The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-24

An important meeting OF the executive
board of tie striking street railway men
was held at headquarters In Labor
Temple this afternoon and IL was an en-
thnsiastic gathering.
Not a member was absent and while
their remarks were OF such a tenor as
TO be calm. coa and conservative, never
xheless a spir! of determination was
nQnifested 10 insist on the justice or
th.Jr demands. at the same time preserv-
ing that demeanor maintained since the
fncer zion OF the disagreement with the
limited Traction company as would con-
tinue ~ win for them the deserved SYM
pathy, vonfidends and endorsement of
the public at large.
lpRTA4NT STATEMENT.
AS n res vt OF the discussion II was
unsnimously votad TO issue the following
statement t,' the public:
To the PablN:
The position af the employees of the
United Tracti pn company has been back
along one that u fair and considerate
ard presenting the i,st set OF grievances
early IN MarclA Of this year tho en-
E.oyes showed " their action that they
We're dissatisfied with the condition that
EXISTS at the pr,hent time. The fact
that the wages siid varied from s. per
day TO $3.50 per ~ with the day work
ranging from 10 hours TO ~ hours and
about whatever working man has 10 re-
Ecrt to, namely, organization. which Mf.
Perry so strongly denounces.
After trying in pveral ways TO bring
about an understai sding with the com
pany In regard to wages paid and hours
by requesting the csmpany TO give us
zen hour day and so much per hour we
were forced TO resort 10 the only weapon
the working man hnS--which is strike.
STRIKERS WILLING TO BE FAIR.
And while we yea believe we are enti-
t9ed to p " we ariyed fpr In tle first place
and what other companies throughout the
country have conceded their employees by
mutual agreerncnn we are Wiling 10 show
the public who have stood by us I'm the
present trouble thad we are wiling TO
settle by conceding some things In the
soriginal demand
The first attempt at settleUient was
made when the governor OF the state
Brought 10 us the Information that MIR.
Perry would meet a committee OF the
strikers who were not union men. De-
string TO do all In. our power 10 bring
about settlement we spent all one day
trying to find four men who were strikers
and not union men and who also received
less pay than our demands called for.
After such search We wNrp able 10 ind
two men who were willing TO serve. AS
X the repair shop men wished, to be repre-
the committee. The fourth member we
thought should be one OF the organiza-
tion. so the men chose the rtember they
thought would represent their interests
best and who would also let nothing stand
In the way OF an honorable settlement.
MR.. PERRY ALONE TO BLAME.
communication was drawit up and
presented TO Mr.. Perry by messenger
hoy for n "
reply was that he would telephone. Up
20 the present time we have failed 10 re-
ceive any answer to our communication.
All this time the company was using
every effort to induce men TO return 10
work making all sorts of promises. also
making threats OF dismissal, etc. Finally
affairs became so bad I'm Pawtucket that
the militia were called out and even then
the trouble was carried on up through
the Blackstone Valley. so that the busi-
ness interests began to suffer In such
way as 10 call forth flood of protest
from the citizens as well as business men.
The mayors OF Pawtucket and Central
Falls. also the presidents of the town
councils OF Cumberland and Lincoln.
knowing that something must be done,
conferred with the management OF the
company with what results no one knows
but with the conference OF the employees
they had better success. as they hail
different class OF men 10 deal with: men
who were ready TO meet with anybody
that would bring about a settlement
PROPOSITION OF SETTLEMENT.
The result OF the conference with tho
committee OF the men was the drawing
mp. OF the following proposition:
AT the request OF the mayors OF the
following cities CPawtucket and Central
Fails). also the presidents OF the follow
tng town councils Udncoln. Cumberland
and North Providence) we. on behalf OF
The striking employees of the United Trac-
t1on company. IN mass meeting assembled.
realizing the extent of injury We are In
hicting on the business interests OF the
cities and towns above mentioned. also
The inconveniences suffered by the travel
ing public wish 20 offer the following