The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-14
PAWTUCKET
CONTINUED from page ren.)

Continued from page Ten.)
timadation and violence. by the "hcod-
lum" element. to keep new men from
entering the employment Of the company
and to drive out OF such employment
those who were already In II. and to de-
probate the value OF tho company's
property by making II impossible to
operate IT,
The mayor Of Pawtuoket sympathized
with tho attempt at coercion. and did
not propose that the most powerful
agents OF coercion. viz; the hoodlum eie-
ment. should be interfered with. or "ir-
ritated" ~ the police II he could help
IL.
AFTER STRIKE LEADERS.
Professional strike leaders and mayors
who object to Irritating law breakers, al
ways disclaim sympathy with vio-
lence; but such disclaimers deceive
nobody. Violence and intimidation
are tho chief reliance OF every pro-
fessional strike leader. although he takes
good care not to be implicated in them
himself. He sets the strike In motion.
makes speeches. organizes parades. and
excites the public mind by falsehood and
misrepresentation, and then sits conr-
IDENTIFY down TO let the hoodlum put In his
work After the disturbance Is over, a
review OF the situation generally shows
that the hoodlum has had his head
broken or gone to jail: that the striking
employe has lost his job; that the em-
ployer has lost money: that the public
service has been temporarily obstructed
and disorganized; and that the strike
leader has departed for fresh fields and
pastures now with the profits OF the en-
terprise.
How long tho city of Pawtucket wishes
to continue in Office a mayor who aids
and abets this sort OF thing is it's own
affair. But this company owes duties
TO the public, not only OF the city OF
Pawtucket, but OF the whole state. which
II must perform whether strike lead
ers and strike mayors approve or disap-
prove. 1t must run its cars and carry peo-
pie who want TO ride In them. And II local
authorities will not protect II In so doing.
IL must go to the state authorities.or any
where else that 1t can get such protection
coMPANY's POSITION.
This company Is not as has been al
legged violating any law OF the state. II
does not exact OF any man IL hours work
in day. IL simply says that II a man
works II hours, II will pay him for IL and
that IL he works less than IL hours. 1t
will pay him only for the hours that he
worka And II further claims that II
the man - willing TO work IL hours. he
has a right to do so. and that II has a
right 10 contract with him TO do SO for
such pay as may be agreed upon.
1t comedies that It has no right 70
exact IL or any other number OF hours
work from any man. this being q free
country, where no man can exact OF an
other either labor or tho wages OF labor.
but where both labor and wages Of labor
may be made the subject OF contract be-
tween the parties concerned. But IT
claims that II has the right to allow any
man to work IL hours II he wants to. ana
to pay him for working IL hours. And
Il denies that any man, or set OF men
has the right 10 exact" of II IL hours pay
ten hours work.
- a matter OF fact. the gentlemen
.roni petroit and their allies are endeav-
.ering 10 exact from the railway COM
panies, by stoning their cars and intimi-
dating their employees. something over II
hours pay, at the rate at which they have
heretofore been able to employ labor, for
only 10 hours work, with other demands
equally unreasonable and too numerous
No company can submit to such exac-
lions this and continue to do business.
This company regrets the temporary in
convenience to the public and the possible
loss to it's stockholders which may ensue
from the condition OF affairs brought
about by the arbitrary and lawless meth
DDS resorted TO by the professional strike
leaders and their sympathizers TO enforce
their demands.
But II feels that II must demonstrate
now and once for all that II will not sub
init TO have its relations with Its en-
ployes either determined or influenced by
professional agitators from distant states
whose only interest in this community or
its people Is based upon the profits to be
derived from stirring up discomfort and
strife In the great army OF laboring peo-
pie who are engaged In It's various Indus
tries.