him any. He spoke Of one weaver
| i'm particular, whD had told him how
| easy IL seemed to be running two looms
on fancy goods where each loom had five
or six shuttles lie found running two
| looms on plain goods very easy
| Mr. Metcelf expected thst some ten OF Q
| dozen families who had bean rsqut sted
| 10 yacat to the company houses because they
were not working for the company would
| do so during the week. This tenemepts
are leased by the week. and one OF the
| conditions Of the lease Is that the COM
| pany shall give q weeks notice to vacate.
Some of the men working In the mill
| live in Olnevville and some Of the strikers
| have been following them home at night.
| Theyhavs been warned by the police Of
| Olnevville that their presence Is not us-
| siI ed there and that they must keep away,
Til, may lad to trouble rs the strikers
do not have the kindliest of fee ipgs
ioxar the follows from Olneyville.
IL is predicted that this week will 10
critical one for those who still stand out
| and that the whole matter that hes drag
eed along for six wsess will come to
head. The affair at Olneyville, the Nee
nan erisode, the continued arrival OF new
help. tie tontiDued running of the milla
tina eviction OF the strikers and other IL
tidents coming right together will Irob-
Ably cause a eliminating point TO be
reached within few days.