Waterbury Democrat., 1902-08-05
STRIKERS MAKING TROUBLE
Non Union Man and Cheney Overseers Roughly Handled.

OVCESC6FS nOuSu1y aduuiGus
 The Trouble Occurred This Morning
 When Members of the Firm Under
 took to Escort a Non-Union Man to
 the Factory Trolley Tie-Up Seems
 To Be Imminent at New Haven
 Members of the Union Held a Three Hour Session Early This Morning The Company is Bringing on the
 Trouble by the Wholesale Discharge
 of Men.
 South Manchester, August 5.-The first real violence in connection with the strike of the velvet weayers en- ployed by the Cheney Brothers took place this morning. It had been ru- mored about town that the strikers intended to prevent any non-union
 men going into the mill. After the police guards had been withdrawn, Henry Leister, a non-union man. ac- py IOuE lu0DQDGIS OI Cl0 flrm, arrived outside the mill where about 150 strikers had congregated. At first the strikers contented themselves with shouting ..scab'' and two loom, ; but they soon began to push Leister and his guard and then shoWered stones upon them. Leister was knocked down and it is said severely injured by stone as large as a cocoa nut. He was finally brought into the mill. No one else was injured. The strikers remain in the vicinity of the mills and more trouble is feared.
 Shortly before F o'clock the strikers again assembled in force about the mill and made a disturbance. Two police officers were present and at the instigation of Clifford Cheney they ar rested two of the strikers, who, it is alleged, took part in the disturbances this morning. Another one was point ed out, but on the approach of the off, cers, he fled. A shot was fired after him, but he escaped
 New Haven, August 5.--If the frank utterances this morning of the conduc- tors and motormen of the Fair Haven and Westyille railroad count for any thing trolley strike is imminent For weeks there have been mutterings of discomfort among the men and to-day they are proclafming it that the time is almost at hand for action. This sentiment has been given cautious ex- pression for several days but it seemed to crystalline to-day after an animated and at times heated session of the trolley men which began at 1 o'clock this morning and did not break up un- til nearly o'clock. A union of the men has already been tentatively formed and a charter is now awaited to gve the organization official char acter. Upon the arrival of this char ter, it is said, strike will surely come and it is predicted that the big trolley line will be peremptorfly tied up.
 For months the motormen and con- ductors have been complaining of long hours, arbitrary management, unjust treatment and discharge without cause. Within the past few weeks organizers have been at work rounding things into shape for recognized branch or the American Federation of Labor. Recently discharges have been numer- ous and the men claim that employees have been discharged simply because they have been active in the work of Within a week a doZ- en or. more men have been dismissed and yesterday when six more were notified that their services were no longer required the feeling of bitter ness became intense and the word was passed for a secret meeting after mid night At o'clock this morning over 300 of the men assembled and for three hours the situation was discussed be- hind closed doors. One result of the session became apparent early to-day when the men no longer expressed themselves with caution. They be- came most frank and by 9 o'clock it was very generally expected that tie up had become inevitable and not far distant.
 The Fair Haven and Westville rail- road company owns and operates all local trolley lines, controls all suburb an trolley traffic inland and shoreward and holds the key to all transporta- lion to nearby pleasure resorts.
 A wholesale tfe-up would fall as a heavy burden on the public and the situation is viewed by citizens with not little uneasiness.
 At an early hour this afternoon it was stated that the committee of three, which had gone to the offices of the for a conference, had been re- fused admittance. At the offices of the information of any kind was refused. The officials refused to deny or affirm the truth of the report that they had declined to meet the men. The officers of the company evidently have not been idle for many of the cars are manned by conductors and motormen without uniforms.