The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-05-02
STRIKERS HEAR
| WORDS OF ADVICE
FATHER McGRADY, AND OTHERS
TELL MILL WORKERS HOW To-
WORK OUT THEIR SAL
VATION.
What is Being Said to the Striking
Mill Workers at Lowell by Speak.
ers at Public Meetings.

Twenty thousand mill workers are
on strike for higher wages at Lowell,
Mass. On Monday, April 10, the strik-
ers held the largest parade seen for
years, anso holding enormous mass
meetings. The principal speakers at
the meetings were Representative
James r. Carey and Frederick o. Nc
Cartney, and Father McGrady and
and Louis. 3. Talbot, Socialists. In the
report of the speeches given Mccartney
! is quoted as saying: III. 4. =: r.. u -'' :.
II do not think God intended men
and women to work for bread alone
| The average wages Of mill operators in
Lowell are said to $500 a week. That
is not enough for men and women OF
your intelligence, On the basis of four
years ago, owing to the increased cost
OF living, you operatives were receiv-
ing in value only $3.50 week. Under
| those circumstances you have a right
| to strike and you would be towards
not to do so.
! our strike means that you desire
| to partake in the benefits of the higher
civilization OF your times. You desire
to'educate your children, and that can
not be done at the prevailing rate OF
wages.
| 1.-The present system is DESTROYING the
family life. I saw to-day in the parade
children who undoubtedly, when the
mills are open, work in some of the
rooms"
Father McGrady said in part:
Labor will live if all the capitalists
die or leave the country, but capitalists
cannot live without laborers being will
ing to work. To-day, in the United
States, taking into account the cost OF
living, the laborer is receiving less paw
than in any country in the world. Con.
sidering the purchasing power of mon.
ey, laborers receive today 400 per cent
less than fifty years ago.
! Il do not agree with all the remarks
of a previous speaker. From my OBJ
servation the union man has to bear the
burden In every way of securing shorter
hours and higher pay, and the selfish
non-unlon man comes in and reaps the
benefit. None-union men by refusina
to join the union aid the capitalist il
/ Keeping down wages. By so doing they
are aiding in taking the bread from the
mouths OF children, and preventing
union men and women from getting thu
full benefit Of their labor and skill.
The development of the soul should
be considered in connection with the
labor movement. God never intended
that men should forever labor in the
ditch. He did not intend that millions
of operatives should remain foreve,
working in factories assisting to create
mllllonalres and billionaires
! Operatives as we'll as other neonle
should have time and money to aid il
their mental development. The strug.
gle to-day in Lowell is only one Of
many against those who believe the,
are the ruling class: beg Of YOU II
this struggle to remember that vow
success means better conditions fo]
your wives and children. I say AGAR
that in the effort to win you should
resist until you are almost starved b,
the ditch side. If you win YOU arr
lettering the conditions of your coun
try and advancing Civilization"