The Labor Advocate

PROSPECTS
BRIGHT
FOR
STRIKERS
AT
ESMOND
MILL

The Esmond strikers are standing firm in their demands for a general 20 per cent. raise and many other concessions in the different departments, among which is the paying of 10 cents an hour to all piece workers while they are waiting for warps, boxes, filling, etc. A great injustice is done the piece workers by tying them up in the mill waiting for different things that keep them working. Among other demands, the workers want the sanitary conditions of the mill improved; also time and a half on day work and price and a half on piece work for overtime.

Mr. Crocker, the Superintendent of the Esmond Mill, came to the strikers' meeting and told them how anxious he was to have them come back, and then he would fix things all right for them. The committee extended him the courtesy of putting his arguments directly to "his help." During or after his talk there was not a bit of noise in the hall. They drank it all in, and after he went out there was a unanimous vote to continue the strike until a settlement is reached satisfactory to the strikers. Mr. Crocker tried to get the strikers to talk, but was met with the uniform answer, "The committee talks for us." All in all, the strikers showed a discipline that must have impressed Mr. Crocker.

When he had concluded his remarks and had tried in vain to "get some one going," the Chairman politely informed him that he might retire, as the strikers had some business to transact.

An amusing incident occurred Tuesday morning on the picket line, when the Assistant Superintendent shouted at one of the fixers to come in and set up some warps.

The striker retorted by saying, "Get them to do it," pointing to the deputy sheriffs, 35 of whom have been on the job since the day after the strike started. But the boys and girls at Esmond know that the best the deputy sheriffs can do is to sleep on a blanket—they can never weave them—and Mr. Crocker will have to get the weavers back instead of more deputies if he wants blankets turned out of his mill.

The different nationalities are fighting shoulder to shoulder as workers and showing a clear conception of the fight and what it means and how it can be won, and if Mr. Crocker is determined to be bull-headed he is going to lose a lot of money for his company by having his plant tied up until he gets reasonable.

the Graniteville Hall, and the picket work is being carried on effectively.

Nearly every striker has signed an application blank to join the new local of the Industrial Workers of the World to be formed in North Providence.

A meeting of the Esmond strikers was held in Graniteville Hall Thursday morning. The committee reported their trip to the mill office and that the Superintendent advised them to organize in the A. F. L., also that he said he was coming over to tell the workers what he had to say. The committee said they would report correctly, but he said he would be his own errand boy. Dr. Reid was present, and when the door keeper said that Mr. Crocker was outside and wanted to come in it was voted to let him have the platform. After he had said his say, a man in the audience got up and told him that there was no price or fine list posted up in the mill; that some were paid so much for weaving and others paid less. If a weaver could not read English he was given less for the same work. As to fining, the workers were never showed the imperfections they were fined for, and a number of other petty grievances were mentioned.

The Superintendent promised to have the fines system so arranged that the imperfections would be shown to the weavers. He also promised to have the price list in black and white given to the committee, so that the raise demanded could be figured out. He said, upon being questioned by Dr. Reid, that he had power to adjust all the grievances without going to the owners except the raise; he said, however, he had been empowered to offer a 5 per cent. raise. He concluded his remarks by inviting the strikers to attend a meeting Thursday night in Esmond, at which American Federation speakers would talk at his request. He said he didn't think they needed a labor union, but if they did, they should join the American Federation.

After he left the meeting the strikers voted not to attend the meeting he had called in Esmond. They also voted to hold a dance in the Graniteville Hall Saturday night.

The comrades and fellow workers throughout the city should attend this dance. Take the Centredale car and ride to the end. The hall is a few minutes walk. Ask the conductor and he will tell you the way.

All who can, take the car that leaves "The Loop" at 7:10 and Olneyville Square at 7:40.

The prospects look good for the strikers.

Comrades Fassel, Reid, Miller and Powers of the Textile Workers are speaking at the different meetings. Mazarilli of Lynn is assisting in the Italian language.