The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-27

would not allow within their doors
After seven weeks struggle we have had
but 80 deserters from our ranks. In Prov
idence not man has yielded TO their
Establishments and warm-air promises.
Rather curious Is IL not that II these
nrms are running from full 10 30 per
| cent or their capacity" that they are
| oHering our members largely Increased
wages-in some cases double their former
f, salary-with big bonuses, even as high as
sl5OO 10 return to work Where our mem
bers are returning to work. II Is TO the
| shops tha' havr conceded the eisht-hoLr
| day For every man who has been won
| over from u.s. we can show an employer
| who has resigned from their association
! The reports received from our general
! officers-from all sections OF TIC united
| states. give our members every reason 20
| feel greatly encouraged at the faVorable
| progress OF our cause. We do know that
| the claim of the employers that they are
| running from full TO 35 per cent. has no
| basis OF truth. We do know that more
than one-third OF the employing Itho-
| graphers have conceded the 4S-hour
| week. with the result that they have
| largely increased business. Many OF them
| are compelled 10 run double shirts, ana
some even treble shifts to keep pace with
their orders. While on the other hand
| the members OF the Employers assocla-
tion as result OF the poor grade of work
where they so produce anything ana
general ability TO satisfy their customers
are losing their trade.
Relying upon the lack of knowledge on
the part OF the general public of the mer-
! it's OF this trouble. Mr.. Harris makes
! bid for their sympathy by endeaVoring 10
| throw the onus OF the strike upon the
members of the l.. o. Il. and Il. A., de-
| claring that they refused the employers
offer 70 arbitrate the question put an
| swered by general strike.
| Here is the plain. unvarnished truth
| At the Convention OF the l.. ]. +. ana IS
A. held at Buffalo. n. T., February, 1900,
every effort was made TO bring about a
| az E,mnlOVprS
and l.. l. Il. and B A. To the END tnat
grievances In Buffalo might be amicably
| be adjusted during the convention, was
! the secretary OF the Employers assocla-
| tion and he used every means in MS pow
| er, every discreditable artifice conceiva-
| BILE TO prevent that meeting. And ne sue
| ceeded. As a direct result of his labor
the wind was sown and now his employers
are reaping the whirlwind.
The stenogrdphlc reports o. '1e cohVch-
tion will prove beyond ;ne per1dNen'use
| of a doubt the ccurIcy Of these state
ments. Furthermore, the delegate from
| this city was "A member OF the committee
appointed TO meet the employers.
| During the months which interviewed pe-
| tween the convention and the strike, every
! honorable means were used by our ma
tional officers TO avert it. In the last days
] OF July "a conference was requested py
| the Employers association, at the same
| time akinA it a sine quanon. that our
| officers go into the conference win
| full power 10 act. That whatever con-
cusions might be arrived at should be
ratified without the members having
single word TO say-a condition they Knew
| full well was impossible. on the otilcl
| hand when our officers asked 10 DE III
formed what firms comprised the ErnpIcy- ply,
ers' association-so that we might Know
with whom we were dealing. The request
was positively refused.
That there was ample time to have
averted this strike Is shown by the aumls-
sion of Mr.. Harris, that large GUAM
tity of work was printed ahead in antici-
patton of the trouble. The members OF
the Employers association evidently were
most anxious to test our strength anu
| fortitude; hence they threw down the
| gage of battle and the men have picked
! il up with the result that in Providence
| today we stand exactly shoulder 10
| shoulder-not a man has wavered in his
fealty TO his fellow-craitsmen, ana not
man proposes to return TO the shops un-
| til the 4S-hour week and closed shop Is
| conceded.
! The rumor OF a conference between the
| two associations, the Litho Foremen' S
| club being the supposed intermediary, was
! thorouhgly discounted by the members OF
| the l.. L. T. * Il. A., because we had
every reason to believe that this inter-
vention was at the secret request OF the
| Employers association in order TO obtain
"A little cheap advertising and modicum
| Of sympathy in their tribulations.
+. EssLING.
Secretary Press Committee, s. A, No. 26,
L. !. p. & b. a.
MACHINISTS' OPEN MEETING.
The machlnistsfof the city are to have
| another opening meeting tomorrow eve7
! ming at Labor Temple. and Mr.. III. w.
! Churchill has sent out the notices as
/ well as made the fact known at the meet
| ing held Tuesday evening that all the
machinists of the city are to be pres
ent.
These meetings have been productive OF
much good TO the union, and as one i'm
| portant result there have been large
| numbers added to the roll each ses-
sion. II Is thought that tomorrow eve-
ming a still larger number will be on hand.
since Mr. Churchill has provided num-
! ber OF interesting speakers and has some
new facts himself which he Will put be-
/ fore them as arguments influencing them
TO become members. He will also have
a number Of the Swedish speaking ma
! chinists on hand for the talks to men
OF that nationality.
PAINTERS TO HAVE COUNCIL.
The meeting of the painters last eve-
ming was one OF the most interesting held
recently and some OF the business done
| of vast importance 10 the union.
The fnst thing done after the opening
OF the meeting was to elect a corresponds
| ing secretary In the place OF Mr.. Hudson.
who died recently. Mr.. John G. Norton
| was the selection.
The next business was the discussing
os the raising o. the dues. 1t was final
| ly voted that the dues would be raised
| to- IS cents on and after the first OF next
month. This will enable all the mem
! bers in good standing for six months pre-
| vious should they become sick 10 enjoy a
weekly benefit for nine consecutive weeks,
| the benefit being s. per week.
The question OF forming district coun-
| ell was then talked over and a commit
| tee appointed TO investigate and make the
plans for the affair. The committee con-
slsts OF Messrs. Cummings, Marshall and
! Norton.
The remainder OF the time was devoted
10 routine business followed by talks
| under the good and welfare.
THE OBLIGING OFFICE BOY