Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-17
CLOCK MAKERS ALERT.
They Are Still Out, But Hope For Bet
 ter Times Ere Long.

At the present time the impending contest between the machinists and their employers is the principal topic on the streets. in the stores, in the fac tories and the homes of all classes of citizens. Heretofore Waterbury peo- pie knew nothing about such things beyond what they read of occurring in other places. and while all take an in- terest i'll contests of this nhture no matter where they happen, still the interest is heightened considerably when one feels that he is likely to be affected by the result. This is the req son why every item of news regard ing the local situation is eagerly read by rich and poor, and few find time to talk of anything else. There is nothing new in the differences between the clock shop and the toolmakers, and it is not likely that there will be for some time. Both sides are determined ' to fig9ft to finish and he would be q wise man who could tell at this time which will come out ahead. \ few prominent citizens were discussing the subject in a general way this morning, when one very large property owner said that he did not blame the work ing men to band together for mutual interests.
 Look at the way they are being used,' he said. Isn't capital getting together every day with view to cor nerlng prices on everything, labor in cluded, and if those who have nothing but their labor to put in the market do not see that they get what it is worth what can they expect but that those who want it will buy at the low est possible figure. The working l.eo- pie have just as good q right to organ ize for the purpose of advancing the price of labor as the manufacturers have to form trusts to regulate the out put and fix prices on what they have to put on the market
 Another man thought this was all right in theory, but utterly useless ill practice and contended that this had been demonstrated time and again in all parts of the country where capital and labor had come in conflict. He though better results would be ob- tained by the men dealing direct with their employers and considered it un. reasonable to expect that the maIf1l- facturers would allow outsiders to reg ulate their schedule of wages and working hours
 Another held thats this could not be done without the men who would ap- proach the bosses running the risk of being discharged and blacklisted all over the state. In support of his posi- ton he cited case which occurred in one of the factories few months ago, where four faithful employees went to the office and succeeded in settling q strike, but shortly after the men who talked for the strikers had to look up jobs elsewhere. The men were dis charged by q very clever arrangement The kind of work they had been doing got scarce and the men hung around until they took 3 tumble" and got out
 Another man suspected of being dangerous was fired and he left town and got a position i'll New Ha- ven, but the Waterbury manufacturer got after him in the Elm city and he was obliged to move to parts un- known. The man claimed that the principal reason why strangers call upon manufacturers is due entirely to the fact that the bosses invariably crush local men who pose as leaders of organized labor.
 Probably there is some truth in this but it is certain that it is not true of all the manufacturing concerns It is common thing for men to be asking the boss for an increase in wages, and as rule they get it in the end The great trouble, it seems. is that the concerns do not want to recognize any organization, no matter by what name it may be known.