Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-22

1ue mdcululSlS were made happy this afternoon by the receipt at head quarters of 10 cases of soda water and two dozen glasses. The donors are Hurley & Mulcahey, the well known bottlers of mineral water.
 Without solicitation by their employ es, the Southern New England Tele- phone company yesterday announced a new working schedule which will make nine-hour day. Nearly POO men scattered all over the state will bene- fit by this act of the company. The new rule goes into effect on June ?.
 The striking machinists in Derby and Ansonia have established line of communication between their head quarters and their brethern in New Haven. Along the road there are sta tioned at intervals Of eight miles biz cyclists, who transmit from one to the other their communication. By this means the lodges save considerable money that would otherwise have to be spent for telegraphic or telephonic services.
 Not one of the local strikers has caused the least bit of trouble thus far Yesterday q man named John Wallace was unfortunate enough to
 
 much. John Wallace, who has been a machinist at Benedict x Burnham's s for the past 15 years, wishes it under stood that he is not the man that was arrested. His friends do not need to be told this, as he is known to be q law-abiding citizen, but for the bene- fit of those who do not know him this item was written.
 No matter what some people may say about organized labor-and folks often say many things which they do not believe-it cannot be denied that it works to the advantage of the earner. Already some of the factories that are holding out against the tool makers and machinists have made concessions to the help, and others where no demands have been made for shorter day have announced d nine-hour day without any reduction ill wages. Does anybody suppose that employers of labor would have done this if the unions had not taken the initiative and made a positive demand for the lessening of the hours of labor? Tn certain sense the unions are new in Waterbury and in consequence many of the manufacturers are fearful of them, but after they become better acquainted with the character of the men behind them they will be quick to see that, after all, their aim is right, and while they may not be able to agree with them on all points, they will, We think, become convinced that the unions are entitled to come to terms with them on q basis which will be beneficial to all parties concerned. By standing firm and insisting upon nothing that is unreasonable, the uni ons are sure to win ill the end, and when the differences have been adjust ed and the men now out are back at their old jobs, more than one manu- facturer will be wondering why he did not effect a settlement with the help before allowing them to quit work. Of course, most of the demands of the union are an innovation in the factories of Waterbury, and conserva- tive men such as the manufacturers of this city are known to be, hesitate be- fore making changes which they fear might hamper them in the discharge of their business, but just as soon as this bugbear has been removed and the employers are satisfied that there is no intention on the part of organized labor to do anything which would in- terfere with the successful conduct of any industry, the whole question will be adjusted without any trouDle. The unions know just as well as the em- pIoyers do that they cannot run the shops. They don't want to, but un- fortunately some of the concerns look at it in this light and oppose the de7 mands solely on that ground. This is a mistake. It is a purely business proposition on the part of labor, and when the manufacturers realizes this we shall see the end of this snarl. but not before. Let us hope that the les son will not be too expensive for either side.