Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-12
STRIKERS LOSE HOPE.
Many Olneyville Mill Workers
Locked Out Indefinitely.
THE SETTLEMENT FALLS THROUGH
1t May He Spring Before the Mills Are
Started Again, and Already the Strikers
Are In a Destitute CondItIon-The weav-
ers Blamed.

PROVIDENCE, Dec. l3.-Not OILY the 4, 900
strikers, but the many business men of the
Olneyville district, where the big strike
has been in progress since the LIST of Octo-
Der, have been given an unlocked for set
back, and the settlement of the strike has
been indefinitely postponed.
For number of days the business men
have been hard at work endeavoring to
bring about an amicable settlement be
tween the mill owners and operatives.
Twice last week it looked favorable for n
settlement. but at the last moment the OPP
eratives were found unwilling to accept
the offers of the manufacturers. In the
meantime the mill owners tried hard to
start their mills, but owing to the inter
ference of the strikers were unable to Sc
cure the necessary help. At Fletcher's
Providence National mills the attempt to
start was abandoned Saturday, while at
the Riverside and Weybosset plills it was
| necessary to have a strong grft6 of police
on hand morning, noon and night to pro-
tect those who ventured to accept situa-
tions.
The operatives of the Providence Nation
al and Saranac mills met Monday after
noon, and when it was made known that
they voted to accept II new list presented
by the manufacturers there was great re
joicing The list is practically the same as
that which prevails at the Saxon Worsted
companys mill, which was adopted last
week, thus affording employment to 500
strikers. The new list differs from the
manufacturers compromise which was re-
jected by the strikers in that it makes no
distinction between piece dye work and
fancy weaving, nor does it make any men
! ton of fast running looms.
A Fatal Hitch.
When the operatives voted to accept the
new schedule, 1t was stated by the man.
ayers of the National and Saranac mills
| that the mills would be opened Wednes-
| day morning, when work would be re
sumed.
The operatives were surprised to learn
that Messrs. Fletcher of the Providence Ma
| tional and Farwell of the Saranac mills
| had issued notices to the effect that their
mills would not be started until such time
as the owners of the Riverside and Wey
bosset mills agree to adopt the same SEIZED
ule adopted at the Providence National
and Saranac mills. This is one of the bit
terest of blows to the operatives, nine
tenths of whom were anxious to return to
work at once.
Following this came the announcement
that notices had been posted in the Wey
bosset and Riverside mills to the effect that
the mills would shut down at bell time for
an indefinite period.
This makes the situation anything but
encouraging. The owners of the Riverside
mill have concluded to make no conces-
sions, but to open their mill when they see
fit at the scale of prices now paid by them.
This alone will keep Messrs. Fletcher and
Farwell from starting their mills.
Present indications are that the manu-
facturers will keep their mills closed for
some time-perhaps until spring. 1t is con-
coded that had the operatives shown a bet
ter disposition TO come to terms last week
the strike would have been ended now.
The operatives in the majority of cases are
in distressed circumstances, and ii is prob
able that the city will be appealed to for
/ assistance
+ The strike has already cost Olneyville
nearly half n million, and the end is not
yet in sight. The operatives generally con
denim the course pursued by the weavers in
voting not to accept the manufacturers
offer at the meeting Saturday, and to this
move is largely attributed the action of
Messrs. Fletcher and Farrell.