Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-08
STRIKE OUTLOOK.
Three Weeks of Uncertainty and
 Loss of Wages.
THIS CONFERENCE SPOILED.

Steele & Johnson Officials Treated
 Committee of Strikers Coolly-Com-
 mittee Supposed They Had Been
 Sent for, but Discoverer They Were
 Not wanted-Men Are Said to be
 Willing to Settle on the Same Terms
 as Hartford Machinists Got
 There is actually no change in the strike situation here. The same feel ing that appeared to have prevailed between the employers and employees at the beginning of the strike exists to-day. without abatement or 1n- creased warmth on either slde, or without advantage being gained by one or the other. Only in this respect: the strikers have less mouths to feed than at the outset, many of them having procured situations elsewhere without any bother.
 The statement that was made Tues day by the officials of some of the machine shops that they would start work Thursday morning with what ever men would come along, union or non-union, was taken by the men to imply a threat. That was looked upon as a turning point In the strike, but in effect nothing turned, not even a wheel in the factories referred to, according to the answer that came from one of them.
 Nevertheless the situation is be- coming more and more intense every day that passes without something be- ing done, or attempted. The men are of the opinion that they have made all the overture that they can possibly be expected to without yielding altogeth- CT, and they say that it is the manu- facturers' turn now. In this regard story is told as follows:
 The officials of the Steele 6 Johnson concern sent word that they would like a conference with the shop com miftee; that they had an idea that a settlement could be effected in some way because 1t was improbable to both parties to continue at variance. Upon receipt of the message at the mems headquarters the committee of the shop in question was looked up. 1t was found that all it's members but one had procured employment out of town To find the one member ap- peared to be an impossfbility. After three days a new committee was se- lected and thither that body went to the IacIOrT.
 s'sYou want to see mel" questioned the official at the factory.
 Now as a matter of fact. 1t was the official who had sent for the commit tee, not the committee who had come to see the president. That was the actual standing of both at the time. But the committee replied that they had come to see the official. Silence followed. and there was lost the op- portunity to adjust matters.
 Well. gentlemen" asked the off, cial. rather -impatiently, ''what do you wish to say to me? I have business to attend to. etc, etc.
 The committee, not thoroughly un- derstanding the situation, had very little to say. and what was said was stated in a way unsatisfactory to the official and to the committee, also. Consequently nothing came of the meeting, only disappointment to both parties.
 The National Metal Trades asso- cIation will meet next Tuesday, and the men seem to think that nothing will be done until after that meeting They seem to favor a settlement of the matter on the principle adopted in Hartford and other places. but to return to work as individuals they say they never will.
 Regarding the picnic held Thursday the committee Is meeting with the us- ual bother in efecting general sum- ming up. All of yesterday was given up to that purpose and tlles greater part of today also When a clear statement is ready it will be publish ed
 A statement from good authority Is to the effect that beginning July the Novelty factory employees will be giv- en half holiday every Saturday with full pay until the summer is over
 There is no change in the moulder's strike at Matthews 6 Willard factory.