The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-12
Overseers and Heads of Depart
ments Advised to Seek En-
ployment Elsewhere.
MASS PICKETING HAS
PREVENTED RE-OPENING
Samuel Gompers, President of
the American Federation of
Labor, TO Address Strikers.
tBy The Associated Press)

PROVIDENCE, r. T., March 11.--A
new situation today developed In the
Rhode Island textile strike, now at the
end OF its seventh week, when p. b.
and II. knight. Ino.. owners OF many
textile plants in the state. announced
their decision to close their Nattick
and Pontiac mills indefinitely. While
official confirmation was lacking to-
night, it was understood that other
cotton textile manufacturers were
planning similar action.
Nntticlx has been. storm center of
the strike I'm the Pawtucket valley. It
was there and at the adjoining village
OF Pontiac that riots broke out Feb. 20
in which mill property was damaged.
Troops sent to the valley at that time
arc stiil guarding the two PILLS. The
s'fron battalion Of strike sympathizers
which took an active part in strike ac-
tiystiea In the Pawtucket areas has
ftg headquarters at Nattick.
The Ma tick mill, one OF the largest
IN the Pawtucket valley. manufactures
shsetings, shirtings and twills, and
employs 937 persons. The Pontiac
plant. devoted TO wide shsetings and
Sxinbrics, has personnel of 3l6.
In announcing the indefinite shut
Down Of these two mills. the Knight
company sts ted that overseers and
heads had been advised to seek en-
pioyment elsewhere, the company un-
dertaking to provide for them until
thsy should do so.
Recent attempts to reopen mills
closed By the strike were based, 1t is
claimed by mill owners. on the belief
that q large number OF workers We're
willing 10 return to work IL provided
full protection. Mass picketing, which
has been the rule this week at plants
sndeavoring TO operate has prevented
the mill hands from returning, says
the manufacturers.
In the Pawtucket valley the day was
uneventful The only disorders OF the
day was staged in the Blackstone area
whero stones and mud were thrown by
a crowd OF strike sympathizers at a
truck load of workers on their way
from East Providence to the Jake
Dunnell plant OF the United States
Filming company in Pawtucket. Sew
eral workers were cut, but none seri-
ously wounded The strike sympa-
thizers were arrested.
WASHINGTON, March tt,-Samuel
Gompers. president OF the American
Federation of Labor left Washington
today for tho New England textile
centers. where he will make series
of addresses before strikers mass
meetings He will speak ct Provi-
dence and Manchester N. H., tomor-
row. and will follow out afterward an
itinerary arranged for him by the
United Textile Workers, the union
whose members have left the mills.
MANCHESTER, n. H., March Ill
Officials OF the Amoskeag company de-
MED today a report which had gained
wide circulation that an attempt would
be made on Monday next to reopen
one OF its large chain of mills. closed
for four weeks as n result OF the tex
tile workers strike. They said they
had not decided upon any date for the
reopening OF any of the mills.
Strike leaders said that registration
OF operatives desirous to return toi
work had been small during the week
that the employment bureau OF the |
Amoskeag company had been open.
Mill Officials refused to discuss this |
matter. Pickets reported that no ope
rative. had tried 70 enter the mills.
In New Hampshire mill centers
where strikes are IN effect. peaceful
conditions were reported in Nashua, /
Dover, somersworth. New Market and
Exeter.
REQUESTS for aid for families Of
strikers here have been resolved, ac-
cording 20 strike leaders.