Connecticut western news., 1893-12-14
STRIKERS HOPELESS.
olNEYvlLLE MILL WORKERS LOCKED
 OUT INDEFINITELY.

The Settlement Falls Through, and It May
 Be Spring Before the Mills Are Started
 Again-Many of the Strikers Are AL
 ready Destitute.
 PROVIDENCE, Dec 12.-Not only the 4, 900 strikers, but the many business men of the Olneyville district, where the big strike has-been in progress since the 1st of Octo- Der, have been given an unlocked for set back, and the settlement of the strike has been indefinitely postponed.
 For a number of days the business mer have been hard at work endeavoring k bring about an amicable settlement be tween the mill owners and operatives. Twlce last week it looked favorable for 8 settlement. but at the last moment the op- 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 mills 1t was necessary to have a strong guard 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 new list presented by the manufacturers there was great re- joicing. The list is practically the same as that which prevails st the Saxon Worsted company's mill, which was adopted last week, thus affording employment to 800 strikers. The new list differs from the manufacturers compromise which was re- jected by the strikers in that 1t 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 agers of the National and Saranac mills that the mills would be opened Wednes- day morning, when work would be re- stunned.
 The operatives were surprised to learn that Messrs. Fletcher of the Providence Ma tional and Fsrwell 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 sched- ule as 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- lecturers will keep their mills closed for some time-perhaps until spring. It is con ceded 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 it is prob able that the city will be appealed to for assistance.
 The strike has already cost Olneyville nearly half million, and the end is not yet in sight. The operatives generally con- demn 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.