The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-07
STRIKE FEVER
Is Spreading in The Pawtuxel Valley
and Elsewhere.
Knights Mil WeayerS Hold Meeting and
Decide 10 Remain Out

There is no doubt that the strike fe-
YER has taken a firm hold In the Paw
tuxet valley. and also TO some extent
in the Blackstone valley. More than
1000 operatives, all weavers, are al
ready out since the new schedule took
effect last Monday, striking at the rate
Of GOO a day, and the indications are
that unless some compromise is reach
ed 1000 more will be idle by next Mon
day. 1t is not believed that many OF
| tiit4=TTet|ers tfre prepared TO endure the
trials and privations incident TO a long
strike, and this is taken TO show the
gravity Of the situation. IL is argued
that they must consider the provoca-
ton great 20 cause them 10 stop work
under such circumstances, particular
ly after a years work on comparative
ly low wages.
At Siatersville $50 weavers are out.
at Riverpoint 500. at Arctic and Lippitt
400 and at Natick nearly 700. Yesterday
morning the knight mills operatives
at Arctic joined their fellows on strike
at hverpoint and Lippltt, and yester-
day afternoon the weavers in the Ma
tick mills, numbering between 600 and
200, left their looms and marched out in
body. Aside from mysterious confer
enCes at the noon hour there was no
sign that the Natick workers intended
TO strike. but promptly at 1870 o'clock
yesterday afternoon everyone of the
weavers stopped his loom and walked
out until between 500 and 600 had gath
, cred on the sidewalks near the mill,
and nearly 5000 looms were idle. Supt.
SPHINX attempted 20 induce them To re-
turn 10 their work. but was unsuccess-
! ful, and after using every alSument
possible stated that the entire mill
would shut down unless the weavers
resumed work this morning.
The weavers met last evening and
decided TO stay out If the course
threatened by Supt. Sphinx is followed
by all the mills where strikes are on
thousands of spinners end other en-
ployes will be idle. and the loss of pay
will run up To $4,000 a week. However.
il the weaVers stay out the mills VIII
have TO shut down soon.
The WeaVers at the Arctic mill have
stopped their looms and followed the
RiVerpoint strikers. There were "a few
weavcrs. however, who did not leave
with the majority, because they were
| locked i'm the l. weave roms. Uhey fl
naTly succeeded in opening the door
and shortly afterward went with tn.
rest Of the strikers, and there are l,O4O
! looms i'm the mill silent. The workers
here were receiving ~ centsNper cut IN
\ 1897 The wages were reduced 20 10
cents when the cut came and last
| Tuesday they were informed that they
would receive Is cents per cut for the
/ same gods FOR which they received 10
cents i'm 1897. Soon after the weaVers
| left the mill they were met by Supt.
Brackett who informed them that he
| would do his best To secure them the
| old wage schedule If they would re-
| sumo work After discussing the mat
| ter between themselves the weaYers
I decided not 10 return. Ihey held "A
meeting last evening. I'm connection
| with The Riverpoint mills operatives,
| and made definite arrangements for flu
! ture action.
The strike lnaugurated at the Royal
| mills. Riverpoint. Tuesday, still con-
! tinues. As at Natick and Lippitt. the
| operatives have conducted themselves
| in am orderly manner and there Is no
! indication that any untoWard acts VIII
| bs committed even N tho strikers ara
| compelled 10 give i'm Co their employers.
| The evmpathy OF the residents Of the
! pavtuxet valley regarding the strikes
] is about evenly divided between IN"
| strikers and their employers. There are
| many who are " thy opinion thot lhe
| employees nave been badly used. owing
] 10 The fact that the increase is not
| equal 10 the schedule OF 1891, and
| are advising the employees 90 remain
| on, until they force tho employers to
/ restore the old schedule.
/ There Us also ~ growing opinion that
! Tho employees have bncr deceived in ro-
! card to the wording OF the statements
/ made bv the employers In connection
with tha prop1Fad raise iu wages. hnv-
/ inr bprn led to believe that when the
/ Hmc named for the raise 90 take effect
( tauic. "a rull restoration would be- made.
| The situation at W"rren. where go op-
/ eratIvas ara out. Us unchanged.
! An but five ~ % we Nars VINO struck
nt the clinton mill Monday because
they did not consider that a raise Of
/ four cents on "a cat OF Cloth was sufi-
| Client have returned 60 work. The places
/ Of The i've who persisted in remaining
l out have been filled. and they cannot
| have their ola jobs now ~ they want
/ them.
II is generally supposed that the
! tvpe- writing machine is quite q mod.