Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-06

evening between Colonel l.. F. Burpee, representing the Connecticut Railway and Lighting Co, the committees ot the striking trolleymen and the CentTal Labor union, resulted in failure most dismal. Not only were all hopes or settlement dashed to pieces, put all hopes of a settlement on the DaslS 1aitl down last night were abandoned, anu disappointment most widespread IS one of the consequences. That such an oI- fer of settlement as was made East night should come from Colonel Bur- neo created almostta sensation. In the armory, on the streets, in the factoTles, everywhere yesterday afternoon and last night a feeling had become gen eral that a settlement would surely De effected by which the men could return to work without their pride being lm- paired or their sense of manhood of tended. So sanguine were the people and so general had this feeling become that the news of the result of the con- ference was received with the greatest surprise. The result of the conference, in d word, was that the company would not consider the taking back of Bar rett and Kelly under any consideration; that they would take back twenty or twenty-five men now and the remain der whenever opportunity would offer.
 .sThe company must think we are starving,'' said one of the strikers, when told of the result of the confer ence. Eff they do they will find them selves badly mistaken. We are getting three squares a day and are as united as ever.''
 So that the sum and substance or It an is that Colonel Burpee not only went back on his friend, John Dillon of New Haven, who guaranteed yester- day that he would meet the men more than half way, but has dispelled all hopes of a settlement after raising the most sangJine expectations
 The conference was held in the al- dermen's room in the City hall. It lasted about two hours, closing about 9:30 o'clock.
 It was certainly a black night for the strikers after an afternoon of so much hope, but it was far blacker to the public, who expected that Colonel Burpee would meet the men with some offer of conciliation anl end a situation that has been bearing down upon the public nerve for almost month.
 As if in compensation for so much disappointment the strikers received a telegram fror their national headquaf- ters informing them that their cause has been indorsed and that on the way is a check for $500. This is the first financial aid theM men will have re ceived from their own national head quarters. They have been dependent upon local unions, which, however, have contributed about $500 weekly.
 As the men issued from the alder mems chamber they replied when f<x. oJI 1>ff. ~S1.<> further apart than ever"
 In opening the conference Colonel Burpee said he would have tue men remember that he had no power to set tie the strike. that he was present mere Iy as the representative of the com pany, willing to hear any offer of set clement and to bring about that end. John Collins of the strikers executive committee opened for the men by stat ing the cause of their presence. Col onel Burpee then answered that what he had to offer was merely that the company would not consider any offer which included Barrett and Kelly, and that, assuming they are withdrawn from the contention, the company is willing to take back about twenty or twenty-five men and the others as soon as opportunity offered. He advised the men to accept these terms, and when asked what guarantee they would be given that the rest of the men would be taken back later, he replied that they would have to depend upor the honor of Manager SewelI.
 One of the men replied that he would first carry the hod" before accepting such conditions, and another wished il understood that under such considera TllT raf4 [n11 Ivy h withdrawn. This closed the confer ence.
 Meanwhile rumors of settlemen- having been made were rife through out the city. Some of the strikers sai6 the settlement was that all should re turn to work Saturday morning, includ ing Barrett and Kelly, at the old rat, or wages and the old positions Other. said that Barrett and Kelly were dropped, and instead of them, the de nand for higher wages was granted Thus they considered things wer, evened up on both sides. Others hat not heard a word of any settlemen having been made and were surprised 1t was made unknown to them. StiI others said that it could have beer made without their knowledge, that tn executive committee went to worl nAlcI luc ICS uldT 1OTeuOOu meeting ant they would not give anything out
 Those fellows won't tell thing sai, they. It should have been mentione, above that the conference closed wit thanks from the strikers and the Cen tral Labor body to Colonel Burpee fo the part he has taken in the matter and the colonel expressed pleasure a /tthe conduct of the strikers so far.
 member of the executive commit tee said to-day that the meeting wa the most unsatisfactory that has ye been held, that the offer of the com pany as made by Colonel Burpee wa the worst that has been made so far and that notwithstanding the report in circulation last evening and tn general feeling of the strikers he ex pected very little from the conference
 Colonel Burpee had nothing to sa. except that there was nothing new He was told that the withdrawal 0